Written by Kris Land
The film Mister Roberts played a pivotal role in the history of the USNS New Bedford, now the beloved Sea Bird. 
The story began as a novel authored by Thomas Heggen in 1946. Heggen gathered memories from his time spent aboard the USS Virgo and USS Rotanin during World War II. The novel later caught the eye of producer Leland Hayward who turned it into a Broadway production. The play was a massive hit and earned the star, Henry Fonda, a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Fonda went on to star in the film version, taking up his role as Mr. Roberts again. The story was played out aboard the USNS New Bedford, bringing the vessel into the eye of a massive civilian audience.
Many cinema fans adore Mister Roberts as a comedic perspective on life in the South Pacific during World War II. Sadly, author Thomas Heggen did not live long enough to see the following his original story created or attention it brought to the history of a navy ship. Today, Mister Roberts is recognized as a shining star in the long history of the USNS NEW Bedford.
Films on Disc, one of the internet's biggest film review websites, includes Mister Roberts among its top classic cinematic masterpieces. The site comments that Fonda is "well suited" in the role of Mr. Roberts while Jack Lemmon is "the most fun" as Ensign Pulver. Actor William Powell made his final big screen appearance in Mister Roberts as Lt. Doc. Despite his difficulties remembering lines, which lead to his departure from acting, Powell is noted as a "delight" and a "welcomed complement" to Lemmon's humorous character.
Mister Roberts is available on DVD, distributed by Warner Brothers. Films on Disc praise not only the
movie, but the features included on the disc. Along with one of the most beloved classic war movies of all time, the Mister Roberts DVD includes a candid commentary by Jack Lemmon presented on an alternate track. The review specifically pinpoints Lemmon's commentary heard near the middle and end of the film, which becomes far more natural as he relays his memories and stories of the experience.
Overall, Films on Disc speaks highly of Mister Roberts, which also includes a brief memorial piece in honor of actor Henry Fonda, narrated by his daughter, Jane Fonda. The disc's quality is also mentioned as offering viewers sharp, adequate colors in 2:35 anamorphic widescreen and a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.
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Related Articles:
Thomas Heggen the authorKris Land
Behind the Scenes of Mr. RobertsKris Land
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Lieutenant Thomas HeggenKris Land
Henry Fonda a shining lightKris Land
James Cagney, Eighth GreatestKris Land
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1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
