Pride of the Marines: A Rough Draft of Fatherhood

Is it worth the watch?

If you have a soft spot for those old-school, slightly dusty black-and-white dramas where everyone speaks in short, punchy sentences, then Pride of the Marines will hit the spot. It’s definitely not for anyone who needs high-octane pacing or, you know, a plot that doesn't feel like it was pulled out of a 1930s bargain bin.

Honestly, watching this feels a bit like finding an old photo in an attic. It’s not great art, but it’s real enough to make you pause for a second.

The Boxer/Dad dynamic

There’s a weird tension when our sergeant starts playing the father role. He’s clearly more comfortable punching things than having a heart-to-heart with a kid, and the movie doesn't hide that at all. It’s almost funny watching him try to navigate household drama like it’s a boxing match.

The kid, played by Bill Burrud, is fine, I guess. He mostly just stands there looking wide-eyed while the adults argue about what’s best for his future. Sometimes it feels like the movie forgets the kid is even in the room.

Oddly specific observations

• The boxing scenes look like they were filmed in a closet. There's no space to move!
• Ward Bond is doing that thing he does where he looks like he’s perpetually annoyed by the script.
• Some of the lighting choices are just bizarre. Why is there a shadow covering half the guy's face during the most emotional moment?

I couldn't help but think about Laddie while watching this. There’s a similar vibe of trying to make family life feel heroic, though this one has way more grunting.

There's this one scene near the end—I won't spoil it—but the dialogue goes on for about 40 seconds too long. It’s like the writers realized they needed to wrap up the emotional arc and just started dumping lines on the screen until someone yelled 'cut.' You can almost feel the actors wanting to walk off set.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a movie about a guy trying to be a decent person, which is a rare thing to find even back then. If you like the grit of Brass, you’ll probably find something to like here, even if it’s just the sheer stubbornness of the plot. 🥊