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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Vote for "PT 109" DVD release on TCM site
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Hey guys,

Don't know if you want to do this or not, but I just cast a vote for the 1963 film "PT 109" to be released on DVD over on the Turner Classic Movies website.

TCM has been instrumental in getting a lot of classic films released on DVD, and while some may argue "PT 109's" status as a "classic" film, I think all of us PT boat enthusiasts would welcome its long-delayed release on DVD.

Since it's a Warner Bros. film, hopefully they'll release it on a two-sided disc, containing both wide screen and full screen versions, as Warner Bros. has done with some of their past DVD releases.

To vote,

1. go to the TCM site at: http://www.tcm.com/index.jsp

2. Type PT 109 in the search box at the top

3. Click on PT 109 under title matches

4. Go to the home video vote section on the right and vote.

Thanks for voting, and maybe we'll see a DVD release of "PT 109" in the near future.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 18, 2007 - 5:11pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Okay, I voted. I saw that movie as a kid and loved it. I still do to this day even though the book was better and the movie's not accurate. If they release it I hope it's wide screen.

So do you think Warren Beatty would have made a better Jack Kennedy in the movie? That was Jackie's request. I guess we'll never know.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 18, 2007 - 9:07pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Many of us cut our teeth on PT Boats seeing the Movie PT 109. As a young Kid in 1967 my Dad said I should watch it and I can remember asking him what a PT Boat was. After the Movie was over, I asked my Dad to buy me a PT Boat and he said No, but flipped me .50 cents. I took that money down to Edwards Drug Store found the PT 109 Boat, ran home and slapped it together with Glue and no Paint. It sat on my dresser for the longest time. Who would have known then that today PT Boats remain my passion and I would meet and become friends with Crewmembers from PT 109. The Movie still remains one of my all time favorite, right up there with They Were Expendable. I never really gave it any thought about Warren Beatty playing the part as Cliff Robertson did such an outstanding job in my book. PT 109 still ranks right up there as the single reason why the public can relate to PT Boats.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 18, 2007 - 9:37pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank,
Did any of the crew members you talked to ever give you an indication about the color of the boat? I'm also waivering on the port depth charge issue. So many questions I may never find the answer to.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 18, 2007 - 10:14pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Warren Beatty would have been a very interesting choice to play JFK in "PT 109," for several reasons. He was exactly the right age (26) in 1962-63, when the film was being made, and many people who knew both JFK and Beatty at the time remarked they were very much alike in many ways -- particularly with the ladies.

Just for the heck of it, I checked the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) for publicity photos of the young Warren Beatty, and in one, he is a close match for JFK at 26 -- particularly the big shock of hair up front.

From what I've read, Beatty admired JFK and wanted to play the part, but a combination of what Beatty thought was a lousy script, and his personal dislike of Brian Foy, the movie's producer, prevented him from signing on.

I wonder, if Beatty had been cast, would they have shown him bare-chested in the film? Although Cliff Robertson (who did a fine job, but was more than ten years older during the filming than JFK was in 1943) took a shirtless publicity photo recreating the famous JFK-in-the-cockpit picture, he's not shown without a shirt during the entire film, in keeping with the overall reverential tone where JFK was concerned.

Interesting to speculate what would have been, in regards to Beatty as JFK.

I've also read that Peter Fonda, who was age-appropriate at the time and resembled JFK at 26, was considered, as well as "77 Sunset Strip" TV show actors Roger Smith and Ed "Kookie" Byrnes.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 19, 2007 - 3:28pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Dave:
When I had met Motor Mac Gerard Zinser in 1993, we had a brief discussion on the sinking of PT 109, but did not touch on the subject of boat colors until several years after. Zinser remembers the boat being green, but what shade he could not say. He also remembers the boat having depth charges, but later changed that claim in other conversations. As recently as last year, I had found out that Maurice Kowal was in fact very much alive. He had been an original crewmember of PT 109, being injured early on. He was taken off the boat before the crash, later being a crewmember of Kennedy's second boat PT 59.

Mr. Kowal invited me to his home in which I had a wonderful visit. He had always been a bit miffed that Zinser was being billed as the last survivor of PT 109, when in fact he was very much alive. During my visit, I had touched on the subject of depth charges and the color of PT 109. Kowal said he did not think the 109 had depth charges, but later changed his mind saying he felt the boat might have had 2 of them up forward of the torpedoes. As far as color, he remembers the boat being grey when he reported for duty, but felt it might have been painted green at some point before he was injured. In my opinion I think that part of their memory had been fogged over time, so I am really not sure if they were guessing or not. Both men offered much in the way of patrols and other interesting facets of their time spent with kennedy and Crew so listening to them was one of my biggest thrills. One of my proudest moments was when Mr. Zinser mailed me his dress blue uniform to use in my Exhibits, and flying him in from Florida to sit in another of my Exhibits and meet my guests.

