Director: Jack Webb

Writer: James Lee Barrett

Music: David Buttolph

Producer: Jack Webb

Keywords: Drama, Boot Camp

Very accurate portrayal of a USMC boot camp, Jack Webb playing Drill Instructor Jim Moore, as well as producing and directing the film. He takes on a special project, Pvt. Owens, who has a tendency to quit, report to sick bay, etc. Making of the film was prompted by the drowning of six Marine trainees at Paris Isle on 8 April 1956, after they were marched through a swamp as punishment. The D.I. is likely Webb's finest work.

Name	Occupation	Birth	Death	Known for
Don Dubbins	Actor	28-Jun-1928	17-Aug-1991	The D.I.
Virginia Gregg	Actor	6-Mar-1916	15-Sep-1986	Radio actress
Jack Webb	Actor	2-Apr-1920	23-Dec-1982	Joe Friday in Dragnet

CAST

Jack Webb	...   TSgt. Jim Moore
Starring
Don Dubbins	...   Pvt. Owens
Jackie Loughery	...   Annie
Lin McCarthy	...   Capt. Anderson
Monica Lewis	...   Burt
Virginia Gregg	...   Mrs. Owens
with
Jeannie Beacham	...   Hostess
Lou Tobin	...   Bartender
Jeanne Baird	...   Mother
Barbara Pepper	...   Customer
Melody Gale	...   Little Girl
TSgt. Louis R. Lazarko	...   Himself
TSgt. Charles A. Love	...   Hillbilly
Sgt. Michael K. Gebbia	...   Himself
Sgt. Joseph C. Holmes	...   Pvt. Madison
Sgt. Peter J. O'Neill	...   Pvt. Rodriguez
Sgt. Paul E. Prutzman, Jr.	...   Sgt. Braver
Patton A. Wasson	...   Himself
Cpl. John R. Brown	...   Himself
Cpl. Charles M. Golden	...   Pvt. Labarsky
Cpl. George Olivieri	...   Himself
Cpl. Thomas E. Richards	...   Himself
Cpl. George W. Thornton III	...   Himself
Cpl. James C. Willma	...   Himself
Cpl. Laurence C. Windsor, Jr.	...   Pvt. Severeign
Pfc. John T. Ahern	...   Pvt. Casto
Pfc. Gary D. Bryan	...   Himself
Pfc. Gordon L. Seiple	...   Pvt. Carver
Pvt. William E. Smith	...   Pvt. McKinley
Pvt. Douglas E. Wilson	...   Pvt. Franklin

REVIEWS

Review by Jeffrey C. Gumz (posted on 15-Nov-2008)

A pretty accurate snapshot of the U.S.M.C. in the late 1950's. Set in M.C.R.D.(Marine Corp Recruit Depot) in Parris Island. Webb plays a rock hard D.I. during a time when Lee Ermy was dirtying diapers and cleaning mamas nipples. The story plays out according to standard script formula of the era. The D.I. has 12 weeks to finish what mom and dad never started, To make a man out of junior. This is really an average movie, but its accuracy puts it a bit higher. This film also gets points for being the first of its genre, setting the bar for all boot camp movies to follow (Think of a G-rated Full Metal Jacket). Make no mistake. Marine or not, this is Jack Webb. Joe Friday in U.S.M.C. dungarees. If you are a Friday freak or if you would like a peek at the Corps post-Korea, you will like this film. Otherwise save your money. If you are lucky enough to find it on the tube, watch it for the history, if for nothing else. There are worse ways to lose two hours of your life.

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