The Navy Steps Out (1941)
"A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob" (original title)

Steve is a shy quiet man who is an executive for a shipping firm. He meets Dot at the Opera where she had his seats and the next day she shows up as his temporary secretary. Then Coffee Cup... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Wallace

Writers:

Frank Ryan (screen play), Bert Granet (screen play),

Stars:

George Murphy, Lucille Ball, Edmond O'Brien

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Murphy	...	Claudius J. 'Coffee Cup' Cup
Lucille Ball	...	Dorothy 'Dot' / 'Spindle' Duncan
Edmond O'Brien	...	Stephen Herrick
Henry Travers	...	Abel Martin
Franklin Pangborn	...	Pet Shop Owner
George Cleveland	...	Pokey 'Pop' Duncan
Kathleen Howard	...	Jawme Duncan
Marguerite Chapman	...	Cecilia Grange
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Pigeon Duncan
Mady Correll	...	Cora
Frank McGlynn Sr.	...	'Panky' Pankington
Doodles Weaver	...	Eddie 'Ed'
Frank Sully	...	Salty
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Grange
Richard Lane	...	Recruiting Officer

Storyline

Steve is a shy quiet man who is an executive for a shipping firm. He meets Dot at the Opera where she had his seats and the next day she shows up as his temporary secretary. Then Coffee Cup comes to town to see Dot, his gal. When Steven is with Cecilia, everything is boring. When he is with Dot and Coffee Cup, everything is exciting and he falls for Dot. But Coffee is getting out of the Navy in a few days and he plans to marry Dot.

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Plot Keywords:

secretary | opera | navy | family relationships | dance hall | 

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Taglines:

Anchors Aweigh FOR A GOB AND THE SEASON'S MOST HILARIOUS GAGS! (original ad - mostly caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ele, Ela e Eu

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 9, 1944 with Lucille Ball and George Murphy reprising their film roles.

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Connections

Referenced in Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Three Little Words"
Music by Harry Ruby
Lyrics by Bert Kalmar
Played at the Dance Hall

User Reviews

A weak screwball comedy...pretty forgettable...

It's films like this that never guaranteed LUCILLE BALL would become a big star in her early Hollywood comedies. There's nothing subtle here in this film produced by Harold Lloyd and directed by Richard Wallace.

Lucille is the scatterbrained daughter in a family of zanies who meets EDMOND O'BRIEN in a mix-up over theater tickets. He's a casual, laid back executive, not very assertive (unlike his later roles), and when he needs a substitute secretary Lucy shows up for the job. It's a hectic film from then on.

GEORGE MURPHY is her brash sailor boyfriend, LLOYD CORRIGAN her brother, HENRY TRAVERS her father and the befuddled FRANKLIN PANGBORN is a pet shop owner.

It's a more subdued Lucy than usual with the others having most of the heavy mugging and pratfalls to do. MARGUERITE CHAPMAN is wasted as O'Brien's neglected girlfriend. Nice cast but they all have mediocre material to deal with.

Summing up: Passes the time pleasantly enough, but is nothing special.