Nathan Juran | Through the Shattered Lens

At the height of World War II, Commander Casey Abbott (Ronald Reagan) breaks up with nurse Helen Blair (Nancy Davis, the future first lady) and takes command of a submarine that has been tasked with mapping out Japanese mine fields. Abbott struggles at first with commanding his submarine. After a popular diver — and Helen’s new boyfriend — is killed during a mission, much of the crew holds Abbott responsible. While Abbott is able to win back the respect of the crew, he still struggles with his second-in-command, Don Landon (Arthur Franz). Landon wants to command his own submarine but when Abbott gives him a negative recommendation, Landon is forced to consider his past actions. Landon eventually discovers just how difficult it is to be in charge.

Full of stock footage and chintzy special effects, Hellcats of the Navy was the movie that Ronald Reagan considered to be so bad that it led to him retiring from feature films and devoting himself to mastering the emerging medium of television. Gene Hackman had his Welcome To Mooseport. Ronald Reagan had his Hellcats of the Navy. It’s definitely on the cheap and predictable side but, when I watched it earlier today, I discovered it wasn’t as bad as I had heard. Reagan actually gives a pretty good performance as Abbott and the film does show that even a good commander will make mistakes. The main problem is that it’s just not a very exciting film and a good deal of the undersea footage was clumsily lifted from other movies.

Hellcats of the Navy was the one movie that co-starred both Ronnie and Nancy and it’s worth watching for curiosity’s sake. Nancy isn’t in much of the movie and it’s really a role that anyone could have played. There’s not a lot of romantic chemistry between Ronnie and Nancy, they’re both too reserved for that. This film still shows the likability and the natural authority that led to Ronald Reagan launching a second career in politics.

Just think, if Hellcats of the Navy had been a better movie, the past 45 years might have been very different.

Are you feeling sad? Does the world seem to be oppressive and overwhelming? Do you just need a break from all of the nonstop bullshit that seems to be the price that we pay for every day of our existence?

If you answered yes, all I can say is that I know where you’re coming from. Seriously, I’ve spent this entire month feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Whenever I feel this way, I’m glad that — nearly 60 years ago — a director named Nathan Juran made a movie called The Brain From Planet Arous.

Seriously, I defy anyone — ANYONE — to remain depressed after having watched this movie. It’s just so wonderfully ludicrous and silly. The Brain From Planet Arous is just that, a gigantic floating brain that comes to Earth from a planet called Arous. The brain, incidentally, has a name and it is Gor. Gor, it seems, is a criminal, and he’s hiding out on Earth. He possesses a scientist named Sam (John Agar) and spends most of his time trying to force himself on Sam’s fiancée (Joyce Meadows). Fortunately, another brain from planet Arous has come to Earth. Its name is Val and it possesses Sam’s dog and…

Look, the plot is not important. What is important is that this film features two giant brains floating around and arguing. It also features an adorable dog and some atomic weapon testing stock footage. It’s not good but it’s a lot of fun.

Sadly, I’ve read that director Nathan Juran thought so little of this film that he was credited under a fake name. That’s a shame because you know what? The Brain From Planet Arous makes me happy and it’ll make you happy too.

Watch it and enjoy!