PT 109 (1963)

The movie PT 109 released in June of 1963 holds the distinction of being the first commercial theatrical film about a sitting United States President released while he was still in office, this was not to happen again until W in 2008, or arguably Primary Color in 1998.  Based on the 1961 book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II,  PT 109 tells the story of future president John F. Kennedy and his command of the titular PT Boat in the Solomon Islands in 1943, and how he was able to save the majority of his crew when there boat was accidently rammed at night by a Japanese ship. Kennedy's was an impressive accomplishment here, and arguably a major source of the back problems that would afflict him for the rest of his life, this movie however is a rather dull affair that boarders on hagiography. Cliff Robertson was personally selected by the president to play his younger self, and he gives us a John Kennedy with very little personality and whose supposed charisma seems a bluff, which is too bad because Robertson is capable of doing better, the script and excessive reverence for his subject limited his performance here. Still the film is watchable and interesting as an artifact of its time. I did enjoy James Gregory and Robert Culp in supporting parts. **1/2