Best Chatsworth Movies -- The Fighting Seabees (1944)

The Fighting Seabees (1944) starring John Wayne, Susan Hayward and Dennis O'Keefe is a highly fictionalized interpretation of the events that led to the creation of the U.S. Navy's "Seabees" during World War II.

The film -- one of the finest ever created at Republic Pictures -- was directed by Edward Ludwig, and features some of the most impressive outdoor camera footage ever lensed at Chatsworth's Iverson Ranch.

Plot

Wedge Donovan (John Wayne) and his civilian construction workers are constructing airfields for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II.  A conflict arrises when Donovan's crews discover they are not allowed to arm, and defend themselves against Japanese attacks.

Donovan and his workers take matters into their own hands, and unknowingly thwart a trap the Navy had prepared for the Japanese.  As a result many of Donovan's crew die needlessly.  This causes further conflict with Lieutenant Commander Robert Yarrow (Dennis O'Keefe).

Following the tragedy-- and loss of Donovan's men -- Yarrow and Donovan work together to convince the Navy to form Construction Battalions with formal military training.

Later -- on another Pacific island -- Yarrow and Donovan team up to defend against a major Japanese attack.  The Seabee's even resort to the use of bulldozers to ward off the attack, and when Japanese reinforcements are about to overrun their position Donovan rams a bulldozer into a fuel storage tank that erupts into flame flooding burning fuel onto enemy troops. 

Cast:

John Wayne as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan

Susan Hayward as Constance Chesley

Dennis O'Keefe as Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow

William Frawley as Eddie Powers

Leonid Kinskey as Johnny Novasky

J.M. Kerrigan as Sawyer Collins

Grant Withers as Whanger Spreckles

Paul Fix as Ding Jacobs

Ben Welden as Yump Lumkin

William Forrest as Lt. Tom Kerrick

Addison Richards as Capt. Joyce

Jay Norris as Joe Brick

Duncan Renaldo as Construction worker at party

Wally Wales as Lt. Cmdr. Hood

The movie is literally a tour of the Iverson Ranch...

The Fighting Seabees marching through the Garden of the Gods.

The Fighting Seabees dig in to do battle on Nyoka Summit.

The Fighting Seabees use a bulldozer to push a Japanese tank over Nyoka Cliff.

The Fighting Seabees march past a base camp in Indian Hills (Hook Rock in the background).

The insert road on the upper ranch (with Eagle Beak in the background) becomes an airstrip created by the Fighting Seabees.

So if -- like me -- you are a fan of Iverson Ranch movies this one is an absolute must see.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)