Join the Marines

Join the Marines is a 1937 American action film directed by Ralph Staub and written by Joseph Krumgold and Olive Cooper. The film stars Paul Kelly, June Travis, Purnell Pratt, Reginald Denny, Warren Hymer and Irving Pichel. The film was released on January 25, 1937, by Republic Pictures.

Plot
New York Policeman and Olympic javelin thrower Phil Donlan is on his way to the 1936 Olympic Games when he meets lovely Paula Denbrough on the ocean liner to Europe. Paula is planning to marry playboy Steve Lodge, but her father, a U.S. Marine Colonel uses his influence to break up the marriage. Paula believes the broken off marriage is the fault of Phil and gets her revenge by exaggerating some of Phil's pranks into a scandal that gets him thrown off the US Olympic Team and later the NYPD. Paula and Phil fall in love of the return trip, but with no career prospects for Phil, and wishing to impress Paula he joins the Marine Corps. When Paula and Phil break up, Phil boasts he'll become an officer so he can resign his commission and leave the Corps.

Phil's strong physical fitness. self-reliant leadership capabilities and command presence from his former occupations do not go unnoticed by the Corps and he is rapidly promoted to acting Corporal, and later acting First Sergeant. He volunteers for overseas duty in the South Seas and singlehandedly puts down a rebellion by challenging the natives to javelin/spear throwing competitions that win their respect rather than engaging in warfare. When commissioned a Seonnd Lieutenant, Phil plans his resignation but faces a revolt by the natives who do not respect Phil's replacement.

Cast
Paul Kelly as Philip H. 'Phil' Donlan
June Travis as Paula Denbrough
Purnell Pratt as Col. J. B. Denbrough
Reginald Denny as Steve Lodge
Warren Hymer as Hoiman
Irving Pichel as Col. Leonard
Sterling Holloway as Alfred
Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Lt. Hodge
John Holland as Lieutenant
Carleton Young as Corporal
John Sheehan as O'Day
Arthur Hoyt as Capt. James
Richard Beach as Marine
Howard Hickman as Pruitt 
Val Duran as Chinese Bartender
Landers Stevens as Dr. McCullough

References

External links
 

Category:1937 films
Category:American films
Category:English-language films
Category:American action films
Category:1930s action films
Category:Republic Pictures films
Category:American black-and-white films
Category:Films directed by Ralph Staub
Category:Films set in Oceania
Category:Films about the United States Marine Corps
Category:Films produced by Nat Levine