To the Shores of Tripoli

To the Shores of Tripoli is a 1942 American Technicolor film starring John Payne, Maureen OHara and Randolph Scott. The film was directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.

Wealthy Culver Military Academy dropout and playboy Chris Winters John Payne enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private where he meets his drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Dixie Smith Randolph Scott and falls in love with a Navy nurse, Lieutenant Mary Carter Maureen OHara. Smith is given a letter from Winters father. Captain Christopher Winters Minor Watson writes Smith of his playboy son. Sgt. Smith served in World War I under the elder Winters Minor Watson Smith affectionately calls Winters The Skipper. Chris Winters can not understand that Officers and Enlisted Men do not associate under the nonfraternization policy, even if the officer is a woman and the enlisted man is a male.Chris society girlfriend Helene Hunt Nancy Kelly wants Chris to get a cushy civilian job in Washington, D.C. and uses her uncles power and her influence on the base commander, General Gordon John Hamilton. In sequences filmed at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Smith gives the younger Winters an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership potential by drilling his platoon. To Smiths amusement the Marines mock Chris and perform slapstick antics during the drill as Winters marches them away. As Smith is enjoying himself the platoon marches back and performs close order drill of a high order of perfection. Smith is greatly surprised until he looks over the platoon and notices several Marines have black eyes, chipped teeth and bruises. Chris Winters says, I was captain of the boxing team at Culver. ........

Source: Wikipedia