Mister Roberts

It is loaded to the gunwales with screamingly funny scenes which, in several instances, are visual improvements on the play.

A brilliant mixture of laughter and pathos with delightful performances from Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell (in his last role) and Jack Lemmon, who received an Oscar as the enterprising Ensign Pulver. [24 Dec 1998, p.F12]

Mister Roberts is a movie dedicated to anyone with a boring dead end job who wants to be a hero and has to decide whether to live honorably anyway.

John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy directed this fine adaptation of the stage hit, a comedy-drama about a first officer on a cargo ship (Henry Fonda) who wants to be reassigned to combat duty. [05 Jul 1998]

Fonda's classic performance in a role he owned onstage and on film is a pleasure to watch. [22 Sep 2006, p.46]

The fact that the picture is seamlessly anonymous testifies to the power of star performances rather than to any directorial engagement. The acting is the only reason to watch it.

It's a miserable piece of moviemaking -- poorly paced and tearjerking.