Operation Petticoat (1959)

World War 2 comedy about a submarine commander who finds himself stuck with a decrepit (and pink) sub, a con-man executive officer and a group of army nurses.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Stanley Shapiro (screenplay), Maurice Richlin (screenplay),

Stars:

Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Joan O'Brien

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cary Grant	...	Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman
Tony Curtis	...	Lt. JG Nicholas Holden
Joan O'Brien	...	Lt. Dolores Crandall RN
Dina Merrill	...	Lt. Barbara Duran RN
Gene Evans	...	Chief Molumphry
Dick Sargent	...	Ens. Stovall (as Richard Sargent)
Virginia Gregg	...	Maj. Edna Heywood RN
Robert F. Simon	...	Capt. J.B. Henderson
Robert Gist	...	Lt. Watson
Gavin MacLeod	...	Ernest Hunkle
George Dunn	...	The Prophet
Dick Crockett	...	Harmon
Madlyn Rhue	...	Lt. Reid RN
Marion Ross	...	Lt. Colfax RN
Clarence Lung	...	Sgt. Ramon Gillardo (as Clarence E. Lung)

Storyline

A submarine newly commissioned is damaged in the opening days of WW II. A captain, looking for a command insists he can get it to a dockyard and captain it. Going slowly to this site, they find a stranded group of Army nurses and must take them aboard. How bad can it get? Trying to get a primer coat on the sub, they have to mix white and red in order to have enough. When forced to flee the dock during an air attack, they find themselves with the world's only Pink submarine, still with 5 women in the tight quarters of a submarine.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | nurse | sailor woman relationship | witch doctor | friendly fire | 

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Taglines:

Submerged with 5 Girls...No wonder the S.S. Sea Tiger turned a Shocking Pink!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1959 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Anáguas a Bordo

Filming Locations:

Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI), Granart Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 120 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the three boats to portray the 'Sea Tiger', one-the 'USS Archer-Fish', SS-311-was present at the Japanese surrender which ended WWII in the Pacific Theater. The 'USS Wren', DD-568, which was shown as the destroyer attacking 'Sea Tiger', was also present.

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Goofs

During an air raid, several bombs go off near a truck Tony Curtis is driving. A cloud of smoke is shown coming up vertically at the driver's door while the background scene shows the truck is moving at a high speed. The wind created by the truck's forward motion should have blown the smoke horizontally.

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Quotes

Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman: Chief, can this boat go down?
Chief Molumphry: Like a stone, sir.
Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman: And the engines?
Chief Mechanic's Mate Sam Tostin: Factory fresh, sir!
Capt. J.B. Henderson: Captain, take these 2 liars and get the hell out of here!

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Connections

Remade as Petticoat Affair: Operation Petticoat (1977)

User Reviews

Great movie a must for your dvd collection "a classic"

I thought the movie was quiet delightful. A classic for the whole family Brought back alot of great memories as a child. Not a war movie for the serious war buff's. Two thumbs up. Glad I found this one!!