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The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960)
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Overview
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Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
29 December 1960 (USA)
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Tagline:
RiCKY NELSON Your No. 1 Singing Star hits the high C's in...The WACKiEST SHiP in the ARMY more
Plot:
Lieutenant Rip Crandall is hoodwinked into taking command of the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" - a real...
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Somewhere in the South Pacific
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Cast
(Credited cast)| Jack Lemmon | ... | Lt. Rip Crandall | |
| Ricky Nelson | ... | Ens. Tommy J. Hanson | |
| John Lund | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Wilbur F. Vandewater | |
| Chips Rafferty | ... | Patterson (coast watcher) | |
| Tom Tully | ... | Capt. McClung | |
| Joby Baker | ... | Josh Davidson | |
| Warren Berlinger | ... | Radioman 2nd Class A.J. 'Sparks' Sparks | |
| Patricia Driscoll | ... | Maggie | |
| Mike Kellin | ... | Chief Mate Jack MacCarthy | |
| Richard Anderson | ... | Lt. Dennis M. Foster | |
| Alvy Moore | ... | Seaman J. Johnson (cook) | |
| Joseph Gallison | ... | 'Cameo' (USS Echo crewman) | |
| Teru Shimada | ... | Maj. Samada | |
| George Shibata | ... | Capt. Shigetsu | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dale Ishimoto | ... | Japanese pilot | |
Additional Details
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Runtime:
99 min
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Color:
Color (Eastman Color)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The movie is loosely based upon an actual commissioned Navy ship, the USS Echo (IX-95). As in the movie, the Echo was a scow loaned to the Navy from New Zealand in 1942, but was used for carrying cargo and supplies to Army bases in the South Pacific, earning her an Army commendation. She was decommissioned in 1944 and can be seen in Picton New Zealand as a museum.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The Air Force did not come into being until 1948. During WWII it was a part of the Army and was called the Army Air Corp.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in My Fellow Americans (1996)
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Classic example of a film that looked better on paper. "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" begins by failing as it was obviously promoted; to be brief, it isn't very "wacky". With the comedy ship sinking, the film becomes more dramatic; and, much more enjoyable. Jack Lemmon (as Rip Crandall), an expert at comedy-drama, tries his best. Ricky Nelson (as Tommy Hanson), an expert at quip delivery, is given almost nothing to do. Promoted as a "team", Mr. Lemmon and Mr. Nelson have no chemistry; and, to be fair, are given no discernible direction to that end.
Nelson sings one song, "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?" Although sweet, it isn't one of his better, or representative, songs; but, it did fit the film's World War II setting. The scene with Lemmon accompanying Nelson's singing, on piano, is interesting. Lemmon tickles the ivories, clearly uncomfortable in a "Bob Hope" role, while Nelson sings to the recording as if it were an "Ozzie and Harriet" TV bonus song. Still, the stars, supporting cast, and colorful photography (by Charles Lawton Jr.) are never less than pleasant.
**** The Wackiest Ship in the Army (12/29/60) Richard Murphy ~ Jack Lemmon, Ricky Nelson, Richard Anderson