Review of The Fighting Seabees

An American war film; A story about the rebellious head of a civilian construction company in the South Pacific who defies military orders to train his men for combat, which leads to tragic circumstances and a new military initiative for fightback. This is a patriotic fictional story about the creation of the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees. It has a theme about heroic sacrifice and the expiation of past mistakes. Nevertheless, there is some implausibility for those aware of the historical accuracy of the period. Character development is lean, and the romantic subplot is a deviation from the main story thrust, but there is good chemistry between a forceful John Wayne and a vivacious Susan Hayward. The Academy Award-nominated film score lends an atmosphere of foreboding, but it also falters to sappy in the scenes of romance.