Kennedy takes command of pt 109 to fight the japanese in the solomon islands. Oct 06, 2015 the pt109 story became a mainstay of jfks political campaigns, during which he saluted the heroics of his surviving crew members. Academy award winner cliff robertson stars in this stirring saga of kennedys wartime exploits as skipper of a pt boat in the solomon islands. Kennedy in the 1963 film pt 109, and won the 1968 academy award for best actor for his role in the film charly. Kennedys experiences as a pt boat commander and the heroic tale of jfk in world war two long before the day a sniper would take his life in dallas texas. Italeris pt109 is the logical followon use of their previously released elco pt596.
Kennedy jfk as an officer of the united states navy in command of motor torpedo boat pt109 in the pacific theater of world war ii. All of the pt boats in this film are painted in the same navy gray used by larger warships of the us navy in wwii. In 43 they put to sea thirteen men and kennedy aboard the pt 109 to fight the brazen enemy and off the isle of olasana in the straight beyond naru a jap destroyer in the. The movie was publicly released in january of 1963. It was a far cry from a flop, but the studio had much greater hopes for the picture and its returns were disappointing. Jfk letters to mother of sailor killed on pt 109 discovered duration. Mayday 109 movie, with young jfk as war hero, set to go.
Kennedy kept a unique inauguration gift on his white house desk. Pt is a symbol referring to a motor torpedo boats hull classification symbol aka hull codes aka hull numbers, in this case pt stands for patrol torpedo. Revell pt109 finescale modeler essential magazine for. Kennedy in command of motor torpedo boat pt 109 as an officer of the united states navy during world war ii.
The elco boats were the largest in size of the three types of pt boats built for u. Sure i enjoyed the naval action, the gun fire and the danger as it was portrayed. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates. Refueling still has not been completed when cluster sends pt 109 on an emergency rescue mission to cover an evacuation of marines from choiseul.
A pt109 float carried his shipmates in his presidential inaugural parade. This box is evident on all the early boats around this time. Pt 109 was a movie that hit theatres in june of 1963, during the third. The japanese zeroes that bombed little palm were actually surplus at6 navy trainers fixed up for the job, including painting the. Martinsons dramatization of the future presidents war efforts, kennedy uses his family name to put himself in the action instead of shirking his duties. Dec, 2017 sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates. The shot before across the stern shows the wake of a boat doing about 35 knots. Pt 109 is a 1963 american technicolor biographical war film, filmed in panavision, which depicts the actions of john f. Kennedy cliff robertson is a lieutenant, junior grade, in command of a pt 109 boat during world war ii. When the pt 109 is destroyed, kennedy and the rest of his crew must keep their wits about them to survive and escape. Occasionally, movies will lend their titles to the numerical designation of a. Kennedys war time experiences during which he captained a pt boat, took it to battle and had it.
Pt 109 was the first commercial theatrical film about a sitting united states president released while he was still in office. Kennedy, with cane in the pacific, 1943, would later downplay his pt109 role. Kennedy, in the dramatization of kennedys heroic navy exploits, released in june, 1963, pt 109. I am old enough to remember john fitzgerald kennedy.
The japanese zeroes that bombed little palm were actually surplus at6 navy trainers fixed up for the job, including painting the japanese rising sun emblem on their wings. April, 1943, en route to the solomon islands, yeoman rogers lew gallo introduces us to the star, cliff robertson as lt. Sheriff spottswood was part of the motorcade when jfk visited key west in november of 1962 to thank the military stationed here for their help in the cuban missile crisis. The ships keel was laid 4 march 1942, as the seventh motor torpedo boat mtb of the 80footlong 24 mclass built by elco, and was launched on 20 june and delivered to the navy on 10 july 1942 to be fitted out in the new york naval shipyard in brooklyn. Almost half of the movie goes by before the action really begins. According to cliff, a major scene where pt 109 crashes into a dock house was accidental, not planned, but the cameraman was alert and got it on film. Estado afundado por abalroamento por contratorpedeiro da marinha imperial japonesa. Remembering pt109 a carved walking stick evokes ship commander john f.
Pt109 was one of the hundreds of motor torpedo boats pt of the pt103 class completed between 1942 and 1945 by elco naval division of electric boat company, bayonne, nj. I missed the real story of the pt 109 and her crew. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the sinking of pt109. Laying down cover fire, kennedy and his men come to the rescue of a platoon of marines when their evacuation craft is hit by a grenade. Kennedy a war hero kindle edition by charles river editors. The pt 109 was originally issued in grey, and later, in 1943 mtb green paint was distributed to the pt boat squadrons. On august 2, 1943, his pt109 was rammed by a japanese destroyer in the solomon islands. A fishing island named munson island, then owned by the monroe county sheriff john spottswood, was used to film the movie. Kennedy facts, information and history on the life.
