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32-596: The Eternal Sea (aka The Admiral Hoskins Story ) is a 1955 American biographical war film directed by John H. Auer and starring Sterling Hayden , Alexis Smith and Ben Cooper . The film follows the career of Captain John Hoskins , who loses his leg at the Battle of Leyte Gulf and resists attempts to retire him and continues his military service after learning to cope with his disability. He goes on to be promoted to admiral and commands an aircraft carrier during

64-635: A Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter . Use of documentary film from World War II was also evident. The naval battle scenes, including multiple shots of planes being shot down, is true documentary footage from the Pacific War rather than special effects. The launch of the USS Princeton is also taken from documentary footage. Writing in The New York Times , film critic Howard Thompson wrote, "as an unpretentiously engrossing tribute to

96-497: A hospital ship . On the hospital ship, Hoskins meets "Zuggy", another amputee who lost an arm and is being honorably discharged. He phones his wife to tell her he is okay, saying he has "cured" his athlete's foot . Back in the US after landing at San Francisco he flies home to Philadelphia . His disability makes Hoskins eligible for retirement with the automatic rank of rear admiral, but he pushes himself to be ready to take command of

128-601: A Fairytale (2006), and Howard Stern in Private Parts (1997). In 2018, the musical biopic Bohemian Rhapsody , based on the life of Queen singer Freddie Mercury , became the highest-grossing biopic in history at the time. In 2023, it was surpassed by Oppenheimer , based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb in World War II. Arthur Dewey Struble Arthur Dewey Struble (June 28, 1894 – May 1, 1983)

160-417: A Story of Heroic Greatness...; Inspired by the depths of a woman's love! and The real-life Naval Hero who defied disaster - to soar his jet to glory!" With production costs increasing, Yates organized Republic's output into four types of films: "Jubilee", usually a western shot in seven days for about $ 50,000; "Anniversary", filmed in 14 to 15 days for $ 175,000 to $ 200,000; "Deluxe", major productions made with

192-428: A budget of around $ 500,000; and "Premiere", which were usually made by top-rank directors who did not usually work for Republic, such as John Ford , Fritz Lang and Frank Borzage , and which could have a budget of $ 1,000,000 or more. Some of these "Deluxe" films were from independent production companies that were picked up for release by Republic. Biographical film Biopic scholars include George F. Custen of

224-406: A codified genre using many of the same tropes used in the studio era that has followed a similar trajectory as that shown by Rick Altman in his study, Film/Genre . Bingham also addresses the male biopic and the female biopic as distinct genres from each other, the former generally dealing with great accomplishments, the latter generally dealing with female victimization. Ellen Cheshire's Bio-Pics:

256-661: A lack of resemblance between the two. The casting of John Wayne as Genghis Khan in The Conqueror was objected to because of the American Wayne being cast as the Mongol warlord. Egyptian critics criticized the casting of Louis Gossett Jr. , an African American actor, as Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in the 1983 TV miniseries Sadat . Also, some objected to the casting of Jennifer Lopez in Selena because she

288-444: A life in pictures (2014) examines UK/US films from the 1990s and 2000s. Each chapter reviews key films linked by profession and concludes with further viewing list. Christopher Robé has also written on the gender norms that underlie the biopic in his article, "Taking Hollywood Back" in the 2009 issue of Cinema Journal . Roger Ebert defended The Hurricane and distortions in biographical films in general, stating "those who seek

320-441: A man's unpretentious realism and courage, it could hardly be more appealing," adding that the film contains, "some of the best and most unobtrusive photography of aircraft carrier scenes ever made. " The Eternal Sea was an attempt by Republic Pictures studio head Herbert J. Yates to add a high quality production to the usual output of low budget features. The studio promotion "breathlessly" highlighted: "Hollywood Now Brings You

