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HH104 American Naval History

A Library Research Guide intended for USNA Midshipmen enrolled in HH104

Michael Macan, Nimitz Library History Librarian

Naval Academy History Resources:

Listed are films that are focused on or heavily feature the United States Naval Academy. They are listed in chronological order.

Hero of Submarine D2

              Released: 1916

Plot Synopsis: When Lieutenant Commander Colton, an official at the Naval Academy, refuses to reinstate Gilman Austen, who flunked out, Gilman's father, political boss J. F. Austen, has Colton reassigned to a much harsher job, that of submarine commander. While in charge of Submarine D-2, Colton learns of a Ruanian plot to blow up the United States fleet. To foil the plan, Colton, working alone, detonates the Ruanian mines before the fleet passes through them, but he sustains serious injuries in the process. He is rescued, however, by Seaman Gilman Austen, who joined the Navy after his dismissal from Annapolis. With the fleet now safe, Colton marries Caroline, Gilman's sister, and Gilman himself, because of his heroism, is allowed to re-enter the Academy.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157751/?ref_=nv_sr_2

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/495674/The-Hero-of-Submarine-D-2/

 

Madam Spy

             Released: 1918

Plot Synopsis: Robert "Bob" Wesley horrifies his father, Admiral John Wesley of the Naval Advisory Board, by failing his examination at the Annapolis naval academy. Bob seizes the chance to redeem himself, however, when he overhears Hanson, the butler, plotting with German agent Count Von Ornstorff to deliver his father's plans for the Atlantic coastal defenses to German Baroness Von Hulda. In Baltimore, Bob meets the baroness' ship and, with the aid of an old college professor, makes her his prisoner. Having impersonated a woman in the college play, Bob disguises himself as the baroness, rendezvous with the spies, and obtains the plans. Baroness Von Hulda escapes, but Bob recaptures her and then turns all of the spies over to the authorities. Admiral Wesley expresses his pride in his son, and Bob wins Phyllis Covington, the girl of his heart.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009331/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_7

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/497074/Madame-Spy/

 

The Midshipman

              Released: 1925

Plot Synopsis: James Randall, an upperclassman at the Naval Academy, falls in love with Patricia Lawrence, the sister of a plebe. She is engaged to Basil Courtney, a wealthy reprobate who arranges with Rita to discredit James. On the night of the big dance, Rita goes to the guardhouse where James is supposed to be on duty and arranges to be found with him. Ted Lawrence has taken his place, however, and James sees Ted with Rita in the guardhouse. Honorbound to report Ted for violation of academy rules, James decides to resign instead. Courtney abducts Patricia, and James rescues her. James discovers Rita's complicity in Courtney's schemes and decides to stay in the academy, marrying Patricia upon his graduation.

              Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016109/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                         TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1691/The-Midshipman/

              Nimitz Holdings: V415.P1 M53 1925a 

 

West Point

              Released: 1928

Plot Synopsis: Arrogant and impudent Brice Wayne, a West Point cadet who is a star player on the football team, painfully learns the error of his ways when, after a year, he realizes that he hasn't acquired the proper school spirit. Dismissed from the football team shortly before the Army-Navy match, Brice resigns from the Military Academy, then retracts when his friends Tex McNeil and Betty Channing encourage him to stay. Restored to the team, Brice scores the decisive goal in the game with Navy.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017534/?ref_=nv_sr_1

            TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2187/West-Point/

 

Annapolis

              Released: 1928

Plot Synopsis: After an initial period of hostility, Bill and Herbert, classmates at the United States Naval Academy, become the best of friends. When Herbert is confined to quarters for dereliction of duty, Bill falls in love with Herbert's fiancée, Betty, who has arrived in Annapolis for the Commencement Ball. Learning of the flirtation, Herbert goes off limits and quarrels with Betty. He returns to base that night and slugs a guard; Bill is unjustly blamed for the assault and ordered to face a court-martial. Herbert confesses to the crime, however, and Bill is free to find happiness with Betty

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018646/?ref_=nv_sr_4

            TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/490633/Annapolis/

 

Salute

               Released: 1929

Plot Synopsis: John Randall is an Army cadet at West Point. His younger brother Paul is a midshipman at the Naval Academy. John contrives to help Paul's timid romantic interest in Nancy Wayne by pretending to be interested in her himself. Paul, however, takes offense, and determines to beat his brother in the Army-Navy football game on purely personal grounds. Meanwhile, Paul and fellow midshipman Albert Price are hazed and tormented by upperclassmen.

              Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020359/

                          TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88954/Salute/

 

The Flying Fleet

              Released: 1929

Plot Synopsis: Six graduates of the Naval Academy, after attending the Naval Flying School, successfully undertake a flight from San Diego to Honolulu. The film includes considerable background material concerning test flying and gives a detailed account of what aspirants for flying berths must endure to get their wings.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019886/?ref_=nv_sr_2

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1882/The-Flying-Fleet/

 

Shipmates

             Released: 1931

Plot Synopsis: The handsome young seaman John Paul Jones falls in love with Kit Corbin. Kit is the daughter of Admiral Ben Corbin. But John is unable to act upon his love because of social class differences. Meanwhile a perpetually angry Capt. Henry Beatty constantly abuses him while he struggles to get into the Naval Academy.

