Navy Born

"Navy Born" suffers from one of those inexplicable plots that can only come from a B-movie. This is because most Bs had exceptionally low budgets and were rushed into production--and the quality of the scripts just wasn't as important as it would be with an A-picture. This is because the B was supposed to be the second or lesser film in a double-feature.

The film is about a bunch of Navy pilots who serve on an aircraft carrier (I think the one show in the film was the Lexington, but I am not 100% sure). One of them has a pregnant wife who dies during childbirth. Then, shortly after, he is killed! However, before dying he tells his fellow Navy friends that the child should NOT be raised by his wife's family. So, for most of the rest of the film the Navy guys hide the kid. And, near the end, some crooks accidentally kidnap the kid--and the Navy comes to the rescue! Uggh.

As I said, the plot was pretty bad--and very contrived. It's a shame, as the production values weren't bad and the characters were reasonably likable. It's just that the story seemed rushed...and rather dumb.

Aboard the USS Saratoga, three fliers celebrate the birth of Jack Randall's first child, a boy they nickname 'the Admiral'. When they reach port, they find the boy healthy, but the mother dead, and her family trying to gain custody. So they take the baby aboard the ship, then hide him with Georgia Caine. But the mother's family still tries to get the child, in the person of Claire Dodd, who is being romanced by William Gargan.

It's an ambitious but mediocre B feature from Republic. It's directed by Nate Watt, who spent much of his 45-year career as an assistant director on some very distinguished movies. There are some good model shots, and the performers, including Douglas Fowley and George Irving do their best, but it's almost entirely tired hijinks.

I can say one thing positive about Navy Born. Some nice newsreel footage of pre-World War II naval aviation is preserved The USS Saratoga is there with all those biplanes they used before hostilities started. Some much better planes were developed.

Saying that what this movie is is a custody battle over an infant. Future movie cowboy Jack Randall's wife dies in childbirth. A short time later Randall is killed. As he lays dying Randall gives a dying declaration of custody to his fellow pilots William Gargan, Douglas Fowley, etc. naming them guardians.

The infant's mother's family in the person Claire Dodd disagrees. But Gargan puts on the old Navy charm. There are other more sinister forces at work here though.

This was ridiculous. I mean, couldn't these lunkheads go to court and settle this matter? Of course then we wouldn't have a movie.

For aviation buffs nly.