Insisting on skippering a pt boat, kennedy accepts command of pt 109, a battlescarred, crewless mess of a boat moored beneath camouflaged netting. Kennedy captains a pt boat and takes it into battle. Pt 109 is a 1963 biographical which depicts the actions of john f. Though he suffered chronic back problems, kennedy commanded several pt boats during world war ii. I was a child when pt109 came out and knew nothing about jfk. The author traveled to the south pacific to the location where the ramming of kennedys pt boat patrol torpedo by a japanese warship split his ship in two and started the whole ordeal of life and death for lieutenant kennedy and his crew. It was also previously done as a film with cliff robertson playing jfk in pt 109 in 1963. Pt 109 1963 silver scenes a blog for classic film lovers. On august 2, 1943, his pt 109 was rammed by a japanese destroyer in the solomon islands. Pt109 model early 1942 complete built assembled painted. The first time i saw the movie pt 109, as a 20 year old marine, aboard a msts troop ship in 1964. Pt 109 by robert john donovan was published as john f. While on patrol one night, a japanese destroyer rams and slices the 109 in two. The movie was adapted by vincent flaherty and howard sheehan from the book pt 109.
With cliff robertson, robert culp, ty hardin, james gregory. One of the worst gaffes that i overlook in pt109 is the japanese bomber that drops bombs, but all you see is explosions. Detailing the italeri 5 pt 109 kit by stuart hurley, page 1. Pt 109 was the first commercial theatrical film about a sitting united states. The first time i saw the movie pt109, as a 20 year old marine, aboard a msts troop ship in 1964. Kennedy arrived in the pacific and took command of the pt109.
Come and experience your torrent treasure chest right here. Plus, it may be biggest piece of presidential propaganda ever produced. Kennedy cliff robertson is a lieutenant, junior grade, in command of a pt109 boat during world war ii. Before rob lowe, before greg kinnear or martin sheen, there was cliff robertson, the first actor to portray john f. We were 4 decks down, no pop corn, no soda, just cold water to drink. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Pt 109 is a nicely done war film and a great piece of nostalgia for the kennedy years.
The destruction of the boat and the young kennedys heroics were immortalized in a 1963 hollywood film starring cliff robertson as the future president. Jeff davidson eventually found reference drawings referring to a rubber raft stowage cabinet. The tale of that coconut is the heroic story of pt 109. Estrelado por cliff robertson interpretando john f. May 31, 2017 the boat, pt 109, is sent on a mission to rescue american soldiers trapped on a japaneseheld island. Kennedys war time experiences during which he captained a pt boat, took it to battle and had it sunk by a. Assigned to battle in the solomon islands, he leads his crew on treacherous. John fitzgerald kennedy library it is arguably the most famous smallcraft engagement in naval history, and it was an unmitigated disaster.
Pt 109 belonged to the pt 103 class, hundreds of which were completed between 1942 and 1945, by elco, in bayonne, new jersey. On the famous photos of 109 shipping out, there is a large box in the position normally occupied by the stewartwarner heating unit. Pt109 belonged to the pt103 class, hundreds of which were completed between 1942 and 1945, by elco, in bayonne, new jersey. The meaning of film s title pt 109 is pt boat 109 or patrol torpedo boat 109 or motor torpedo boat pt109. Apr 30, 2016 you probably know that the film was lensed on location around key west. Pt 109 is a 1963 american technicolor biographical war film, filmed in panavision, which. Jeffrey hunter who had just finished playing jesus christ in. Kennedy biopic pt 109 was hardly smooth sailing 1963 cliff robertson starrer had input from an involved white house, suffered a backbreaking snub. Posted by anonymous on sunday, december 18, 2005 12. Just months later, the boat collided with a japanese ship, killing two of his men john fitzgerald kennedy library, pc101. This model is of the early version, as delivered to jfk.
However, the real pt 109 and the other pts in its squadron were painted green in order to better blend into their daytime anchorages or moorings near island jungles. Senator or president of the united states, he was a naval war hero. I especially stress here the word fearless because i wouldnt do some of the things he had done for all the gold in the world. When the boat actually hits, a sailor falls over, the wrong way for someone caught by inertia and at the same time, on the port stern bollard, you can see a line fastened and leading ashore. Videos for pt 109 watch turner classic movies on tcm. Just months later, the boat collided with a japanese ship, killing two. It came out in june 1963, just five months before kennedy was.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Inside back cover featuring six photos from the movie. Ritchie gives him exactly one week to whip his new boat into shape. It portrays and interesting event in the life of an important american figure, and works as a solid world war ii adventure film. Mar 22, 2012 pt109 is a very good film after all, it was personally supervised by jack l. The history of the controversial incident that made john f. When pt 109 crashes into the hut at the end of the wharf it is doing about three knots. On television, he portrayed retired astronaut buzz aldrin in the 1976 adaptation of aldrin. Without pt 109, said a longtime aid, there never would have been a president john f. Aug 14, 2015 pt 109 was released on june 19, 1963, just five months prior to kennedys assassination, and grossed 5. The film was adapted by vincent flaherty and howard sheehan from the book pt 109. Clifford parker robertson iii september 9, 1923 september 10, 2011 was an american actor with a film and television career that spanned half a century.