Sousa Leaves The Marine Corps from the Movie "Stars and Stripes Forever"

John Philip Sousa left the US Marine Corps on July 30, 1892 after serving as Director of the US Marine Band for 12 years. This is the movie version of his departure.

[@mister-v-3086]

I haven't seen the movie in a while, but I DO remember a favorite scene. Sousa is trying to write a Love Ballad (to get away from marches) and demos his latest for his wife. She listened dutifully to his labored playing and singing, says "very nice, dear...but if I may?"..then sits at the piano. Playing the same music at a much faster tempo, she shows he's just written another great march.

[@jb47vintage]

Yes! That's been my favorite scene in the whole movie for 60 years. My 2nd favorite scene was when he took his band down south and every other song he played was Dixie.

[@williampaz2092]

I remember that scene! I was rolling on the living room floor laughing! 🤣😂😆

[@donbrynelsen2157]

Later on he's playing for a Presidential reception and is asked to play something more spirited to move the reception line along quicker, he chooses his "Ballad" now known as "Semper Fidelis "

[@trapezemusic]

That's what's called giving the true story the "Hollywood Treatment"

[@cjillaalaphadog6382]

sounds just like getting out these days. Command " why are you leaving, why dont you re-enlist again" . Marine replies " You dont pay me enough, i can get twice the pay doing office work in the civilian world" lol

[@christopherbernhardt]

Not true anymore! Lol

[@christopherbernhardt]

@@Sonnabend00 good luck if you're not resigning! Wish you the best but with a high school diploma and service you're gonna have a hell of a time finding a job that pays you enough to have an apartment

[@rossvistamail]

@@christopherbernhardt Post 9/11 GI Bill has entered the chat

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@rossvistamail And Food Stamps!

[@mr_beezlebub3985]

@@jamesalexander5623 Most jobs these days have decent pay, good benefits, and less bullshit than the military.

[@BwfVid]

Now that is a god damned uniform!

[@robertjwilliams3532]

In the mid 30's my dad was band captian of the U of Tenn. band. He told me more than once of a time when Mr. Sousa came to the university as a visiting instructor. (also on a recruiting trip for his band) UT had a trumpet player thought to be one of the best anywhere in the known community of university trumpet players. He auditioned for MR. Sousa. After the audition Mr. Sousa told the young man: "very good, just keep working and in a few more years you may be good enough for my band." Dad said it shattered the young man. He also said that Mr. Sousa directed with his index finger not his whole hand or arms.

[@robertjwilliams3532]

I failed to explain - Mr. Sousa was at UT earlier than my dad was there. The "story" was one still in regular telling when dad was a part of the UT program.

[@bb22602]

So very nice to hear someone pronounce "Semper Fidelis" correctly.

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

You noticed too. Classically educated and proud of it!

[@peace-now]

I don't think anyone knows how to pronounce it. The words are Latin, and the speakers lived around 2000 years ago.

[@bb22602]

@@peace-now You never heard "Adeste Fidelis" in the original Latin? people do still sing it.

[@peace-now]

@@bb22602 How can you tell it is original Latin?

[@Johia_Mapping_2]

There are still speakers of Latin, and there are even people who speak classical Latin! ​@@peace-now

[@kennethbeaton8391]

I have the Sousa collection of all of his Marches and play them only two times a year ,the day he left the Marines and the day he died.

[@peace-now]

As a New Zealander, I reckon Sousa is America's greatest composer. He is also the master of tunes, second only to Tchaikovsky to me.

[@Warmaker01]

Any films even somewhat related to the Marine Corps very rarely dive into its pre-World War II history. Never mind 19th century. Even WWI where the Marine Corps began its slow transformation to its modern self, is often skipped. As for Sousa: Every Marine recruit is told about a number of Marines important to the service's history and Sousa is one of them.

