Expert: Mel - 1/10/2004

Question
Back in the late 50's early 60's I remember watching an old movie on TV about a group of women who go to a tropical Island.It was wartime and they may of been Wac's, I don't remember if they were nurses or plane spotters,but one of them was always taking vitamins from this big bottle.(might be Ann Southern) Anyway a plane crashes and it is this handsome pilot. One of the ladies falls in love with him. When the enemy gets there the lady with the vitamins says something like " better take this I may need it where I'm going" Or "where we're going I won't be needing these." I know I ramble but this is driving me nuts. Do you know the movie I am talking about? Thanks so much.  

Answer
Hello Dee,

I think you may well be referring to the 1943 MGM film "Cry Havoc", which starred Margaret Sullavan, Ann Sothern and Joan Blondell. Here is a short review of the film:

"CRY HAVOC": Based on a fairly successful stage play, the film is set primarily in the confines of an underground bomb shelter. However,this doesn't make the film any the less powerful or intriguing. Lieutenant Mary "Smitty" Smith(Margaret Sullavan) desperately needs more experienced nurses at an army hospital in Bataan. Later,several volunteers arrive at Bataan and are willing to do their part for the war effort. Smitty is somewhat disappointed when see learns they aren't experienced. Although, the nurses are willing to work, they aren't fully aware of the hardships and destruction they'll have to face. The nurses' predicament becomes worse when two hospital buildings are hit and bombed by Japanese planes. Their chance of survival becomes extremely slim. This film paints an unglamorous and intense picture of war. Except for a few male extras,the majority of the cast is female. MGM put an ensemble cast of accomplished actresses in the leads. The cast includes: Margaret Sullavan, Ann Sothern, Joan Blondell, Fay Bainter, Marsha Hunt,and Heather Angel. Sothern stands out among the cast. Although, she was a gifted comedienne, Sothern had an immense talent in dramatic areas as well. Here she plays Pat Conlin, a tough, headstrong nurse,who thinks she knows the severity of war. She learns the hard way that it isn't that easy and becomes a more sympathetic person because of it. Sullavan gives a fine, realistic performance as Lieutenant Smith. She's a courageous character that is slowly dying of malignant Malaria. The rest of the cast give top notch performances as well. This is one of Richard Thorpe's better directorial efforts. If you want to see a similarly themed film, watch Paramount's "So Proudly We Hail", also made in 1943.

Just in case it's not Ann Sothern, here is a short piece about the other film mentioned:

"SO PROUDLY WE HAIL": A group of U.S. Army nurses leaves San Francisco for their tour of duty in Hawaii in December 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor changes their destination, and their lives. Sent to Bataan, in the Philippines, the nurses are led by Lt. Janet "Davey" Davidson. She is faced with untested nurses who expected an easy time in Honolulu, but who quickly become battle-weary veterans dealing with daily bombardments by the Japanese, overwhelmed by the numbers of wounded, and dwindling supplies. Some of Davidson's unit also have to deal with romantic liasons with men they met onboard ship. When Bataan falls, the American forces flee to the offshore island of Corregidor, where they find the Japanese assault just as intense. The film starred Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake.


Hope that's helped. Cheers........Mel.