PT 109 (film)

PT 109 is a 1963 biographical war film which depicts the actions of John F. Kennedy JFK as an officer of the United States Navy in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT109 during the Pacific War of World War II. The film was adapted by Vincent Flaherty and Howard Sheehan from the book PT 109 John F. Kennedy in World War II by Robert J. Donovan, and the screenplay was written by Robert L. Breen. Cliff Robertson stars as Kennedy, with featured performances by Ty Hardin, James Gregory, Robert Culp, and Grant Williams.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant, junior grade John F. Kennedy Cliff Robertson uses his familys influence to get himself assigned to the fighting in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Theater during World War II, much to the surprise of Commander C.R. Ritchie James Gregory. Kennedy lobbies for command of a PT Boat, and is assigned to the 109, a badly damaged boat that is in dire need of repair and overhaul. Initially, Ritchie seems to regard the young, inexperienced Kennedy as something of a lightweight, but his enthusiasm to build a crew and refurbish the 109 to operational status eventually earns Ritchies grudging respect. The crew includes Kennedys executive officer, Ensign Leonard J. Thom Ty Hardin, and sailors Bucky Harris Robert Blake and Edmund Drewitch Norman Fell.On one mission, the PT 109 is sent to evacuate paramarines after their Raid on Choiseul. Kennedy successfully takes aboard the survivors, but barely gets out of range of Japanese mortars before running out of fuel. The tide starts to carry the boat back toward the island. Kennedy, his crew, and the rescued Marines face the prospect of a desperate fight for their lives, but in the nick of time another PT boat arrives and tows the 109 to safety. ........

Source: Wikipedia