Cry 'Havoc'
Encyclopedia
This article is about the 1943 motion picture. For the board game see Cry Havoc.
Cry 'Havoc' is a 1943 American drama film, produced by MGM and directed by Richard Thorpe
. The cast is primarily female, with the main roles played by Margaret Sullavan
, Ann Sothern
, Joan Blondell
, Fay Bainter
, Marsha Hunt
, Ella Raines
, Frances Gifford
, Diana Lewis
, Heather Angel
, Dorothy Morris
and Connie Gilchrist
.
The film is based on a play by Allan Kenward which opened in California in 1942. It was also performed on Broadway
, under the title, Proof Through the Night, with Carol Channing
in one of the main roles, but was not successful and closed after a few performances. The title comes from the famous line of Shakespeare's, in Julius Caesar
: "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."
during World War II
. At the beginning of the film, the head nurse, Lt. Mary Smith (Margaret Sullavan
) begs her superior, Capt. Alice Marsh (Fay Bainter
) for more nurses to help deal with the excessive workload, but instead of professional nurses, she is assigned a group of civilians from various backgrounds. They lack experience and require training and find it difficult to settle in. Pat Conlin (Ann Sothern
) rebels against Lt. Smith's strict nature, but the group begin to reveal stories from their past and become better better acquainted. They also meet a male officer, Lt. Holt (Allan Byron), and Pat becomes infatuated with him, leading to jealousy between her and Lt. Smith who refuses to explain why she is offended by Pat's attention to him. During an air-raid one of the volunteers, Sue West (Dorothy Morris
), is separated from the group, and some of the women, including her sister Andra (Heather Angel
) search for her. After three days she is found alive, having spent the time trapped in a hut with the corpses of several soldiers who were killed during the attack.
The hardships bring the women closer and they discuss their hopes for the future. Grace (Joan Blondell
), a former burlesque performer dances for the group to break the tension. Sue remains in a state of shock following her ordeal, and this is compounded when the hospital is attacked again. Grace is injured, and in a later attack, Connie (Ella Raines
) is killed. An opportunity arises for all of the women to leave the island, but after some discussion they all decide to remain and help as best they can. The group learns that Lt. Holt has been killed and both Pat and Lt. Smith are grief stricken. Soon after, Lt. Smith becomes ill with malaria
and in her delirium reveals that she was married to Lt. Holt and that they were keeping their marriage a secret due to a military regulation that prevented married couples from serving together. The film ends with the hospital surrounded by Japanese forces and the nurses forced to surrender to them.
also noted that its stage origins were obvious, but that it offered a "pretty honest picture of war".
Of note to modern audiences is a very early film appearance by Robert Mitchum
, who is briefly seen as a dying soldier. The film also marks the final performance by Diana Lewis
, who retired following her marriage to the actor, William Powell
.
Cry 'Havoc' is a 1943 American drama film, produced by MGM and directed by Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe was an American film director.Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred...
. The cast is primarily female, with the main roles played by Margaret Sullavan
Margaret Sullavan
Margaret Brooke Sullavan was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan started her career on the stage in 1929. In 1933 she caught the attention of movie director John M. Stahl and had her debut on the screen that same year in Only Yesterday...
, Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
, Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
, Fay Bainter
Fay Bainter
Fay Okell Bainter was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress...
, Marsha Hunt
Marsha Hunt (actress)
Marsha Hunt is an American film, theater, and television actress who was blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio executives in the 1950s.-Career:...
, Ella Raines
Ella Raines
Ella Wallace Raines was an American film and television actress.-Life and career:Born Ella Wallace Raubes near Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, Raines studied drama at the University of Washington and was appearing in a play there when she was seen by Howard Hawks...
, Frances Gifford
Frances Gifford
Mary Frances Gifford was an American actress who played leads and supporting roles in many 1930s and 1940s movies.-Career:...
, Diana Lewis
Diana Lewis
Diana "Mousie" Lewis was an American film actress and a MGM contract star.Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Lewis began her film career in All the King's Horses and worked steadily over the next few years, usually in minor roles...
, Heather Angel
Heather Angel (actress)
Heather Grace Angel was an English actress.-Life and career:Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, she was brought up on a farm near Banbury....
, Dorothy Morris
Dorothy Morris
Dorothy Morris is a former American film and television actress known for her "girl next door" persona.- Early life and career:...
and Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York...
.
The film is based on a play by Allan Kenward which opened in California in 1942. It was also performed on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, under the title, Proof Through the Night, with Carol Channing
Carol Channing
Carol Elaine Channing is an American singer, actress, and comedienne. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards , a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination...
in one of the main roles, but was not successful and closed after a few performances. The title comes from the famous line of Shakespeare's, in Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
: "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."