352-1009: Is a New York City native of Puerto Rican descent while Selena was Mexican American . Because the figures portrayed are actual people, whose actions and characteristics are known to the public (or at least historically documented), biopic roles are considered some of the most demanding of actors and actresses. Warren Beatty , Faye Dunaway , Ben Kingsley , Johnny Depp , Jim Carrey , Jamie Foxx , Robert Downey Jr. , Brad Pitt , Emma Thompson , Tom Hanks , Eddie Redmayne , and Cillian Murphy all gained new-found respect as dramatic actors after starring in biopics: Beatty and Dunaway as Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi (1982), Depp as Ed Wood in Ed Wood (1994), Carrey as Andy Kaufman in Man on

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384-546: Is able to demonstrate the capabilities of jets to land on carrier ships. Despite one jet crashing due to mechanical failure, the US Navy is convinced of the viability of jet operations. Assigned to the carrier division for aircraft operation at sea, Hoskins joins Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble ( Morris Ankrum ) of the 7th Fleet . Senior naval men arrive to see the first demonstration of jets landing on an aircraft carrier. Hoskins puts his money where his mouth his and personally flies

416-645: The College of Staten Island and Dennis P. Bingham of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis . Custen, in Bio/Pics: How Hollywood Constructed Public History (1992), regards the genre as having died with the Hollywood studio era , and in particular, Darryl F. Zanuck . On the other hand, Bingham's 2010 study Whose Lives Are They Anyway? The Biopic as Contemporary Film Genre shows how it perpetuates as

448-523: The Korean War . The Eternal Sea was one of a number of more ambitious productions by Republic Pictures , which had traditionally made low-budget second features . Its release was undermined by the studio's growing financial problems which led to its eventual closure in 1959. In 1942, newly promoted Capt. John Madison Hoskins returns home after two years at sea to spend a seven-hour leave with his wife Sue and their children, before taking command of

480-766: The light cruiser Trenton (CL-11) in the Pacific. Leaving Trenton in May 1942, Struble had duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations until late 1943, when he became Chief of Staff to Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk , who was responsible for U.S. Navy participation in the Normandy Invasion of June 1944 . Rear Admiral Struble was assigned to command a Seventh Fleet amphibious group in August 1944, and participated in

512-643: The Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, during 1946–48. Promoted to vice admiral in April 1948, Struble served for two years as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. In May 1950, he took command of the Seventh Fleet, leading that force through the difficult first year of the Korean War , including the landings at Inchon and Wonsan . For a year, beginning in March ;1951, Vice Admiral Struble

544-794: The Moon (1999), Downey as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin (1992) and as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer (2023), Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray (2004), Thompson and Hanks as P. L. Travers and Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks (2013), Redmayne as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (2014), and Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer (2023). Some biopics purposely stretch

576-706: The Naval Academy, then served in the battleship California (BB-44) until 1925, when he was assigned to the Battle Fleet staff. From 1927 until 1940, he served twice in Navy Department billets, twice on seagoing flag staffs, in New York (BB-34) and Portland (CA-33) , and at the 12th Naval District . In 1940-41, he was Executive Officer of Arizona (BB-39) . Captain Struble next commanded

608-476: The accident, without crutches, convincing the tribunal that he is fit to serve. Semple, who knows he is still using crutches, tries to convince him to retire rather than being found unfit to serve. The board tell him their decision will take some time and he is asked to leave. The next day, at the launching of the USS Princeton , Hoskins is assigned as its commander. Much to his surprise this is announced in

640-477: The aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) . However, he receives news that the ship has been sunk at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands . Hoskins is then reassigned as an instructor at Quonset Point , Rhode Island , much closer to home but "... thousands of miles from the only war he'll get to fight in." Two years later, after teaching some of the US Navy's top students, Hoskins is given command of

672-483: The aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) but its present commander, Capt. William Buracker is retained for the Second Philippine Campaign . During the Battle of Leyte Gulf , the ship is severely crippled and Buracker orders her to be scuttled. Hoskins is severely wounded, and following the onset of gangrene his foot is amputated to save his life. He is transferred using Breeches buoy to

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704-521: The invasion of Leyte the following October. Over the next several months, he commanded or participated in landing operations at Ormoc Bay , Mindoro , Luzon and elsewhere in the Philippines . In September 1945, following the end of the Pacific war, Struble commanded the Pacific Fleet 's mine force as it began the long process of clearing mines from the former combat zone. He commanded

