Murder in the Fleet

Heave-to for homicide. While in port, the USS Carolina is chosen for an urgent test of a new electronic firing system due to its shipshape efficiency record. That reputation will be stained -- in blood -- by a saboteur out to scuttle the trial, no matter how many swabbies and civilians must die. Reuniting Death on the Diamond's producer, director and comedy-relief pair of Nat Pendleton and Ted Healy, Murder in the Fleet is a lively and colorfully cast murder mystery cowritten by naval aviator Frank "Spig" Wead (subject of the John Ford/John Wayne biopic The Wings of Eagles) that provides an early showcase for Robert Taylor as the lieutenant duty-bound to complete the installation. A few months away from breakaway stardom roles in Magnificent Obsession and Camille, Taylor truly earns his hero's stripes in a climactic battle with the lethal lunatic in a fleetly flooding powder magazine. Jean Parker and Una Merkel as love interests, plus Jean Hersholt, Donald Cook, Mischa Auer, Keye Luke and Ward Bond round out the ship's complement in this see-worthy vessel.