Finding out that Mr. Kowal was alive and well also remains one of the highlights of my life. Meeting him and remaining friends was a dream come true. I still call him 2 or 3 times per month.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 19, 2007 - 10:06pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Just found out that the young Peter Fonda was also considered for the role of JFK in "PT 109," even to the point of doing screen tests.

This makes sense, as at the time the film was made, Fonda was a very close physical match, in both build and looks, to JFK at 26.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 14, 2007 - 7:00am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

As Frank said, I cut my teeth on the movie "PT-109" and built the Revelle model about 5 times as a kid. My Dad Bill was on the 342 in Ron 24 and our very own NW PA Governor Ray Shafer was a PT officer. Dad alawys says "Me and Ray and JFK".
I LOVE the movie and will vote for it to come our on DVD. Its almost two movies. The first half is kind of corny..I hate to say that...but the stuff after the collision is different somehow....maybe just me.
Jeff Sherry

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Jul 23, 2007 - 8:09pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

I was wondering, does anyone know how/where they filmed the collision scenes? I take it it was done in a studio pool but how did they do the overhead shot? Anyone know?

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Jul 23, 2007 - 8:21pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

I'm pretty sure from the looks of it that all the collision and nighttime scenes that follow were filmed in the studio tank, with a partial, full-sized prop of the Amagiri's bow for the overhead shot of it slicing through a full-sized prop 109.

I've always thought someone should have written a book on the making of the movie "PT 109." Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, Robert Blake, Robert Culp, are still with us, of course, and I'm sure others connected with the film are too, but many have passed away.

Although it would take a lot of long and difficult research, since the filming took place 45 years ago, it would be an interesting project. If I didn't have to work at other things for a living, I'd do it myself!

What do you think, guys? "The Making of 'PT 109' - A Presidential Legend on Film."

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 24, 2007 - 8:01am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew,
I'd buy it. What a great idea. I love that movie.
Jeff Sherry

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Aug 6, 2007 - 5:50pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

Drew,
I'd buy it. What a great idea. I love that movie.
Jeff Sherry

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Aug 6, 2007 - 5:51pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

Drew,
Great idea. I'd buy it. So many questions to be answered. As far as filming the post crash scenes in a studio tank, I figured that was the case and in one shot, I think you can see the edge of the tank in the background. Oh Hollywood!
Jeff Sherry

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Aug 6, 2007 - 5:54pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

Thanks, Jeff. It would be a lot of fun to research and write.

I noticed the edge of that studio tank in the crash aftermath scenes while watching my widescreen VHS tape version of the movie a few years ago.

Also, notice how the "109" boat number on the port side of the cockpit is smeared and smudged almost completely off in those scenes -- it looks like it was just chalked on. You'd think they could have at least used paint.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 7, 2007 - 12:31pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Personally I think it would be an awesome idea. Of course being as I love anything associated with PT BOATS and have a deep passion for what I do, the big question is: DOES ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY CARE. I think about many subjects that could be done on PT Boats and have actually started a project several years back. The book would be a pictorial look at ELCO. I have several hundred photos of Elco, from the early years right up to the making of the PT Boats. I believe very strongly in using pictures to get your point across and would love to complete it. Biggest problem once again, DOES ANYONE CARE. Outside of the few hundred we have here on the message board, I have found that not many even know what a PT Boat is, which is one reason I continue to do my Exhibits. Keeping the boats and the men in the public eye is always a good way to insure that the History will never die.

Books of course is another thing. Many publishers won't even take a project unless they think it is something worth their time. Cost's associated with a project like my Elco Pictorial Book can be pretty high. Personally, as much as I would love to do the project, I do not have the extra cash in publishing/printing cost's just to throw out there, and I certainly do not have the time needed to do a project of this magnitude.

Research alone on what I have done to date has many hours on the books. Your thoughts on the making of the movie PT 109 sound great to me, but I am just not convenienced that today's folks would even care about it. Case in point was the book MacArthur's Escape by George W. Smith. A great book, which I enjoyed very much, but I do not think it did very well on the market. I suppose if I had the extra $1500-$2500, I would do the book, just because it is something I have always wanted to do. Keep in mind that most people today have no clue about our WWII History. Hell, I am surprised they even know who won the dam war!!! Anyway, this is just my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps someone with much experience such as Garth Connelly could shed his thoughts here as well. After all, he has authored several books on PT Boats and certainly knows the ropes.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Aug 7, 2007 - 3:08pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank
I think that the answer to your question "does anyone really care " might surprise you. I believe that when people, who think that PT boats were something like McHale's Navy realize their contribution to winning the war will care. My 22 year old stepson had no interest in WWII until I told him about his great uncle who was KIA on PT-320. He then read the letters this man had written home, with great interest. He now has an appreciation for their service and is reading about PT boats and the war in the Pacific.

