Lon Chaney was known as the man of a thousand faces. He was one of the true talents of the silver screen. He is a true star of the silent era. In this movie he plays O’Hara, a tough as nails Marine Corps seargent. In this role, Chaney created the model for all actors who played military authority figures; John Wayne, Jack Webb and R. Lee Ermey. He is tasked with making a marine out of Skeet (William Haines), a reckless irresponsible youth. He gets the most out of him not through intimidation or punishment, but because of the young nurse, Norma Dale (Eleanor Boardman), with whom he is smitten. Chaney also has deep feelings for her.
Chaney, Haines, and the rest of the Marines stationed in San Diego, are sent to a naval base in the Pacific, to protect it. It is here that Haines’ love for Norma, is tested. He develops feelings for a native woman on the island. When her father and family members find out, they gang up on Haines, with Chaney coming to his rescue, in a knock down drag out fight. Of course O’Hara saves Haines from serious harm.
The Marines come home, and after a short time, are sent to China. There is an epidemic raging in the country, and nurses are needed. Norma has come along. She has found out about the native woman, and has broken off with Haines. In the meantime, bandits are roaming the countryside, led by Warner Oland, (a few years before Charlie Chan), and the Marines must stop them. They do of course, and the countryside is once again safe. William Haines estranged sweetheart and the nurses have also taken care of the epidemic.
The Marines and the nurses go home. Haines again pleads with Norma to take him back. O’Hara has a chance with her, but as the saying goes, “Conscience makes cowards of us all.” He can’t steal a fellow Marine’s woman. He speaks to Norma telling her of his (Skeets) love, and his deep remorse for hurting her. She goes to him, and forgives him. Skeet’s time in the Marines is up, and he leaves with his Norma.The two ask O’Hara if he’d like to go with them. He says no that the Marines are his life. They leave and we see Chaney shed a tear, over his hard choice.
The great part about silent films is the actor has to show emotion with his eyes and facial expressions. Chaney was great with this. It was what the director, John Ford said made an actor stand out. This role stands out for Chaney, in that he doesn’t play a tragic figure, like his roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. He conveys a strong authority figure in Sgt O’Hara, as well as his feelings of love, anger and sadness. He was a true star, who knew his craft, and was gone before he could become a star, when sound arrived in movies.
Tell It to the Marines is well done. It depicts the Marine life as a hard one. It shows the constant drilling needed to keep them always ready. When they are deployed to an island, the weather conditions are horrible with constant rain. There are the battleship scenes, which are well done for its time. The message of this film is that marines are a well trained fighting force, and in the end mold character.