Destroyer

Stout of frame and on the cusp of 50 at the time of filming, Edward G Robinson makes an unlikely naval hero in this entertaining Second World War flag-waver. His former US Navy sailor has turned shipyard welder as the story begins, building the successor to the destroyer USS John Paul Jones. When it's complete, he takes the opportunity to get on board and back in uniform. However, times have changed, and his disciplinarian ways go down poorly with the crew, including a youthful Glenn Ford in a bland early appearance. After a frankly turgid first hour, the movie picks up considerably, prompted by a barnstorming speech from Robinson detailing the real-life exploits of John Paul Jones, America's first naval hero. There's also some charming model work as Japanese fighter planes attack and a lurking submarine provides stern resistance, so while it takes a while to build up steam, the film just about gets there in the end.