In Harm's Way

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In Harm's Way

1965

2h 45m

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Naval Captain Torrey (John Wayne) manages to bring his ship through the bombing of Pearl Harbor unscathed, but is later demoted when it is damaged in a subsequent battle due to his negligence. Back on land, he begins a reconciliation with his estranged son (Brandon de Wilde) and a romance with nurse Maggie (Patricia Neal), but duty calls him away when he and his firebrand friend, Cmdr. Paul Eddington (Kirk Douglas), are tasked with salvaging a dangerous and important mission.

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William J. Nazzaro

Arizona Republic

09/01/2020

Preminger's direction is competent, but uninspired. He has a bad habit of making everything much too explicit, and the film is over-long.

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Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

John Wayne is in every sense the big gun of In Harm’s Way. Without his commanding presence, chances are director-producer Otto Preminger probably could not have built the head of steam this film generates and sustains for two hours and 45 minutes.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

02/09/2006

It goes on and on, the slowness exacerbated by Preminger's customary long takes and by the endless parade of star cameos.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

06/11/2023

Preminger is a master at organizing huge casts and busy scripts, sacrificing the expected rousing battle thrills for a detailed but removed look at the complexities (physical, emotional, and political) involved in launching a battle campaign.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/11/2022

2/4

The overarching message of In Harm's Way gets in the way of providing three-dimensional characters or a drama that engages the viewers emotions, beyond patriotic flag-waving.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

05/30/2021

2.5/4

So-so.

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Gene R

@RT81778687 May 25

Story-telling at it's best. Like sitting down to a sumptuous feast with a soupcon of reality for savor.

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sioux F.

@siouxfan Feb 8

Thought it was a great movie with a lot of big stars with John Wayne leading the cast!!

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Matthew H

@Hendy2013 Jan 30

Another great John Wayne war film

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Blu B

@RT43513976 06/24/2025

A War Melodrama Classic. Really well made all around. This is basically something like what Michael Bay was trying to go for with Pearl Harbor for better or for worse. Mixing romance, family drama, and war together. This does a great job going at a slow burn and fitting in so much drama that gets you invested in the characters and in the conflict. It really never feels jumpy. Just very long and it does have a payoff with a big naval battle at the end and lots of stuff happening. Thing is it's well done but was it worth sitting for two and a half hours? Yeah but this defintely could be shortened 40 minutes probably in bits and pieces here and there and not lose much. I can't really point to one scene or character arc that could be rolled back to its credit though. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, war films, or films that mix war and melodrama together should check this out.

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Sven T

@RT20239113 08/12/2024

Great Movie. Interesting Characters that evolve. the War accentuate those and reveals true heroism but also bitterness and cowardices that can be in us and lead us to do crazy stuff. Another thing which makes this Film unique is the way it deals with human loss. It is serious and realistic about it.

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Mitch L

@RT86826305 06/10/2024

This is a great movie with a great cast. I thought like I was back in World War II. John Wayne was excellent as were all the actors and actresses. I highly recommend this movie.

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Otto Preminger

Director

John Wayne

Capt. Rockwell Torrey

Kirk Douglas

Cmdr. Paul Eddington Jr.

Patricia Neal

Lt. Maggie Haynes

Tom Tryon

Mac McConnell

Paula Prentiss

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Synopsis

Naval Captain Torrey (John Wayne) manages to bring his ship through the bombing of Pearl Harbor unscathed, but is later demoted when it is damaged in a subsequent battle due to his negligence. Back on land, he begins a reconciliation with his estranged son (Brandon de Wilde) and a romance with nurse Maggie (Patricia Neal), but duty calls him away when he and his firebrand friend, Cmdr. Paul Eddington (Kirk Douglas), are tasked with salvaging a dangerous and important mission.

Director: Otto Preminger
Producer: Otto Preminger
Screenwriter: Wendell Mayes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 1965, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 2h 45m