Allan Dwan

1943. After his wife takes their son and leaves him, Sgt. John M. Stryker is an embittered man who takes his misery out on the men under his command. They're a bunch of green recruits who have a hard time dealing with Stryker's tough drills and thicker skin. Even his old friends start to wonder if he's gone from being the epitome of the tough Marine drill instructor to a man over the edge. One recruit in particular is a source of friction - Peter Conway. Conway's father was Stryker's CO at Guadalcanal and resented his son's seeming cowardice as a Marine, while Conway resents both Stryker's brutal leadership and seeming lack of sympathy for his men as well as the resentment he Conway feels is vented against him over his more relaxed conduct as a soldier. Another foe is Al Thomas, who was demoted by Stryker in previous action. The squad is assigned to take part in the November 1943 assault on the Japanese base at Tarawa. Stryker's brutal training regimen is now put to the test as the Marines must overcome a powerful underground bunker at the beach's edge; the bunker's machine gunners slaughter multiple Marines before Stryker succeeds in blowing up the position with satchel charges, and his bravery does not go unnoticed by his men. When Al Thomas and two other Marines, Charlie Bass and Hellenopolis, become separated from the main unit, Thomas runs to get fresh ammo for them - but rests for a moment when a Marine give him fresh hot coffee, a lapse that allows his two buddies to be jumped and bayoneted by Japanese Naval Landing troops. That night the beaten-up squad must guard the main approach to the beachhead, and they hear in the distance a man desperately calling for help. Stryker believes it to be a deception by the Japanese and he can't let anyone tip their position - which leads to an even grimmer dilemma when the voice calls out, "Stryker!" Peter Conway violently vows to find the man - but Stryker nearly shoots him dead to keep him from moving, and must sweat out the possibility of letting a fellow Marine die. The island is finally secured and wounded found and returned. Months later Charlie Bass returns to duty and queries about what happened to Al Thomas. Stryker then confronts Thomas and a fight erupts - broken up by a Marine Colonel. Thomas for his part profusely confesses he did wrong - and that he'd prefer to be dead himself than to have let his buddies die. Seeing Thomas' sincerity, Stryker is able to forge forgiveness. Turning to the bottle for comfort Stryker confronts his demons head on but then shows his soft side and helps out a widowed military wife and her child. Then the word comes down that they are being sent to Iwo Jima to do battle with 20,000 Japanese who've been dug into the most powerful island fortress of the war - a fortress so powerful that the largest continuing naval bombardment in history cannot dislodge the Japanese after three vicious days of combat, during which Conway saves Stryker's life when he is jumped by a Japanese soldier with sword. Finally Marines begin to advance up the island's largest rampart, Mount Suribachi, amid continuing fire from the US Fleet. The Marines reach the summit and Stryker sends four Marines to set up the US flag. But as Stryker now seems at peace, he is shot by a sniper, and Conway, Thomas, Bass, and the other Marines can only find and read an unfinished letter by Stryker to his son - just as the Marines raise the US flag atop the mountain.

6-year-old Jenny rescues a collie dog slated for animal experiments. Dr. Webster adopts them both, to his fiancee's chagrin. An outbreak of spotted fever sends the town into panic and Jenny is infected and about to die. Six-year-old Jenny rescues a collie dog, the only survivor of a plane wreck. A tag on the dog's neck states that it is en route to a medical laboratory where its blood will be used for spotted fever vaccine. Dr. Steven Webster meets Jenny and the dog and "adopts" them both. His fiancée Susan isn't too fond of either the girl or the dog. Webster wants to get a hospital for the town but he is suppressed by the town mayor. In the arguments that follow, Webster's lab is wrecked and ticks infected with spotted fever escape. The town is in a panic and all want to be vaccinated. Jenny is infected and is about to die. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

