MovieChat Forums > Mister Roberts (1955) Discussion > The name of the march that played when t...

The name of the march that played when the captins palm tree was thrown

posted 16 years ago by sketch71
5 replies | jump to latest

What was the name and composer of the march that played as Mr. Roberts threw the captain's palm tree overboard? Any information would be greatly appreciated :)

[–] jbgrogan 16 years ago

John Phillip Sousa

[–] osusue 16 years ago

is it "Under the Double Eagle"?

[–] hobnob53 16 years ago

There are two different versions of this film that have different marches in this scene.

The usual one -- I always thought, the original soundtrack -- uses the theme I think the OP was asking about, which I don't know -- is it "Under the Double Eagle" (and I assume that's Sousa), as the poster osusue says?

But in alternate prints of the movie (including the one shown on TCM), the soundtrack is changed and the march played is "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (Sousa, of course).

I never knew when or why this change came about. I have the two different versions and have always thought the "other" march -- the original one, "Under the Double Eagle" or whatever it is -- was far better for the scene, works in time with Fonda's movements and so on (particularly his deliberate march up the stairs to the deck, timed perfectly to that music). "Stars and Stripes Forever" just doesn't work anywhere near as well. Plus it's clear it was looped onto the soundtrack later on.

I was glad to find this thread topic. Has anyone else noticed this difference?

[–] cajundancr 15 years ago

In the theatrical version and that shown on TCM (and I presume in the DVD versions as well) it's Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever". For whatever reason or reasons, that is not the same march that was heard on the countless airings on broadcast TV over the years, nor on the VHS version.

I agree with hobnob53; the 'other march' fits far better.

Neither was it "Under the Double Eagle" (which also is *not* by John Philip Sousa, but Josef Franz Wagner, an Austrian composer; the Double Eagle is a reference to the Austro-Hungarian Empire coat of arms). Sousa did record "Under the Double Eagle" a few times, though.

I'm thinking either Sousa's "Semper Fidelis" or "Washington Post"; however, without seeing/hearing it again, or finding proof, the search continues...

[–] hammer4 10 years ago

It may have been a copyright issue when transferred to DVD. However, for this to be the case, the "other march" (not "Stars and Stripes Forever") would have had to have been in the original version.

This "other march" may have still been under copyright, and frequently music rights don't automatically transfer over to DVD releases. When this is the case to reduce expenses the producers of the DVD may opt for music that's in the public domain, such as "Stars and Stripes Forever".