736-554: The lead jet. He and one other pilot perform a brief aerobatic display before landing. Hoskins demonstrates that jets can be used safely on aircraft carriers. After the display he is given command of the 7th Fleet, and the Korean War begins soon after. The crew are very fond of him and nickname him "Uncle John". After celebrating his wedding anniversary with Sue, Hoskins is offered the choice of two important jobs which could each further his career, but which would take him away from active duty. Discouraged by this prospect, when he witnesses

768-428: The middle of the launching ceremony. In his speech, he promises to avenge the loss of the earlier Princeton (CVL-23). On the ship he takes Zuggy as his assistant. He plans to start landing jets on the aircraft carrier, using catapults for launch and stronger wires to catch them on landing. After the war, Hoskins advocates for the use of jet aircraft off aircraft carriers and when he is transferred to San Diego , he

800-525: The new Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37) being built in the nearby Navy shipyard. Initially Sue is very upset with this decision. Vice-Adm. Thomas L. Semple reveals that according to Navy code, no disabled officer can be compelled to retire. Hoskins clambers around the scaffolding building the new carrier on a daily basis. One day he falls from the scaffolding and breaks his false leg. He remains unable to walk without crutches. Although injured, he comes into his review meeting, two days after

832-597: The return of wounded men from the Korean front, Hoskins is inspired to show the injured men that they can still lead an active life and turns down both jobs, asking instead to be put in charge of the Pacific Division of the Air Transport Service . He therefore places himself as a high-ranking advocate for disabled veterans. He tells Sue "just one more job". Among other locations, The Eternal Sea

864-472: The truth about a man from the film of his life might as well seek it from his loving grandmother. ... The Hurricane is not a documentary but a parable ." Casting can be controversial for biographical films. Casting is often a balance between similarity in looks and ability to portray the characteristics of the person. Anthony Hopkins felt that he should not have played Richard Nixon in Nixon because of

896-474: The truth. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was based on game show host Chuck Barris ' widely debunked yet popular memoir of the same name, in which he claimed to be a CIA agent. Kafka incorporated both the life of author Franz Kafka and the surreal aspects of his fiction. The Errol Flynn film They Died with Their Boots On tells the story of Custer but is highly romanticized. The Oliver Stone film The Doors , mainly about Jim Morrison ,

928-581: Was Commander, First Fleet , then served briefly with the Joint Chiefs of Staff before being assigned successively to head the U.S. Naval and U.S. Military delegations to the United Nations' Military Staff Committee. From June 1955, he was Commander Eastern Sea Frontier and Commander Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Upon his retirement from active duty in July ;1956, he was advanced to

960-713: Was a United States admiral who served in World War II and the Korean War . Struble was born in Portland, Oregon . Following graduation from high school in Portland, he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1911 and was commissioned as an ensign in June 1915. Over the next six years, he served in two cruisers , a supply ship and three destroyers . In 1921–23, Struble was an instructor at

992-471: Was filmed from October 7 to late October, 1954, at the USS Kearsarge (CV-33) while on a "Show The Flag" cruise around Asia. Support from the US Navy was also in the form of the loan of Douglas AD-1 Skyraider , Grumman F9F Panther aircraft and Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever helicopter. Other aircraft that were seen, include Korean wounded disembarking from MATS aircraft, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster and

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1024-1103: Was highly praised for the similarities between Jim Morrison and actor Val Kilmer , look-wise and singing-wise, but fans and band members did not like the way Val Kilmer portrayed Jim Morrison, and a few of the scenes were even completely made up. In rare cases, sometimes called auto biopics , the subject of the film plays themself. Examples include Jackie Robinson in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Muhammad Ali in The Greatest (1977), Audie Murphy in To Hell and Back (1955), Patty Duke in Call Me Anna (1990), Bob Mathias in The Bob Mathias Story (1954), Arlo Guthrie in Alice's Restaurant (1969), Fantasia in Life Is Not

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