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022376/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/706/Shipmates/

 

Midshipman Jack

             Released: 1933

Plot Synopsis: Given a last chance, after failing to graduate with his class at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis,Maryland because he was reported by a jealous rival for being out after 'Taps,", Midshipman Jack Austin is warned that one more offense meets dismissal from the Navy, he shoulders the responsibility for a head-on crash between a seaplane and the submarine-chaser under his command during peace-time maneuvers.

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024336/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/83455/Midshipman-Jack/

 

Annapolis Farewell

             Released: 1935

Plot Synopsis: Commodore Fitzhugh, an old retired naval officer, lives at the Annapolis Naval Academy and, unhappy with the "modern" navy, likes to talk about his days in the "old" navy, especially about his part in the Battle of Manila Bay under Adm. Dewey during the Spanish-American War, when he commanded the USS Congress. That ship, now decommissioned and docked in Annapolis harbor, is--unknown to Fitzhugh--about to be towed out to sea to be used for target practice. When Fitzhugh finds this out, he sets out to either save his beloved vessel or "go down with his ship".

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026072/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67432/Annapolis-Farewell/

 

Shipmates Forever

             Released: 1935

Plot Synopsis: Dick is watching the fleet come in when he sees June. Dick has no intention of joining the Navy, which is a family tradition, and June, having lost her father and brother in the Navy, does not want a Navy man. But Dick relents when his father says that he would not make it anyway and he enters the Naval Academy. The first year as a plebe is tough, but Dick is at the head of his class. He rooms alone, as he sees no need for friends as he plans to resign when he graduates. June has also changed her mind about Dick being at the Academy. The second year is the same, except for his old roommate Lawrence who washes out. Finally, the last year and he has a three month training cruise. This cruise will make or break Dick as a Navy man.

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026988/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/826/Shipmates-Forever/

             Nimitz Holdings:  V415.P1 S54 2009  

 

Hold ‘Em Navy!

             Released: 1937

Plot Synopsis: As new recruits to the U. S. Navy, known as plebes, Tommy Gorham and James "Stuffy" Miller are constantly ribbed by the upperclassmen. Tommy does not like the rigorous discipline of Navy training, and after being humiliated by Chuck Baldwin and picking up the nickname "Beautiful," bets Stuffy that he will go to the graduation ball with Chuck's girlfriend, Judy Holland, the proprietor of the Anchor Tea Room.

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029008/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78168/Hold-Em-Navy/

 

Navy Blue and Gold

             Released: 1937

Plot Synopsis: James Stewart plays "Truck" Cross an enlisted soldier who has been accepted into the Unites States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Truck meets Roger "Rog" Ash (Robert Young)and Richard "Dickie" Gates Junior (Tom Brown). Three very different young men become roommates. Truck Cross has a secret he doesn't want let out. Ash is full of himself and needs to learn to be part of a team. Gates seems to just want to belong to something get away from his mother (played by Billie Burke, whom you will instantly remember as Glinda the Good Witch)

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029297/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2482/Navy-Blue-and-Gold/

             Nimitz Holdings:  PS3503.R9 N3 2012  

 

Annapolis Salute

            Released: 1937

Plot Synopsis: A naval cadet clashes with his father and his best friend over his love of the commander's daughter.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028578/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/859/Annapolis-Salute/

 

Touchdown Army

            Released: 1938

Plot Synopsis: Prep football star Jimmy Howal(Robert Cummings)gets a reception far different from what he expected when he enters West Point. His cocky attitude earns him the enmity of many upperclassmen, especially hot-tempered southerner Brandon Culpepper (John Howard), who also sees Howal as a rival for beautiful Toni Denby (Mary Carlisle), daughter of West Point officer Colonel Denby (Minor Watson.) Just before the Army-Navy football game, Howals' name is posted as failing French, and the cadets fear he will be kept from playing because of it. (The Paramount writers overlooked the fact that since Howal was a plebe nee freshman student, he couldn't have played anyway as freshman weren't eligible for the varsity in this period.) Toni agrees to tutor Howal, but she, unknowingly, uses an old examination which is the basis for the new test. Howal realizes what has happened when he passes the exam with flying colors, and suspects Toni of having set out to make a fool of him.

            Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030886/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                       TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/93704/Touchdown-Army/

 

Pride of the Navy

             Released: 1939

Plot Synopsis: Naval Lieutenant Jerry Richards is developing a high-speed, torpedo-carrying boat, but cannot perfect the design, so he seeks the aid of top speedboat racer and designer Speed Brennan. Egotistical Speed was Jerry's roommate at Annapolis but has had ill will toward the Navy ever since he was kicked out of the academy for committing reckless pranks. Speed arrogantly refuses Jerry's request for help but reconsiders when he meets Gloria Tyler, Jerry's girlfriend and the captain's daughter. Hoping to win Gloria's favor, Speed agrees to work on the project and moves to the base with his mechanic, Gloomy Kelly, and their monkey Jinxie.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031824/?ref_=nv_sr_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/87106/Pride-of-the-Navy/

 

The Splinter Fleet / Submarine Patrol / Suicide Fleet / Wooden Anchors

             Released: 1938

Plot Synopsis: A naval officer is demoted for negligence and put in command of a run-down submarine chaser and with a motley crew.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030808/?ref_=nv_sr_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91790/Submarine-Patrol/

 

Naval Academy

             Released: 1941

Plot Synopsis: A tough student at the Garfield Reform School is given a chance to straighten his life when a friend of his father's, offers to enroll him at the State Naval Academy.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033940/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84620/Naval-Academy/

 

Historic Maryland

             Released: 1941

Plot Synopsis: A travelogue highlighting such Maryland destinations as Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, Annapolis, and Fort McHenry.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238270/

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/400096/Historic-Maryland/

 

 Hello Annapolis

             Released: 1942

Plot Synopsis: Bill Arden and Paul Herbert sign up at the titular Naval Academy to win the affection of Doris Henley. Bill finds that he hates it. It is not until Bill is badly burned saving his rival Paul's life that he wins respect and changes his mind.

             Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034840/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                        TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/77720/Hello-Annapolis/

 

Minesweeper

             Released: 1943

Plot Synopsis: A naval officer who had deserted several years earlier is drawn back to the Navy when World War II begins. He re-enlists under an assumed name, and is assigned to a minesweeper, where he has to perform hazardous duties while at the same time keeping his real identity a secret.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036161/?ref_=nv_sr_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/83542/Minesweeper/

Nimitz Holdings: PN1997 .M56 2008  

 

Saturday’s Hero

             Released: 1951

Plot Synopsis: A star high school football player goes through the ups and downs of 'big-time' college athletics in the 1950's.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043994/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/89099/Saturday-s-Hero/

 

An Annapolis Story: The Blue and Gold

            Released: 1955

            Plot Synopsis: Two brothers enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy fall in love with the same girl.

            Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047835/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                       TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/26631/An-Annapolis-Story/

            Nimitz Holdings: V415.P1 A55 1990  

 

Admirals in the Making

             Released: 1956

Synopsis: A documentary created by the National Dairy Council with the cooperation of the Department of Defense and the United States Naval Academy. Features the curriculum taught and a midshipman’s life at the US Naval Academy in the 1950’s. Features types of food served to midshipmen, with an emphasis on dairy products.

Links: Colorado State Archives containing records of National Dairy Council https://lib2.colostate.edu/archives/findingaids/agriculture/awdc.html#series9

Nimitz Holdings: V415.P1 A35 2003 

 

Mark

            Released: 1960

            Plot Synopsis: See Annapolis through the eyes of a young boy rambling about the city.

            Nimitz Holdings:  F189.A6 M25 2003

 

Patriot Games

             Released 1992

Plot Synopsis: When CIA analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105112/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86384/Patriot-Games/

Nimitz Holdings: PS3553.L245 P38 2003  

 

Annapolis

             Released: 2006

Plot Synopsis: It's known as one of the toughest institutions is America--a home for the best and brightest who are driven to serve their country and a training facility where only the strongest survive. It's a rarified world that, by necessity, makes or breaks tomorrow's heroes. And for local Maryland kid Jake Huard the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis has been a lifelong dream he never thought could come true. Only now that it has, he is about to realize that his battle to become the man he always wanted to be is only just beginning. Jake was raised to believe his future lay as a laborer in the Annapolis shipyards--like everyone else in his family before him. But to his disbelief, Jake has defied the odds and become one of the rare few accepted to Annapolis along with some of the most elite young men and women in the country. When he arrives, his dream soon looks like it might turn into a nightmare. As a freshman "plebe," Jake is immediately thrown into a pressure-cooker atmosphere that threatens to be his undoing. Just as it seems Jake could become another Annapolis statistic, he takes one last shot at proving his potential. He meets an unlikely ally in his beautiful, stunningly strong military superior, Ali, who also happens to secretly be a skilled boxing trainer. Jake decides to train for the legendary Navy boxing competition, a creator of future leaders known as the Brigade Championships. Now, there remains only one thing standing between Jake and the triumph he needs--the steel-jawed company commander, Midshipman Lt. Cole. Everything Jake has ever hoped for stands in the balance--the chance to make his father proud, the chance to stand up for his fellow plebes and, most of all, the opportunity to fight for a better future.

Links: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417433/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

           TCM https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/580492/Annapolis/

Nimitz Holdings: PN1997 .A54 2006