The Strawberry Affair

Rating: 7/10 (29 April 2019)

Although this movie has a few serious flaws, it manages to overcome them, thanks to an outstanding cast, a, snappy script, and the very serious subject matter surrounding the mental stability of a military officer. Another solid attribute is Max Steiner's score, especially the muscular themes that so magnificently accompany the sailing ships at the beginning and the end, a moving and meaningful tribute to the US Navy.
The movie, to me, is rather sluggish for the first half hour until Bogey finally appears as the enigmatic Lt. Commander Queeg. If you're a fellow Bogey fan, you can count on another one of his many outstanding performances to maintain your interest to the end.
The sub-plot involving Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis) and May Wynn (the actual name of the actress is also May Wynn) is not only unnecessary but goes so far as to degrade the rest of the film, preventing it from being the great work that it otherwise would be. Although "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me" is a sweet, little ditty, couldn't Ms. Wynn just sing the song as a nightclub act without all of the rest? And is the excursion to Yosemite merely a deliberate attempt to offer viewers relief from the claustrophobia of the dilapidated ship or a promotional ad by the National Park Service? Notice that there were no mobs of tourists and exasperating traffic jams at Yosemite back in 1954. It must have been nice, but I wouldn't know.
No wonder that Bogey fought for this role and agreed to accept reduced compensation for it. He was undoubtedly drawn by the challenge of Queeg's complicated character and circumstances, so, in response, how could we as viewers not appreciate his captivating portrayal of Queeg? He also receives strong support from Van Johnson as Lt. Steve Maryk in one of his best performances ever, from Fred MacMurray, as the pompous, cynical, and gutless Lt. Tom Keefer, from Jose Ferrer as Maryk's reluctant and conscience stricken defense lawyer, Lt. Barney Greenwald, and, last but not least, from Tom Tully as Queeg's dedicated but sea weary predecessor, Commander de Vriess. Do you remember Tully as Ginger Rogers' kindly, understanding uncle in the very melancholy "I'll Be Seeing You"? These two memorable and widely differing roles demonstrate the depth of Tully's overlooked acting ability. On the other hand, Francis is painfully out of his league with this seasoned bunch.
I don't want to reveal too much about the military trial to those who haven't seen the movie, but no matter how psychologically unstable Lt. Commander Queeg may be, especially at a moment of crisis, the question of a possible combat disability inevitably arises, and it's up to the viewers to draw their own conclusions. Should an officer's disability be ignored until he becomes a very real threat to his ship and to the lives of his men? The answers to the questions raised here are not simple, and the lack of clarity at the end adds to the movie's thought-provoking depth.
And what of Lt. Tom Keefer, the derisive and disdainful novelist-intellectual who instigates the humiliating campaign against Queeg but then lacks the "guts" to stand up and to take responsibility for his actions? I couldn't help from wondering whether the original novelist, Herman Wouk, questioned his own position as a writer who hides from the line of fire behind the safety shield of a typewriter. See this one for the intelligence of its challenging content, for its hard hitting dialogue, and for the exceptionally talented cast, at least for the most part, who successfully bring a powerful script to life.