It's June, 1900, and Patricia O'Neill is singing "A Bluebird Is Singing to Me". She picks up her father's lunch from Lulu's Café. Lulu mentions that she is hosting a party tonight but needs the piano moved onto the small stage in her restaurant. Charles Dillingsworth, an important Broadway producer, is coming. Pat goes to the local fire alarm call box and trips the signal while Lulu has the cook put greasy rags in the stove to make some smoke. Pat's father, Captain Matthew O'Neill, is the head of Company 24 that responds to the fire. He complains that this is the third fire at Lulu's in a fairly short time. He grouses but has some of the men move the piano for Lulu. Pat sneaks out through the pantry, quickly climbing the steps. Not looking, she promptly puts her head through a large painting being carried by a man on the sidewalk. The man and his partner introduce themselves. One is Johnny Bennett, a composer. The other is Steve Adams, a painter. Both are in town from Boston hoping to make names for themselves in New York City. Professor Garibaldi has written a letter of introduction to Lulu so they can board in her rooming house. Lulu tells them the charges will be $6/week for the room the two will share. What is not revealed is that Steven is the son of a wealthy banking family in Boston and is hiding out in New York to sow some oats and postpone his marriage to his fiancée Olivia Radford. A messenger notes that Steve has a call from Olivia. Pat is one of a group of young women taking acting lessons from Lulu. Johnny sits at his piano struggling to finish his song "A Much Better Night to Fall in Love". As he tries a few notes on the piano in front of an open window, he is joined by others in the rooming house on violin, string bass, and trumpet. Below, Pat does a wonderful dance. Another tenant, Byron Jones, pops in and offers his talent as a lyricist. His current job is writing the rhymes on greetings cards. Next, Eddie sticks his head in carrying a stuffed horse head. He is an artist specializing in horse illustrations for Calendars Inc. He agrees to introduce Steve to the president, Mr. Ward. Steve returns Olivia's call. She makes it clear that he has only three weeks to play at artist in New York City. She then expects him back in Boston for their wedding. Later, Pat knocks on the door with tea that Lulu has sent up to the boys. Johnny admits that he is a shy guy but wants her to know that watching her dance made the music flow. He tells her that he has had music running through his head even as a young child. He is hoping to have a new song to play at tonight's party. It starts with "I met a flame at the Fireman's Ball." At the party, Johnny and Byron perform the song to great acclaim. Mr. Dillingsworth only has eyes for Patricia, and her dad Matthew doesn't like it. Steve dances with Pat as the tune changes to "New York Is a Nice Place to Stay." During the dance, Steve tells Pat that he wants her to pose for him. There is a contest at the calendar company with a $500 dollar prize. I he wins, the money is all hers. Firemen are circulating selling tickets to the upcoming Fireman's Benefit Jamboree at Swiss Garden. Johnny tries to buy two but only has the cash for one. He will get a second one later on. Captain Olson from Fire Company 18 shows up and trades insults with Matt. The two companies are rivals in an efficiency competition. The winner will become the new battalion chief. They both agree that if they end up in a tie, they will sort the winner out with a tug-of-war. Steve begins work on his portrait of Pat while "I'm in Love with a Calendar Girl" provides background music. As a result of the party, Johnny has gotten an invitation to present some work to Mr. Dillingsworth. Pat gives him her St. Ceclia's medal for good luck. Steve purportedly finishes the portrait of Pat and asks her to be his date for the Jamboree. After she leaves, Steve alters the painting to make it more daring by showing some bare legs. Pat is excited about her upcoming evening with Steve. Johnny is angry at him, asking a girl out when he is already committed to Olivia. As luck would have it, Olivia has come down from Boston to surprise Steve. Steve covers by giving Johnny "the $5 I owe you." Olivia swears she does not want to go someplace fancy like Delmonico's, but somewhere Bohemian like the Swiss Garden Jamboree. At the Jamboree, everyone is frolicking to "Buy Her Some Pretzels and Beer." Olivia requests to dance with Johnny and quizzes him about Steve's activities. Byron surprises everyone with Johnny's new song, "Have I Told You Lately, I Love You." Meanwhile, Steve does his best to mislead Pat about his relationship with Olivia. He claims that he and Olivia are cousins. He invites Pat to take a stroll in the moonlight with him and pressures her to kiss him. Pat is saved by the announcement that the mayor will reveal the efficiency winner among fire companies. He says it is a tie between Company 24 and Company 18. The winner will be determined by a coin flip. Matthew and Olson object, stating they have already agreed to settle it with a tug-of-war. Matt is confident that his large company members will easily win the contest. But Olson has signed up some massive brutes to his company just the day before. Winning now seems in doubt. Olivia departs with Steve for Delmonico's. The tug-of-war contest is undecided until a musician starts playing an Irish jig. This gives Company 24 a spurt of energy. But then Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" inspires the Scandinavian crew. The final outcome is prompted when someone pores some snuff on the Company 18 anchorman. He loses control during a sneeze, allowing Company 24 to win. Matt is declared the new battalion chief. In the post Jamboree let down, Lulu warns Matt that his daughter may fall in love. When Johnny approaches Pat, she is rather cold. She is sure that Olivia is important to him. Lulu tells Johnny to stick to his guns. The next day, Eddie bursts into the rooming house with the news that Steve has won the calendar contest. Steve gives the check to Pat who is thrilled that she can buy her father a silver battalion chief trumpet. Steve is ready to celebrate. He even offers Johnny a chance to come along with them. Johnny backs out with a warning to Steve that he had better not hurt her. Steve takes Pat for a fancy night on the town - Delmonico's, Rector's, Churchill's. Johnny is in their room wringing his hands when their cab deposits an inebriated Pat and Steve. Steve is ready to press his advantage until Pat mentions that she always dreamed of spending her honeymoon at Niagara Falls. This is not what he has is mind. He just wants some fun. Johnny slaps Steve for hurting Pat. He tries to tell her what Steve really is. She will not listen. He returns her St. Cecelia medal. The next day, calendars bearing Pat's portrait are making a sensation. Crowds gather at windows to take in the risqué painting. Matthew comes after his daughter with fire in his eyes. Pat tries to take shelter in Steve's room by saying they are engaged. This momentarily puts Matt off. But when Pat opens the door, Steve is kissing Olivia. Pat realizes that Johnny was correct. She runs to him and tells her father that they are engaged. Matt is confused. Just then, Dillingsworth arrives with an offer of a role for Pat in his new musical. The score for the musical is by none other than Johnny.

King Louis XIII of France is thrilled when his son is born--an heir to the throne. But his Queen has actually delivered twin boys. Cardinal Richelieu sees the second son as a potential for revolution, and has him sent off to Spain to be raised in secret to ensure a peaceful future for France. Alas, keeping the secret means sending Constance, lover of D'Artagnan, off to a convent. D'Artagnan hears of this and rallies the Musketeers in a bid to rescue her. Unfortunately, Richelieu outsmarts the Musketeers and banishes them forever. Richelieu enlists D'Artagnan to look after and protect the young prince. Meanwhile, de Rochefort learns of the twins and Richelieu's plans, and kidnaps the twin, raising him in secret. Many years later, with Richelieu dead and the young prince crowned King Louis XIV, Rochefort launches his plan. The king is kidnapped, replaced with his twin, put in an iron mask so as not to be recognized, and led off to a remote castle to be held prisoner. Louis XIV is able to alert D'Artagnan, who realizes that only his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis can help him, so he reunites the Musketeers to derail Rochefort's nefarious plot but at a heavy toll. —Theron Trowbridge <Tmonk@concentric.net>