While the casual viewer may not know this, leading man William Haines played essentially the same sort of character in films for about five years. Each time, he played an obnoxious and self-centered jerk who eventually learns the importance of team work and he becomes a "regular guy". The same formula was repeated so often, that you really can't watch too many of them because it seems like the same film again and again. Oddly, however, he was an amazingly popular star and the public loved it, though today it's a real chore to watch them all. I've seen about 8 or 10 of them and while well made, Haines' character is hard to take--he's just so obnoxious and unlikable that you want to see him die. Fortunately, while TELL IT TO THE MARINES is still one of these films, his character has been softened a bit and isn't quite as unlikable. Still, he does NOT want to serve and he behaves like a boorish pig when out on a date--behavior that might just get him arrested today. Yet, like formula, the girl soon falls in love with him--even though he's essentially a pig. It's rather funny when you think about this, since in real life Haines was gay and not particularly in the closet about it.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES begins with Haines on his way to Marine boot camp in San Diego. However, he has no intention of actually showing up, as he signed the enlistment form just to get the free train ticket to California! Nice guy, huh?! Well, he's soon caught and thanks to the tough but lovable sergeant (Lon Chaney), he's turned from a selfish jerk to a marine--but there of course is a long road leading to this. Along the way, he assaults a pretty young nurse (who naturally comes to love him--promoting the "rape myth" that girls say NO when they really mean YES). However, thankfully, Haines is less obnoxious and boisterous in this film--thanks apparently to having co-leads. In most films, he is THE show but here Chaney gets almost as much screen time and this is a very good thing. And, fortunately, Chaney's character is very sympathetic and provides balance to the film.
Overall, a very good silent--even if you are growing a bit tired of the familiar Haines pattern. Well made and enjoyable--particularly in the climactic scene where the marines land in war-torn China.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES begins with Haines on his way to Marine boot camp in San Diego. However, he has no intention of actually showing up, as he signed the enlistment form just to get the free train ticket to California! Nice guy, huh?! Well, he's soon caught and thanks to the tough but lovable sergeant (Lon Chaney), he's turned from a selfish jerk to a marine--but there of course is a long road leading to this. Along the way, he assaults a pretty young nurse (who naturally comes to love him--promoting the "rape myth" that girls say NO when they really mean YES). However, thankfully, Haines is less obnoxious and boisterous in this film--thanks apparently to having co-leads. In most films, he is THE show but here Chaney gets almost as much screen time and this is a very good thing. And, fortunately, Chaney's character is very sympathetic and provides balance to the film.
Overall, a very good silent--even if you are growing a bit tired of the familiar Haines pattern. Well made and enjoyable--particularly in the climactic scene where the marines land in war-torn China.