Your other statement about not knowing who won the war..I was talking to one of my employees, who is 21. He was pretty sure that we beat either the Chinese or German's in the south Pacific. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Alan Curtis

Posted By: Alan Curtis | Posted on: Aug 7, 2007 - 4:52pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Point well taken Alan..........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Aug 7, 2007 - 6:53pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;

It is unfortunate that in this day and age people are more interested in superficial news such as Paris Hiltons' jail stint instead of historical news which shaped this nation. There will always be a clique of us that will try to preserve these memories but without the "big bucks" that is needed to ensure that these men are not forgotten in the future will depend on people like you Frank who has given his all to the cause.

It is sad indeed when most school children cannot identify different countries on a map. They are not well versed in state capitols. We have become a decadent society that relies on instant gratification rather than hard work.

It really is up to us, the people on this message board, to spread the word so that this part of our nations' history will not be forgotten.

It is sad indeed to come to the realization that the men who fought in WWII are becoming fewer and fewer. With the last meeting of the Peter Tare society we have fewer men left to tell the stories. Thanks to CJ, Will Day, Walt Kundis and all of the other vets that have paid their dues to tell us about their experiences during this most important part of our nations' growth.

Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Aug 8, 2007 - 10:16am
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm

Frank, Alan, and everyone,

This reminds me of a conversation I had years ago with one of the teenage employees who worked for me in the video store I managed at the time. A senior at one of the very best high schools in our city, she had already been accepted as a freshman at our State University.

We were idly conversing during a lull in business when I said, "Well, today is December 7th." She stared blankly at me. "'A day which will live in infamy?'" I said. Silence. "Yep, December 7th. Pearl Harbor day." No reply. "The day the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor? To start World War II?" I said.

This girl, with a totally confused look on her face, then quizzically said "The Japanese attacked US at Pearl Harbor? I thought WE attacked the Japanese at Pearl Harbor!"

So much for history.

Frank is right about the difficulty of getting a book published. My friend Mark Bando, who is an expert on the 101st Airborne Division in WWII and the author of six books, has recounted to me the endless problems with getting his works (which are excellent) into print and marketed, and of the absolute pittance authors make on the sales of their books compared to their cover prices.

The "selling" of a book on the making of the movie "PT 109" (to both a potential publisher and the buying public) would certainly have to pitch the angle of interest that it was the only commercial Hollywood filming and theatrical release of part of the personal history of a living, sitting President of the United States -- that history having played no small part in both his reputation and recommendation as a leader.

Oh well, it's fun to think of the "what if's."

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 8, 2007 - 10:25am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I have a limited run on Warner Bros. PT 109 Special Widesceen and Fullscreen editions on DVD for sale at 10.00 + 3.00 sh Money back Guarantee if not happy for any reason. write to email for your orders.
box702@optonline.net

Posted By: ray p | Posted on: May 1, 2009 - 4:16pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Frank,

In my opinion? AND JUST MY OPINION .... Just wanted to make that clear so I won't get criticized ...

A book like that would not do good, it's too tight in its scope and only a small group would tend to buy it. It might be written well, researched well and have good photos, but in today's society - where it's offensive to some to glorify war - as some perceive war movies do. Case in point - the movie PEARL HARBOR had to have one of its or a few of its scenes either reshot or deleted so that it wouldn't offend movie-goers in Japan. Never mind the HISTORICAL FACT that the Japanese attacked Pearl and killed thousands of Americans but we can't have them offended in a movie.

So, that book would be a total flop. Not to mention that WB wants exhorbiant fees for the photos they have for the book and then, would get a cut of the proceeds ..........

Garth

Personally I think it would be an awesome idea. Of course being as I love anything associated with PT BOATS and have a deep passion for what I do, the big question is: DOES ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY CARE. I think about many subjects that could be done on PT Boats and have actually started a project several years back. The book would be a pictorial look at ELCO. I have several hundred photos of Elco, from the early years right up to the making of the PT Boats. I believe very strongly in using pictures to get your point across and would love to complete it. Biggest problem once again, DOES ANYONE CARE. Outside of the few hundred we have here on the message board, I have found that not many even know what a PT Boat is, which is one reason I continue to do my Exhibits. Keeping the boats and the men in the public eye is always a good way to insure that the History will never die.

