The title role in The DI is played by Jack Webb who produced this film as well and it's played in the familiar Webb staccato style. But as true to his calling Webb shouts a great deal more than he ever did as Sergeant Joe Friday.
Until the very end you don't know why Webb is taking such an interest in Private Don Dubbins, in seeing that he gets through his twelve weeks of basic training. It seems like it would be the easiest thing in the world to just boot him out of the Corps and get on with training the rest. If he hasn't got it, he hasn't got it, but Webb sees him as some kind of challenge as well and in this he bunks heads with the company commander, Captain Lin McCarthy.
Real marines, but not recruits play the rest of the men in his training platoon and I was surprised in the performances these non-professionals at acting delivered. Granted they are playing former versions of themselves and could really draw on experience in delivering their lines.
The future Mrs. Jack Webb, Jackie Loughery plays a lounge singer who Webb takes an interest in. And Virginia Gregg has a very telling scene as the mother of Don Dubbins with both Webb and McCarthy. She's married to the Marine Corps in a special way.
The DI holds up well after over 50 years, the marines still go through the same training will shouting gunnery sergeants overseeing them. And you will not forget the sand flea that gets buried with full military honors on Parris Island.
Until the very end you don't know why Webb is taking such an interest in Private Don Dubbins, in seeing that he gets through his twelve weeks of basic training. It seems like it would be the easiest thing in the world to just boot him out of the Corps and get on with training the rest. If he hasn't got it, he hasn't got it, but Webb sees him as some kind of challenge as well and in this he bunks heads with the company commander, Captain Lin McCarthy.
Real marines, but not recruits play the rest of the men in his training platoon and I was surprised in the performances these non-professionals at acting delivered. Granted they are playing former versions of themselves and could really draw on experience in delivering their lines.
The future Mrs. Jack Webb, Jackie Loughery plays a lounge singer who Webb takes an interest in. And Virginia Gregg has a very telling scene as the mother of Don Dubbins with both Webb and McCarthy. She's married to the Marine Corps in a special way.
The DI holds up well after over 50 years, the marines still go through the same training will shouting gunnery sergeants overseeing them. And you will not forget the sand flea that gets buried with full military honors on Parris Island.