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 Author  Topic: PT 109 Script from 11-22-61
Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Oct 14, 2007 - 10:59am
I was so happy to be going thru some boxes I had in storage and found my REV Estimating Script to the movie, PT 109. This was received by the Stenographic Department and was Script one. Not much was used of this Script in the final draft, but what was interesting is the section on the boats used for the movie.

Warner Brothers actually had Operating and Safety Instructions for what they called the Warner brothers PT Division. In Division Command for each boat they had a Chief Boatswain, Chief Quartermaster. The Boatswains Mate was the Division Commmander and the Quartermaster was also the Division Executive Officer. Their immediate supervisior was the US NAVY Technical Advisor of the Production. The Navagator had to actually keep boat logs and make daily entries. He was also resposible to steer courses to certain rendezvous points in operations during production. A Boatswain's mate second class was the BOAT CAPTAIN of each PT BOAT. Each boat had to have three gunners mates to take care of the guns for PT 109.

The torpedoes on each boat were of course dummies as were the depth charges. It mentions in the script that no torpedoes or depth charges would be used in the making of the movie. The .50 caliber guns on all of the movie boats initially would be converted to fire blank cartriges. Later, the .50's on one boat would be replaced with standard guns for firing live ammunition. Also, each boat was to carry the stern mounted 20MM Cannon, which was converted to be fired as a gas gun. Later, the one boat that would be getting the live .50's would also get a 20MM for live firing. It should be noted that PT 59 in the movie would not get any firing guns. A machine gun expert from Warner Brothers Studio instructed all PT Gunners Mates in the care, handling, loading, firing, and repair of .50 caliber and 20mm guns.

Each boat had an experienced Helmsman, a civilian supplied by the Studio. Each boat also had an experienced Motor Machinists Mate, a civilian supplied by the Studio. These were some of the standard orders posted in each boat, such as Deviation Table, Speed, RPM Table, Fuel Consumption Table, Main Engine Starting and and Securing Instructions, Lines and Fenders, ect. They even had to wash down the decks of each boatdaily with fresh water. They had fire drills, and took all the precautions and regualations during any fueling of the boats. I guess they certainly made sure no accidents would occur during the making of the movie. The opening of the script I have actually was to show 6 PT BOATS in formation, moving at high speed as the camera zooms in to show the wakes, a long shot showing the boats rushing towards the camera. Each boat comes closer than the preceding one. The wave from the last boat now sweeps up OVER CAMERA and we DISSOLVE TO TITLES. They were to show a series of Camera shots of the boats, then a FULL SHOT of THE TRAINING CENTER. MELVILLE RHODE ISLAND. I could go on and on, but we are talking a couple of hundred pages of script here. I thought I would share this with some of you, who like me remember the movie as young kids.


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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Oct 15, 2007 - 1:02am
Very cool piece of history...I like hearing the backstory on things. Thanks for sharing...

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT-209
RON 23 PT-243

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Drew Cook

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: Oct 15, 2007 - 2:29pm
Fascinating, as always, Frank -- thanks!


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