[@luislaplume8261]

The Spanish American War of 1898 was the last time the Marines and the other military branches had the traditional 2 tone blue uniforms. What we see her is the Marines summer uniforms with a police style helmet in white the the U.S. Marine emblem on the front. My late grandfather saw all the American military branches in Havana,Cuba in 1898 after the war ended. He was a civilian and a resident in Cuba at that time. It was also the last War in which the use of the bugle, flags, and bayonet were used combat consistently as well as the infantry and the cavalry saber was used on both the American, Spanish and the Cuban rebels against Spain. He died on November 8, 1945 and was my late mother's father. I and my late parents were born in Havana,Cuba.

[@peterharrison5833]

Thank you for sharing your story, Luis.

[@MM22966]

Only other one I can think of off hand is "Wind and the Lion"....and there is one about the Derna march, but I can't remember the name. "Shores of Tripoli", maybe?

[@donelsonsheean8142]

He’s still considered the grand father of marshal marching music. 🇺🇸

[@Gloriosus]

Very nice, thanks Taps Bugler. I had not heard of this film, but Wikipedia says it was made in 1952. The actors' diction is perfect and I can understand every word (not like modern films, IMHO). The picture is crisp and in focus and the colours are superb. It looks new. Thanks again :-)

[@paulacornelison243]

I enjoyed the movie as a child.

[@Cam-qf6mx]

I don’t imagine band members being paid the highest

[@LouieNeira]

Interesting how it was filmed at 8th & I where they still have evening parades just like this. Semper Fi!

[@jeffburnham6611]

Fitting and proper that the Marine Corps Band would be shown in a location where it naturally belongs. Sunset Parades and The Presidents Own have a special place in this old Marine's heart.

[@twright3802]

Evening Parades held at 8th & I on Friday evening during the summer...Sunset parades are held at the Marine Corps War Memorial on Tuesday evenings. My last duty station was 8th & I from 2003-2006.

[@kennethhowarth7169]

A America gone and lost forever. Never again will she be back. Rest In Peace Uncle Sam. There is no more city on the hill the light is gone.

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

Only if Almighty God wills it. Stick around!

[@trapezemusic]

Donald John Trump is now our president. He will turn the battleship around, slowly but surely.

[@ashleymarie7452]

There is a saying that goes "Military Justice is to Justice as Military Music is to Music."

[@louiseake1899]

This is why I love America.

[@wadefite]

What wonderful music.

[@Nigelrathbone1]

Hey that sousaphone player was Robert Wagner, Natalie Woods future husband and star of 60s TV show It Takes A Thief!

[@ryangrimm9305]

I have several Sousa Band recordings on 78 RPM records.

[@matta7739]

Clifton Webb!! One of the unappreciated movie greats!

[@PlanetEarth3141]

I have seen this movie a couple times but not since the late 60s. I have learned all of Sousa tunes in high school band, played as a drummer and at one time had a vinyl album contains many of Sousa's tunes. I think he should have received a Presidential Medal of Freedom by now.

[@geoffreyrichardson8738]

Thanks for posting this. Had not heard of this gentleman and his story was very interesting, thank you.

[@deee5520]

Oh how I would love to see that movie again.

[@Nimgimmer1492]

I was fortunate enough to meet Robert Wagner some years ago at a film festival. A true gentleman, and we chatted for a few minutes. One cheeky question I asked him was if he'd ever handled a sousaphone again after making this film. He replied, "Nope. Haven't come close, either."

[@Hchris101]

Good stuff

[@gradyhall691]

In 1965 at Pariss Island, the Drill Instructors used to get pissed when we marched to his music instead of the DI’S CADENCE ( when the band was practicing )

[@luisdeleon4546]

One of my favorite scenes from the movie is his auditioning musicianfor his civilian band. He asks a trumpet player to play a series of triplets. The player does, badly in Sousa’s opinion. Sousa then proceeds to play the triplets as he would like them played. The next musician to audtion sees and hears this. He promptly gathers up his instrument and leaves before auditioning.

[@trapezemusic]

The musician who promptly left was actually the trumpet player who auditioned. I read that former members of the Sousa band were furious about the scene because Mr. Sousa had a reputation of never making a musician feel uncomfortable about his ability. That scene was pure Hollywood fabrication.

[@juanluis1996]

OMG this picture is a Gold Medal

[@kymyeoward306]

“Semper Fidelis” was played by the Melbourne City Salvation Army Band in the opening scene of Episode 3 of “The Pacific” when the First Division of the U.S. Marines arrived by ship in Melbourne in January 1943, after stopping the Japanese advance on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands (Kym in Darwin, Australia).

[@garyglover6767]

Im old enough to recall when this movie first aired on tv via "Saturday night at the movies"...I knew right then I would one day become a marine...years later I was in nam, as a paramarine with subunit one, 1st anglico...as a naval gunfire spotter...forward observer on steroids, for you army types! Lool Semper Fi

[@johnclayden1670]

Note to self: find that film.

[@JLNeis]

WHY DONT THEY SHOW THIS MOVIE ON THE HOLIDAYS ANYMORE? JUST CRAZY.

[@tapsbugler]

"The Devil you say..." 😀

[@jamestregler1584]

A TRUE American !

[@adrianwilson4197]

Where is the Raincatcher Sousaphone during the "Pass In Review'??? It would be easy to see it's upright bell above the heads of the band members. As Sousa is speaking to his superiors, you can see it slightly to the left of the man in the top hat.

[@Skippyplayz]

Wearing German marine uniforms playing the USMC marching song “sender Fidelis”

[@trapezemusic]

Please note that the music they are playing in this video is Mr. Sousa's "Washington Post March", not "Semper Fidelis". The movie is confusing because the scene immediately shifts to another occasion when he is awarded a medal for "Semper Fidelis".

[@billbrydon3725]

Ha. Jack Pennick leading the Marines that follow after the colors. He had himself been a Marine, and was one of Ford's stock players. He has a distinctive walk.

[@petechavez4790]

Very very good made me want to get up and march in place like in basic training 😂😂😊

[@jspee1965]

Pardon my ignorance, I'm Aussie. I know Sousa is famous for his marches but had no idea he was "in the Corps". Is the "unique medal" he received for "Semper Fidelis" for real? The manner in which he received the award was akin to an owner rewarding a pampered cat. I found that rather shocking even if it was a dramatic interpretation.

[@trapezemusic]

If memory serves, Mr. Sousa was leader of the US Marine Band for the period 1880-1892. He then left the Corps to form his own civilian band which eventually became world famous and made him a millionaire. He was active with his band until his death in 1932.

[@timengineman2nd714]

One little mistake: Sousa would have said: "My commission is up in 10 days." Not his Enlistment...He was an officer. But, Hollywood, right Vets?

[@hlfordiii]

Except it isn't a mistake. Sousa was never a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps. He was a Sergeant Major. After his Marine Corps service he received a commission in the Navy.

[@secretaryharpsoctas4950]

@@hlfordiii Thank you Harvey, I didn't know that. I had noticed that line in the movie as well. I also noted that Sec. Navy referred to him as Mr Sousa.

[@tankman7711]

One other mistake, Sousa, in this clip, is carrying The Mameluke....an Officers sword. They did use the original USMC flag color...BLUE!

[@longgone9869]

Very interesting thanks for sharing guys

[@hlfordiii]

@@tankman7711 Good catch. I completely missed that detail.

[@everettlunday8855]

Left turn, MARCH!

[@adrianwilson4197]

They shouldn't have stopped making those "RAIN CATCHER SOUSAPHONES".

[@peteraschaffenburg1]

What exactly do you mean? A Sousaphone catching rain is just a plain old Tuba. I was wondering about the end of the scene when the Sousaphone was upward. Was that ever a thing?

[@diegog.4351]

yeah old sousaphones had the bell facing upwards, that is a real thing

[@peaceraybob]

Ah, yeah. The USMC weren't alone in using Prussian drill for their band.😐 I believe that Chile still do.

[@ehanoldaccount5893]

Not just the drill, the Pickelhauben too

[@em.142]

@@ehanoldaccount5893 it’s a pith helmet and they were in those days a pretty much universal military helmet. The Canadian Army still wears the pith helmet for most regiment’s full dress uniforms on the very, very rare occasions they are worn.

[@robnewman6101]

July 30th 1892.

[@pianoart6145]

Love this song, but though both songs were created by John Philip Sousa, this song is actually named Washington Post. Stars and Stripes Forever is a completely different song. Don't believe me? Look it up.

[@error_404-HK]

$105 in 1892 is about $3624 today. No wonder he was quitting

[@freeman8128]

I have watched the first half several times because the contrast between the stiff formality of the Drum Major and of Sousa compared to the sloppy marching style of the others is almost comical.

[@peteraschaffenburg1]

You´re right! Funny tidbit; from 0:12 - 0:19 in Sousa´s Close-up the actor is marching the right tempo but with his right foot on the first beat, wich is wrong. I don´t know the English expression for that. Do you happen know? The german word is Passgänger.

[@Sshooter444]

Man, that band is marching like a bunch of drunken sailors!

[@dalecarmody8631]

If you think that's bad, you should see sailors march sober. AOC USN (ret)

[@Sshooter444]

@@dalecarmody8631 LOL good one

[@safriedrich1631]

@@dalecarmody8631 HA !.. good one !.. I'm old school.. VERY OLD SCHOOL ! USMC 1971-74.. aboard LSD 35, USS Monticello Sept.72-Mar73 ( became a Shellback Feb 73).. BEST CHOW I EVER HAD !! Wishing you calm seas and fair winds... told you I was old school ! ;)

[@ericbainter826]

They were moving at a pretty brisk pace. Typical marching pace - and march music - Is 120 steps/beats per minute. Concert timing is often faster. I counted the pace in the movie a couple times and it’s much closer to 140 bpm . I suspect the soundtrack was recorded separately at a concert rather than marching beat and then the film speed was adjusted to match, giving it a herky-jerky look. (And I did see a guy looking like he stepped in a hole and stumbled, which didn’t help).

[@stevewixom9311]

As a former drunken sailor.. i thought they looked pretty good lol

[@michaelray4033]

Near the end, doesn't Sousa sound a bit like Harold Hill from "The Music Man?" It's the way he talked about the sousaphone.

[@farmerdave7965]

And then some bigwig said " Those marine dress uniforms need more red" ... probably

[@509Gman]

Don’t want to be confused for the Army, now do they?

[@MrMesala]

His father was born in Seville, Spain

[@trapezemusic]

I thought he was from Portugal.

[@1950accordionman]

Not a patch on British marches

[@jayduke8554]

We still treat musicians poorly

[@peterharrison5833]

Well...that's a long story...

[@trevisonclark7135]

There isn’t any Sousaphones

[@FreedomLovingLoyalist]

They should have kept the victorian uniforms.

[@filipjandus4537]

1:08 watch the clarinetist falling in the hole :D :D :D

[@Bettyfan92614]

The drum major is wearing a fez.

[@jsp7205]

They will never make movies like this again not with the WOKE crowd infecting the movie industry....

[@henryu.580]

Isn’t anybody gonna realize that wasn’t Stars and Stripes forever?

[@gustandberg7553]

The movie is named Stars and Stripes Forever, the march was obviously "The Washington Post March."

[@henryu.580]

@@gustandberg7553 Ohh okay, I knew it was the Washington Post March, but I was confused. Thanks!

[@ktownlurker]

So there was a time when US troops used the Pickelhaube? 😄

[@tapsbugler]

During the late 19th century. It was also used as the dress helmet in the US Infantry :)

[@dalestreeter341]

American military uniforms were influenced by European powers in the 19th century. From the 1850s to the 1870s, the French were the models. Note the kepi cap and the Zoaves so familiar during the Civil War. After the French defeat in 1870, German military styles were the most copied, including the spiked helmet.

[@md.7720]

I'm afraid those are not Pickelhaubes, those are pith helmets

[@ktownlurker]

@@md.7720 But as most pith helmets seemingly do without spike, here we apparently have a pickled-pith helmet! 😁

[@N_Wheeler]

1:08 1st clarinet guy steps in a hole

[@Regimiento9]

Cuba y Filipinas.... Fue fácil acabar con los españoles gracias a la superioridad armamentística, solo por ello exclusivamente, nadie ha podido igualar la gesta de Baler en Filipinas. Por lo demás, la música de Sousa es bonita.

[@509Gman]

What weapons? Cannon? Naval? The Spanish had the Mauser rifle which was several steps ahead of the American rifle at the time. I think being a very old and spread out empire was what did the Spanish in, similar to the Ottomans a couple decades later.

[@christianfreedom-seeker2025]

Ah, back when America was America! Now it's....shit.

[@looklife8109]

Year beg

[@lmclm1755]

Title of the film?

[@noelcox136]

i believe its called stars and stripes

[@meaninglesscog]

@@noelcox136 stars and stripes forever

[@brucewelty7684]

Maybe you should read the title of the post? Nah that would make sense.

[@fezmancomments]

The inspiration for the Rhubarb Tart Song; kzbin.info/www/bejne/r37TeqqYfdeah68

[@jorge6207]

Portuguese-Americans FTW

[@fazole]

Back when the USMC wore the German "Pickelhaube"!

[@seanohanlon6128]

I'm sorry but your wrong lad, in the scene they can be shown wearing tropical service headdress also known as a pith helmet and that particular style was British, and if you look at the film Zulu you will see what I mean. The pickelhaube was a leather boiled cap with decorative top it sat neat on the head while the pith helmet was made very light and it sat fuller on the head and it peaked both to the fron and back for sun protection

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@seanohanlon6128 This style of helmet can also be seen worn by Keystone Cops era US police officers.

[@seanohanlon6128]

@@Wotsitorlabart Hey Telboy the type of helmet your refering to is most commonly known as a custodian helmet, it is designed off of the British colonial pattern helmet

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@seanohanlon6128 Yes, the English 'bobbies helmet'. I have also seen similar versions in white worn by Italian police on traffic control.

[@johnjackson8401]

Today the mad departure is to get away from the insane Brandon military.

[@josephliegl3975]

Listened to this after the news broke that trump got convicted

[@morefiction3264]

Is that Marines wearing picklehaubs?

[@Bettyfan92614]

Yes.

[@Nick-nm8om]

Marine corps ?!?! Seriously

[@francescoboselli6033]

Bot gonna lie: see the USA marines with a Prussians stile helmet is kinda curse...

[@em.142]

It’s not a Prussian helmet, it’s a pith helmet and IIRC probably predated the Prussians!

[@willmoore8708]

One of the corniest movies I've ever seen. Robert Wagner, very young then, was unintentionally hilarious.

[@64MDW]

Yes...it's a poor example of film compared with the unforgettable, epic masterpieces produced by the underpaid, misunderstood, and under-recognized artists that toil in anonymity in the fantasy land that is Hollywood.

[@urbanurchin5930]

@@64MDW ....or when compared to the trite, comic book / super hero trash that is cranked out by the dozens in the past 20 years....

[@jeffsmith2022]

Corny sure, it was but a good film, none the less...

[@willmoore8708]

@@jeffsmith2022 Can you imagine what Sousa's "groupies" were like, when he would tour? LOL

[@jamesalexander5623]

Webb and Wagner were also in the film "Titanic" 1953, Webb went to a watery grave, Wagner survived!

[@MrSwinginjoe]

The marching is sloppy at best, Performance music wise is an embarrassment. Typical Hollywood foolishness and a complete mockery and embarrassment towards The Commandant's Own. I went to a middle school where Marching Band and the band program had a reputation for excellence professionalism and to always kicking behind and passion for success.

[@trapezemusic]

If memory serves, the music was provided by the highly regarded Allentown Band from Allentown, PA. I think you are being overly critical.

[@looklife8109]

White House nothing

[@JanitorIsBack]

thank goodness the marine corp band drop those worthless outfits

[@mineown1861]

Well I never , marines used to wear a pickelhaube .

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

alot of people did, even the british at one point.

[@mineown1861]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 which was my first thought and I wondered why do they have Sousa leading a British band , you live and learn .

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴

[@BillShartner]

Gayest job in Marines Corps history

[@franznarf]

Fake