Pride of the Marines

turner entertainment group

man, voice-over:

This is philadelphia, 1941.

Everybody's got a hometown.

This one's mine.

My name is schmid.

Al schmid.

Maybe you've heard of me,

maybe not.

Anyhow, one way or another,

what i've got to tell you

starts here in philly.

I grew up here.

Used to go to places

like independence hall.

That's where

the liberty bell is,

and where the declaration

of independence was signed.

When i went to school,

we used to visit the museums

and famous places

like constitution hall.

Our first congress met

right here at tun tavern,

where the u. s. Marines

were founded back in 1775.

And this is where

betsy ross lived.

You heard about her, i guess.

She made the first

american flag.

None of these things meant

a whole lot to me then.

When you grow up with something,

you kind of take it for granted.

And the reason you're

seeing these places now

is just because this

is where my story begins.

But it could have

begun anywhere.

It could have begun

in your hometown maybe.

And what happened to me

might have happened to you.

Hey, look what i got.

Say, what's the idea?

What are the flowers for?

Somebody kick the bucket?

No. First bouquet

i ever bought for a gal in my life,

and they're for

your wife.

Say, what are you doing?

I got tired

of buying batteries.

I'm hooking this up

to the house circuit.

What do you know

about electricity?

Nothing, but it

ought to work.

Might set

the house afire.

Short circuit.

Where's ella mae?

Cooking.

On your anniversary?

It was her idea.

Girl:
Hi, al!

Hi, loretta.

Those flowers for me?

Nope. For your

hard-working mom, honey.

Gee willikers.

If anybody ever

gave me flowers,

i'd fall flat

on my face.

Mrs. Merchant,

when a star boarder

buys a bunch of posies for his landlady,

you know

she's a swell gal.

Happy anniversary.

Al...

the only couple

i know that are happy though married.

One of these days,

you'll be bringing flowers

home to a wife

of your own.

Then there'll be

two happy couples.

I live alone and like it.

You live alone

and look it.

Wait till

you live double.

It's more fun.

Aw, those flowers

are beautiful, al. Thanks.

Now you better

get ready for dinner.

Come on, al,

let's go get shaved.

Ok.

I should have thought

of that myself.

What do you shave for, al?

Oh, to make me handsome.

I think you're

handsome already.

I think you're beautiful.

Do you like girls, al?

I sure do.

When did you first

start liking girls?

Well, when i found out

they weren't boys.

Well, if you like girls,

how do you know you're

gonna be a bachelor?

'Cause i ain't gonna

ever get married. Ever.

I wish i could shave, too.

Oh, that's easy.

Here. Sit right here.

Slap on the soap.

Feels good.

It tickles!

Now lift your head.

Al, ma says she knows

lots of legible girls.

Yeah, i know that already.

Mom can get almost

anybody married, pop says.

That's why she invites

all those girls here to meet you.

Ma says someday you're

gonna get hooked.

Not me.

If i do, i won't be

a bachelor anymore, see?

I'll tell you a secret

if you give me a big kiss.

You know, i am

gonna get married.

Honest?

Mm-hmm.

When?

Oh, 5, 6 years from now.

To me?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, you wouldn't

really marry me.

Honest to pete, i would.

Oh, gee!

I'll always remember

the first time i shaved,

you did it.

I put my car

in the garage.

Wouldn't you know it?

It rained on my anniversary.

Never in all my born

days did i ever see a prettier table.

Candles and everything.

Oh, those flowers

are beautiful, al.

You do know the way

to a woman's heart.

You know,

the funniest thing happened today.

I ran into a girl

i used to know.

Pretty as a picture.

Nice manners, and she's

a good bowler, too.

Ruth bowled 500.

300 is tops.

What's the extra 200

for, good behavior?

Maybe. I don't know

anything about bowling.

Ella mae, stop being

mrs. Cupid, will you?

Ditch the bow and arrow.

Girls are great

for laughs,

like those silly hats

they wear.

Don't bring

any new girls around here, please.

Well, anyway, she's

a wonderful bowler.

Hey!

You blew a fuse, jim!

Jim:

I fix something,

then everything

goes black.

Loretta:
Daddy,

the lights are out!

Jim:
Yes, dear,

i know they're out.

You're sure

a great electrician.

Thanks for

the compliment.

Ella mae:
Jim,

the lights went out!

Jim:
Don't you think

i know it?

Did you ring the bell?

Yes, and sparks

flew out.

We blew a fuse.

Don't the merchants

live here anymore?

Yeah, i'm al schmid.

I board here.

I suppose your name

is ruth.

How did you know?

Ella mae was te...

it's silly for you

to be standing out there.

Come on in.

Jim:
Confound it!

Where's the stairway?

Hi, ruth.

Gotta find some fuses.

Why don't you

take that thing off before it flies away?

Hat. Hat.

Ella mae:
Jim,

something's burning on the stove,

and i can't see

a thing.

Jim:
Find a safe spot

and sit.

Where's ella mae?

The kitchen. Have a sofa.

Loretta:
I fell over

a waste basket, daddy!

Jim:
Then pick yourself up.

Ella mae and i used to

work in the same office.

Jim and i, we work

in the same factory.

That must be nice.

Yeah.

Loretta:
I bumped

into the door, daddy!

Ella mae:
Jim, do you

know what you're doing?

Of course i know

what i'm doing! I'm fixing it!

Ouch!

Loretta:
Did you

get a shock, daddy?

Ella mae:
Put a penny

in the fuse.

I just got a shock taking

a penny out of the fuse!

Don't let anybody

ring the doorbell.

You see how simple it is?

They have a lovely home,

haven't they?

I suppose you'd like one

yourself someday.

Well, yes, someday i'd

like a home of my own.

I thought so.

On the installment plan.

Most couples

start out that way.

Hmm. They sure do.

The flowers are nice.

So many of them, it's

almost like a wedding.

A wedding? Oh, boy,

that's a hot one.

You're way ahead on

your installments, sister.

Hi, ruth.

Well, you two are

good friends already.

Yep. I feel

as if i met her dozens of times.

Well, isn't that nice?

Come on upstairs, ruth.

Stuck a pin

in the doorbell.

What gives?

Ella mae has got to

stop picking out girls for me to marry.

I'm fed up. I just

can't take it anymore.

She doesn't mean

to be a nuisance, al.

It's just kind of

a disease with her.

I'm gonna cure her.

Tonight.

Bowls 500.

What's the score?

You've got 220.

Ruth's got 40.

Bowls 500, does she?

How much longer

does that poor girl have to take this?

He's making her feel

like a monkey.

Not that he isn't

enjoying himself.

Every once in a while

those pins act like they're nailed down.

He's using her

to tell you off.

That's what you think.

Jim, what are you doing?

I'm gonna fix

this gadget.

It's out of focus.

You'll do no such thing.

Yeah, but...

you'll be sued. Now,

put that toolkit away.

Put that toolkit away.

Yes, dear.

You know, i figured out

what's wrong.

This alley must be warped.

So is your sense

of humor.

Hey, what do you say

we drop over to webber's

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