Mister Roberts

Mister Roberts began as a 1946 novel about the struggles of a junior officer aboard a US Navy supply ship that's suffering under the command of a tyrannical captain. The novel was then converted into a 1948 Broadway theatrical production, starring Henry Fonda in the titular role, which became a Tony Award winner and a long-running production. By 1955 Hollywood took notice and converted the play into a film starring Fonda as Roberts, Jack Lemmon as the eager Ensign Pulver, James Cagney as Captain Morton, and William Powell as Doc, Roberts' ally in the long-standing war against Morton.

Tropes related to Mister Roberts include:
"Pulver:"
 * Anti Hero: A mild version. Roberts is clearly a model officer, but under Morton's cruel command he becomes rebellious.
 * Armed Farces
 * Be Careful What You Wish For: Roberts wants to serve in combat.
 * Bittersweet Ending:

"Doug Roberts: Frank, I like you. There's no getting around the fact that you're a real likable guy.
 * Breakout Role: Lemmon as Pulver. It won him Best Supporting Actor and launched his career.
 * The Captain: Morton, only in title. He's really The Neidermeyer. Roberts is the one really running the ship. And Morton knows it. Which is one of the reasons - the other is sheer spite - why Morton refuses to let Roberts go.
 * Corpsing: Cagney reportedly had to ask Lemmon to run through one of their scenes several times before filming to get this out of his system, and still just barely managed to keep a straight face.
 * Dawson Casting: Fonda was 49 when the film was made, which seems pretty old for a junior grade lieutenant. It's argued that the film production was mostly Fonda's effort, who had played the role for years on stage.
 * Executive Meddling: Hollywood execs believed that Henry Fonda had been gone from film so long (he spent 8 years in self-imposed exile on Broadway) that they feared he wasn't a bankable name. However, Fonda's years on Broadway included playing the title role, and he was a major backer in getting the film made.
 * Production was plagued by re-shoots and directorial changes. John Ford was the original director, but he sucker-punched Fonda on the jaw one day, and Fonda retaliated by getting Ford thrown off the movie (a later medical emergency kept Ford off production for good). Mervyn LeRoy was brought in to complete production, who tried to film the same way as Ford's style to ensure a seamless product.
 * Additional re-shoots had to be done by the Broadway director Joshua Logan when Fonda and the producers felt some scenes just weren't working right.
 * Fate Worse Than Death: Roberts wants nothing more than to leave the USS Reluctant and the odious command of his Captain. Captain Morton knows this, and knows full well that - even worse than a court martial - the worst thing Morton can do is keep Roberts right where he is.
 * Subverted when
 * A Father to His Men: Roberts. He's the one who really runs the supply ship, and he takes care of the men. Completely averted with the ship's official captain Morton.
 * I Gave My Word: How Morton gets Roberts Part of Morton's backstory was how he resented college-educated officers like Roberts, but he also knew full well that someone like Roberts can never go back on his word.
 * What Morton doesn't realize is that college-educated guys like Roberts can figure out a loophole After all, Morton never said anything about
 * I Take Offence to That Last One:

Ensign Pulver: Yeah? Yeah!

Roberts: But...

Pulver: But what?

Roberts: Well, I also think you're the most hapless, lazy, disorganized, and in general most lecherous person I've ever known in my life.

Pulver: I am not!

Roberts: You're not what?

Pulver: I am not disorganized!"


 * Is This Thing Still On: Morton leaves the mike to the ship's PA switched on when screaming at Roberts. This lets the crew know the truth about Roberts strange behaviour and that Morton is really the one to blame.
 * Jumped At the Call: Roberts is eager to serve on the front lines of the war but is stuck on a supply ship that's miles away from any action.
 * The Medic: The ship's doctor, nicknamed appropriately enough 'Doc'. He's also Roberts' best friend on the ship and the one
 * Meaningful Name: The ship? USS Reluctant.
 * McLeaned:
 * Naughty Birdwatching: The supply ship makes a stop at an island with a hospital. With nurses. And the hospital showers have windows.
 * Officer and A Gentleman: Roberts. Which upsets the higher-ranking Morton, whose life before The War made him a captain was getting ordered about by high-class Naval officers.
 * The Neidermeyer: Not the Trope Namer but as close to Trope Codifier as Hollywood would allow during that era.
 * New Meat: Pulver.
 * Persona Non Grata: It's understandable why the crew of the "Bucket" would not be allowed ashore on Elysium again, after hearing what they did while on liberty there.
 * Reality Is Unrealistic: Yes the US Navy really did make a fuss about shirts. The reason wasn't just pettiness though. It was found out by the medical branch that shirts provided protection against burns in the case of an explosion.
 * Soldiers At the Rear: The USS Reluctant is far from the front lines.
 * Took a Level In Badass: When Pulver realizes it's up to him to stand up to the tyrannical Captain.
 * Villainous Breakdown: The captain has one when confronting Roberts for the last time.
 * Well Intentioned Replacement: After giving away Ensign Pulver's half bottle of whiskey as a bribe to secure a visit to a liberty port, the officers discover that Pulver had promised it to a nurse. They create a substitute out of medical alcohol, Coca-Cola and hair tonic. It is surprisingly effective.
 * World War II