Plot
The film tells the story of a mixed group of Army nurses stationed in BataanBataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At the beginning of the film, the head nurse, Lt. Mary Smith (Margaret Sullavan
Margaret Sullavan
Margaret Brooke Sullavan was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan started her career on the stage in 1929. In 1933 she caught the attention of movie director John M. Stahl and had her debut on the screen that same year in Only Yesterday...
) begs her superior, Capt. Alice Marsh (Fay Bainter
Fay Bainter
Fay Okell Bainter was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress...
) for more nurses to help deal with the excessive workload, but instead of professional nurses, she is assigned a group of civilians from various backgrounds. They lack experience and require training and find it difficult to settle in. Pat Conlin (Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
) rebels against Lt. Smith's strict nature, but the group begin to reveal stories from their past and become better better acquainted. They also meet a male officer, Lt. Holt (Allan Byron), and Pat becomes infatuated with him, leading to jealousy between her and Lt. Smith who refuses to explain why she is offended by Pat's attention to him. During an air-raid one of the volunteers, Sue West (Dorothy Morris
Dorothy Morris
Dorothy Morris is a former American film and television actress known for her "girl next door" persona.- Early life and career:...
), is separated from the group, and some of the women, including her sister Andra (Heather Angel
Heather Angel (actress)
Heather Grace Angel was an English actress.-Life and career:Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, she was brought up on a farm near Banbury....
) search for her. After three days she is found alive, having spent the time trapped in a hut with the corpses of several soldiers who were killed during the attack.
The hardships bring the women closer and they discuss their hopes for the future. Grace (Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
), a former burlesque performer dances for the group to break the tension. Sue remains in a state of shock following her ordeal, and this is compounded when the hospital is attacked again. Grace is injured, and in a later attack, Connie (Ella Raines
Ella Raines
Ella Wallace Raines was an American film and television actress.-Life and career:Born Ella Wallace Raubes near Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, Raines studied drama at the University of Washington and was appearing in a play there when she was seen by Howard Hawks...
) is killed. An opportunity arises for all of the women to leave the island, but after some discussion they all decide to remain and help as best they can. The group learns that Lt. Holt has been killed and both Pat and Lt. Smith are grief stricken. Soon after, Lt. Smith becomes ill with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and in her delirium reveals that she was married to Lt. Holt and that they were keeping their marriage a secret due to a military regulation that prevented married couples from serving together. The film ends with the hospital surrounded by Japanese forces and the nurses forced to surrender to them.
Reaction to the film
The film was considered topical, with Bataan often in the news at the time, and proved to be profitable. The film writer, John Douglas Eames, commented that much of the film was theatrical rather than cinematic, and he also noted that "some of the girls seemed to have found a beauty salon on Bataan". Leonard MaltinLeonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
also noted that its stage origins were obvious, but that it offered a "pretty honest picture of war".
Of note to modern audiences is a very early film appearance by Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
, who is briefly seen as a dying soldier. The film also marks the final performance by Diana Lewis
Diana Lewis
Diana "Mousie" Lewis was an American film actress and a MGM contract star.Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Lewis began her film career in All the King's Horses and worked steadily over the next few years, usually in minor roles...
, who retired following her marriage to the actor, William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
.
Main cast and characters
 |
Margaret Sullavan Margaret Sullavan Margaret Brooke Sullavan was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan started her career on the stage in 1929. In 1933 she caught the attention of movie director John M. Stahl and had her debut on the screen that same year in Only Yesterday... as Lt. Mary Smith |
 |
Frances Gifford Frances Gifford Mary Frances Gifford was an American actress who played leads and supporting roles in many 1930s and 1940s movies.-Career:... as Helen Domeret |
 |
Ann Sothern Ann Sothern Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:... as Pat Conlin |
 |
Diana Lewis Diana Lewis Diana "Mousie" Lewis was an American film actress and a MGM contract star.Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Lewis began her film career in All the King's Horses and worked steadily over the next few years, usually in minor roles... as Nydia Joyce |
 |
Joan Blondell Joan Blondell Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career... as Grace Lambert |
 |
Heather Angel Heather Angel (actress) Heather Grace Angel was an English actress.-Life and career:Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, she was brought up on a farm near Banbury.... as Andra West |
 |
Fay Bainter Fay Bainter Fay Okell Bainter was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress... as Capt. Alice Marsh |
 |
Dorothy Morris Dorothy Morris Dorothy Morris is a former American film and television actress known for her "girl next door" persona.- Early life and career:... as Sue West |
 |
Marsha Hunt Marsha Hunt (actress) Marsha Hunt is an American film, theater, and television actress who was blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio executives in the 1950s.-Career:... as Flo Norris |
 |
Connie Gilchrist Connie Gilchrist Connie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York... as Sadie, the cook |
 |
Ella Raines Ella Raines Ella Wallace Raines was an American film and television actress.-Life and career:Born Ella Wallace Raubes near Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, Raines studied drama at the University of Washington and was appearing in a play there when she was seen by Howard Hawks... as Connie Booth |
||