In Harm's Way

This week's most rewarding drama pick in the US on MGM Plus and Kanopy is In Harm's Way. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 163 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. John Wayne's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on MGM Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, In Harm's Way is worth clearing space for. The writing in In Harm's Way treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. A Naval officer, reprimanded after Pearl Harbor, is later promoted to Rear Admiral and gets a second chance to prove himself against the Japanese. The performances from John Wayne and Kirk Douglas give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It hit screens in 1965. In Harm's Way resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, In Harm's Way delivers. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. John Wayne is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

In Harm's Way was released in 1965, directed by Otto Preminger. The full 165-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.