Books of course is another thing. Many publishers won't even take a project unless they think it is something worth their time. Cost's associated with a project like my Elco Pictorial Book can be pretty high. Personally, as much as I would love to do the project, I do not have the extra cash in publishing/printing cost's just to throw out there, and I certainly do not have the time needed to do a project of this magnitude.

Research alone on what I have done to date has many hours on the books. Your thoughts on the making of the movie PT 109 sound great to me, but I am just not convenienced that today's folks would even care about it. Case in point was the book MacArthur's Escape by George W. Smith. A great book, which I enjoyed very much, but I do not think it did very well on the market. I suppose if I had the extra $1500-$2500, I would do the book, just because it is something I have always wanted to do. Keep in mind that most people today have no clue about our WWII History. Hell, I am surprised they even know who won the dam war!!! Anyway, this is just my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps someone with much experience such as Garth Connelly could shed his thoughts here as well. After all, he has authored several books on PT Boats and certainly knows the ropes.........

Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 3, 2009 - 10:11am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I'm sorry, I thought you were talking about doing a book on the making of the movie PT-109.

Frank,

In my opinion? AND JUST MY OPINION .... Just wanted to make that clear so I won't get criticized ...

A book like that would not do good, it's too tight in its scope and only a small group would tend to buy it. It might be written well, researched well and have good photos, but in today's society - where it's offensive to some to glorify war - as some perceive war movies do. Case in point - the movie PEARL HARBOR had to have one of its or a few of its scenes either reshot or deleted so that it wouldn't offend movie-goers in Japan. Never mind the HISTORICAL FACT that the Japanese attacked Pearl and killed thousands of Americans but we can't have them offended in a movie.

So, that book would be a total flop. Not to mention that WB wants exhorbiant fees for the photos they have for the book and then, would get a cut of the proceeds ..........

Garth

Personally I think it would be an awesome idea. Of course being as I love anything associated with PT BOATS and have a deep passion for what I do, the big question is: DOES ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY CARE. I think about many subjects that could be done on PT Boats and have actually started a project several years back. The book would be a pictorial look at ELCO. I have several hundred photos of Elco, from the early years right up to the making of the PT Boats. I believe very strongly in using pictures to get your point across and would love to complete it. Biggest problem once again, DOES ANYONE CARE. Outside of the few hundred we have here on the message board, I have found that not many even know what a PT Boat is, which is one reason I continue to do my Exhibits. Keeping the boats and the men in the public eye is always a good way to insure that the History will never die.

Books of course is another thing. Many publishers won't even take a project unless they think it is something worth their time. Cost's associated with a project like my Elco Pictorial Book can be pretty high. Personally, as much as I would love to do the project, I do not have the extra cash in publishing/printing cost's just to throw out there, and I certainly do not have the time needed to do a project of this magnitude.

Research alone on what I have done to date has many hours on the books. Your thoughts on the making of the movie PT 109 sound great to me, but I am just not convenienced that today's folks would even care about it. Case in point was the book MacArthur's Escape by George W. Smith. A great book, which I enjoyed very much, but I do not think it did very well on the market. I suppose if I had the extra $1500-$2500, I would do the book, just because it is something I have always wanted to do. Keep in mind that most people today have no clue about our WWII History. Hell, I am surprised they even know who won the dam war!!! Anyway, this is just my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps someone with much experience such as Garth Connelly could shed his thoughts here as well. After all, he has authored several books on PT Boats and certainly knows the ropes.........

Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 3, 2009 - 10:13am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Oh, ok. We are ... well, my statements stand.

I'd like to add also.........

Whereas, my generation is the last generation of offspring of those who fought in WW2 (now, in our late 40s and early 50s not the baby boomers who are in their late 50s and early 60s) and know what a PT is, know what a SC is, know what a P-40, 36, 38, 39, 47, 51, 61, Hurricane, Spitfire (and all its Marks), F-4U, F4-F and F-6F are as well as all the Axis Powers equipment were .......

Kids after us were NOT taught about the war at all, and if they were? It was like; WW2 was from 1939 to 1945 and its major battles were touched on but glossed over ... and the spin on it was very liberal ..........

Heck, I remember spending lunch-times with my friends drawing planes, tanks and ships from WW2 in grammer school in the 60s.

I also remember in the 1990s when my brother took me to England and our nephew went with us to help him cart me around, we went to the Imperial War Museum and Duxford, Hendon and Portsmouth and our nephew asking me what a Spitfire was and why it would be in a museum?

The newer generation, ON THE WHOLE (I will admit that there is a SMALL MINORITY of kids out there who like history but on the whole ...) does not know, understand or even care about history .............

Garth

Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 3, 2009 - 10:30am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

DONE
Vote number 1752
(thats a lot of dough for them)

Michael

Posted By: Michael | Posted on: May 3, 2009 - 7:31pm
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm