Why this movie is special

It is set in War time but it as nothing to do with the War, it has more to do with human nature, and there is a warm nostalgic feel to it. Mister Roberts, is one of the great noble heroes of the cinema, cut from the same cloth as Atticus Finch, a man of honor, a man of the highest integrity, chosen for a unrewarding job, unglamorous job, he gives everything he has to it, it may not be as important to the War as manning an air Craft Carrier, but he sees it as something that must be done perfectly and to the best of his ability, which shows what a special person he is, in many ways he is too perfect, but we have to accept that there are people like that in this world, people who care about their fellow man, people of moral integrity, whose word is as good as gold.
The Movie creates a struggle between good (Mister Roberts) and evil ( The Captain), the rest of the crew is played so well, that you don't even see the acting involved, as the film settles down, in those tight, hot conditions, its like we're on board the ship with them, we recognize the type, guys who like to gripe and complain, yet when there is a job to be done they get it done. All of them home sick, all of them wanting the War to end, Men like that , the generation that won that war, echo back to a different time, a different America, a time of sacrifice, it makes us think of our fathers, and Uncles who served in that War..
All the parts are played perfectly, with humor but also with realism, we see the crew idolize Mister Roberts, then we see, love turn to hate, when they think their shining knight has turned on them, then we see something else happen, when they realize what Mister Roberts has done for them , how he sacrificed himself for them, the Men are changed, and changed forever, they have seen and been taught a lesson about human nature, and the power of one good man, we can say that knowing ,Mister Roberts changed them, and made them better human beings.
Plus the setting is very evocative of Summer, Summer in the South Pacific, with sweeping vistas, and endless Ocean,and brilliant sun sets, and the War, the endless bloody War nearing its conclusion.
We do not see the War, but it plays in the background, in a task force steaming toward Okinawa, a letter from a worried Mother, radio reports, its just enough to give us the feel and sense of what it was to be on a ship like that during The War in the Pacific.
I would say it is a movie without a wasted moment, everything fits together perfectly. including the few set pieces of brilliance, including Cagney and Fonda in that scene in the Captains quarters, that high stakes game of gambit, won by the Captain, Cagney's acting is brilliant here-especially when he talks about how he hates rich college boys-just brilliant acting in that scene. or the scene when they are making the alcohol for Pulver, or the wreckage of humanity that spills out on the deck when the ship is anchored at Elysuim--Doc: " Well, at least their peaceful". Powell has another great scene when he is telling Mister Roberts that the situation makes the man-"it's a response , like the knee jerk" he taps Pulver's knee and nothing happens-" Stay out of B-29 Pulver my boy." or the quieter scenes like when Pulver is looking at Mister Roberts and worried that he will get that transfer and put his life in danger. there are a thousand little moments like that in the movie of people caring and worrying about other people, and it all adds up to a special movie, so special its hard to define its special qualities. in the end its very much like Mister Roberts himself, a man so humble and virtuous, it was a surprise to him that the men on the ship cared so much about him, it never occurred to him that he was doing anything special, he was just doing what he thought was right.
To me the best scene in the movie comes at the end, the men crash into Mister Roberts cabin as he is preparing to leave the ship, and toast him with homemade alcohol, and the give him a medal , the order of the Palm, he pins it solemnly to his lapel, looks about and gives a perfect heartfelt salute to the crew, and then quickly departs. he could have made a big speech there, but the Salute said it all.