Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

froberts73 First of all, tell Mr. Guttman to spell Ms. Stuart's name correctly. At any rate, she was around the water in "Here Comes the Navy" and in it in "Titanic." But the Navy pic is fun thanks mostly to part of WB's team of Irishers. Cagney, O'Brien, McHugh all provided plenty of enjoyment in that decade.As has been pointed out, "Here Comes the Navy" is fascinating history. You get a chill when you realize the Arizona was the ship sunk at Pearl Harbor, and when you realize that the Macon was a history maker.The (all white) Navy was very well represented in this flick, but its raison d'etre for it was just what the moviegoers of that time expected - sharp, crackling dialog between Cagney and O'Brien. It is Cagney's pic. No one can upstage that ball of fire.So, if you want to have fun, enjoy some nostalgia, get involved with some history, get your paws on "Here Comes the Navy."I'm an old Army man but, anchors aweigh. A couple tons, I imagine.

windtar im a big fan of cagney and i enjoy o'briens work also.that being said, and it seems i will be the first reviewer to think this film was nothing special. i say this for future people who come to IMDb for a quick overview to see if i want to watch over something else like i do.granted its a very early film, with good actors and a a few good supporting actors, but that being said, my opinions are based on the acting and script writing parts.yes cagneys known for the little tough guy, but his character went far beyond tough guy to obnoxious and kinda mean.cagney in this early movie is not the 'loveable' tough guy he's known for. he is quite annoying and deserves every punch and punishment he gets.o'brien on the other hand did a great job acting as the fair and respected character.cagney in blackface is kind of funny posing as a black man, funnier yet is his buddy yelling = way to go chesty = as he is escaping on a turned down leave.until i read the others reviews, i didn't know the 2 ships used were destroyed in pearl harbor. that i agree is a very historical memory the film offers.it's worth a watch, but is no highlight of anyones career.i have to admit i was kinda disappointed in this movie because i am a fan of old cinema, but sadly i just think cagney character wasn't likable, and the movie tried to portray him as such.

mkilmer Cagney was great as a stubborn smart aleck, and that is what the James Cagney had a great manner of getting the girl, whether it be Bette Davis in THE BRIDE CAME C.O.D. (1941) or Gloria Stuart in HERE COMES THE NAVY (1934).In HERE COMES THE NAVY, Chesty O'Conner (Cagney) joins the navy simply to have a shot at a rematch brawl with naval officer Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien). On board, he wants to take O'Brien's girl who turns out to be his sister (Stuart). He befriends Droopy Mullins, a sidekick type splendidly played by Frank McHugh.This was a delightful film, a must for fans of Cagney's humor. And for navy buffs who like to note the service between the world wars, as the Department of the Navy is cited as cooperating in this film.Oh, and my wife reminds me to point out that there is a blimp in this picture. It is dated to that extent, but its themes and comedy are always applicable. (The blackface scene being the notable exception, but as such attitudes were very present in yesterday's Hollywood, we must bit our lips and let them pass. In this film, the actual African American characters look at Cagney in blackface as if he were goofy. They, too, let it pass.)

Arthur Hausner Besides James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, there's also beautiful Gloria Stuart (63 years before her triumphant return to the screen in Titanic (1997)) as the love interest, and Frank McHugh providing comedy centered around his mother's false teeth. In a fight over a girl with Navy man O'Brien, Cagney is knocked out when his girl distracts him. And when O'Brien later steals his girl, Cagney is so angry he joins the Navy with the hope of getting even. Talk about holding grudges! After 3 months of basic training (shot on location at the Naval Training Station in San Diego, California), Cagney is assigned to the battleship U.S.S. Arizona, the ship O'Brien is on. The Navy allowed location shooting on the actual ship, which is the same one sunk at Pearl Harbor and is now in the harbor as a memorial. It's an impressive ship with unbelievable firepower and we see the big guns being loaded and fired in maneuvers. Meanwhile, Cagney had met and wooed Stuart, but she turned out to be O'Brien's sister! And O'Brien caused a rift, another reason for Cagney to get even with him. Because of a bad attitude problem, Cagney eventually is transferred to the dirigible U.S.S. Macon at Sunnyvale, California. Again, the actual airship is used and it is an awesome sight as it is pulled out of its hangar, dwarfing everything in view. As luck (and the script) would have it, the ship tries to land in windy weather but aborts, with O'Brien hanging on to a mooring line as it gains altitude. Cagney disobeys orders and climbs down the rope with a parachute to try to save the man he doesn't yet know is O'Brien.