We Joined the Navy (1962) User Reviews

"Poopsy"

[ygwerin1 · 6/10 · 11 November 2019]

A comedy of navel mishaps on shore and the high seas, with a motely crew of comedy characters in likely and unlikely situations.

Personally the most unlikely is Esma Cannon as the Consul's wife, unlikely because of her accent. I am at a complete loss as to what nationality her character is supposed to be, suffice to say that it wouldn't happen today. On her Filmography I was surprised to see that she is Australian, I was firmly convinced she was British. She is remembered principally for Carry On films, whilst for me it's for her appearance on one of my favourite TV comedies The Rag Trade.

Another unlikely pairing was Warren Mitchell as honest Marcel a 'foreign' barman nationality unknown.

Yet another is the Welsh actor Kenneth Griffith as a 'foreign' revolutionary again nationality uncertain.

These are joined by an ensemble of British artists in no particular order, some in cameo roles such that I missed altogether. Andrew Cruickshank (Admiral Filmer) that I remember as Dr. Cameron in the original Doctor Finlay's Casebook.

Derek Fowlds (Midshipman Carson) I recall him in the TV Comedy Yes Minister, as the Minister's private secretary Bernard Wooley.

Graham Crowden (cameo navel officer) I know as Tom Ballard in TV Comedy Waiting for God.

Brian Wilde (cameo Gibbons police officer) TV comedies, Porridge as Mr. Barrowclough Prison Officer. And Last of the Summer Wine as Foggy Dewhurst.

Rodney Bewes (cameo Recruitment interview) TV Comedy Likely Lads and Whatever Happened To the Likely Lads as Bob Ferris.

Dirk Bogarde cameo as Doctor Simon Sparrow, the same character he played in the 'Doctor' series of films.

Sid James in this film (cameo as navy dance instructor). From South Africa he was an accomplished journeyman character actor, for around 30 years. From his first film role 1947 as Eddie Clinton in Black Memory. Through to 1976 TV Comedy as Sid Abbot in Bless This House. Sid James achieved fame through his partnership with Tony Hancock, on radio from 1954 and TV from 1956, Comedy show Hancock's Half Hour. His film career covers a rich variety including 1951 Lackery in the Lavender Hill Mob, 1953 Hawkins in the Titfield Thunderbolt. The first Carry on Film Carry on Constable as Sergeant Frank Wilkins, to the last 1975 Carry on Laughing as numerous parts.

A Man to Remember

[jromanbaker · 5/10 · 30 September 2020]

Kenneth More was a great actor. I also have a feeling he was a brave man, bravely looking life in the face and despite physical suffering towards the end coped with everything that was thrown at him. Who could object to the fact that both he and Kay Kendall made an admirable acting couple in ' Genevieve ' ? It surely must make one of the finest pairings in film comedy. He is good in ' We Joined the Navy ' but he deserved a better film. And yet despite the inferior material he shines. Worth watching him and yes there are certain parts of the scenario to enjoy. A film for grown up boys of the early 1960's.

Superb cast

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 5 April 2018]

WE JOINED THE NAVY is a British comedy once again centred around naval fun and sailor-based humour. It's much bigger budgeted than the UP THE CREEK films that Hammer made in the late '50s, but it's nowhere near as funny. The story, about young naval recruits getting involved in international hijinks, feels quite bloated and is episodic at best. The jokes come at the expense of the characters but aren't particularly amusing, more tired and familiar. What this film does boast is an extraordinary cast of both reliable old timers (hello, Kenneth More) and amusing newcomers (such as Derek Fowlds and Jeremy Lloyd). It's great watching for the endless cameos, but as a comedy it doesn't particularly make you laugh.

They don't make 'em like this any more...

[drella666 · 8 March 2004]

What an extraordinary cast! Two of the Doctor In The House mob (More and Bogarde), two future Basil Brush sidemen (Fowlds and a blink-and-you'll-miss-him Rodney Bewes), Sergeant Wilson from Dad's Army, Alf Garnett, Captain Beaky, an ex-Goon, Barraclough from Porridge, Slartibartfast, the old bloke from Waiting For God, the even older bloke from Dr Finlay's Casebook, the old woman from The Rag Trade and that mad French-Russian bloke who was in Hellzapoppin and things (Mischa Auer).

Pity the movie's a bit lame. Thurdsday afternoon viewing at its ultimate.

In The Navy.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 5/10 · 16 April 2017]

With Easter coming up,I started looking for movies to watch with my dad over the season. Reading old issues of Empire,I noticed a review for an all-star British Comedy that I've never heard of before!,which led to me joining the navy.

View on the film:

Bringing the film into shore,Network land with a very good transfer,with the audio being clean and the picture only having a few specs of dirt. Made with the British navy,director Wendy Toye & cinematographer Otto Heller tour the ships in wide shots that show of the high seas location. Stuffing the movie with cameos,Toye does very well at keeping a distance and allowing the viewer to enjoy the moment.

Going to sea as a UK/US co-production, Howard Dimsdale adaptation of John Winton's struggles with the market both sides are after,as the happy chappy British Comedy beginning is brushed away for a muddle daring do spy tale,which stops this ship becoming a luxury viewing.

Mr K.More shines in a broad adaptation of an amusing novel.

[ianlouisiana · 7/10 · 21 November 2009]

The story of a class of Dartmouth cadets (or "Beatties) which is a rather superior kind of "Carry on Lieutenant Commander" with an outstanding cast of British actors doing what they do best. All but forgotten,"We joined the navy" fits comfortably into the middle - class comedy mould with the odd poignant moment. As one might expect,Mr Kenneth More is as a duck to water in the role of Lt.Cdr. Badger (The Artful Bodger),mentor of these wannabe naval officers.Other Wardroom and Lower Deck roles are filled by all our favourite character actors,those who make us smile as soon as they show their faces.A matter of slight concern is the Bodger's transfer to the U.S. Navy which has no relevance to Mr Winton's novel,but does not detract from the enjoyment of the earlier part of the movie.Not a success at the time of its release despite the talents involved,"We joined the navy" is well made and funny.As a committed admirer of Mr More I endorse this movie as one of the best and least known of his "middle - period" roles. If it ever comes your way in any medium I strongly recommend that you watch it.

Kenneth Mores film career goes down the drain

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 7 November 2016]

After this feeble comedy Kenneth More didn't make another film for 2 years.There are a number of theories why this happened.After all other contemporaries managed to maintain their careers for years to come.He must have reached slightly desperation stakes to accept this role.It starts off reasonably amusing whilst the film focuses on the British Navy.However when the script takes him to the American navy.Clearly an attempt to sell the film to American distributors highlighted by the parachuting in of two American actors.The only diversion is seeing so many familiar character actors in small parts.The problem for Kenneth More was that he was a one part actor.So when that part disappeared,so did his career.

It was a simpler time

[miles-162 · 7/10 · 20 November 2019]

Found this film absolutely hilarious when I saw it in the cinema aged 9 or 10. Like most films of its time it hasn't aged well. Compare with most of the terrible Carry On films. Rating is for its value as a period piece.

A film so unfunny that it disappears under the waves!

[geoffm60295 · 3/10 · 7 August 2019]

Kenneth More plays a naval officer on board an American ship and with his small coterie of hapless English seamen, whose incompetence, silly antics and adolescent behaviour never manages to raise a laugh. Watching dim - witted English seamen engaging in puerile frolics, with Kenneth More, whose acting can only be described as wooden, makes this film a tedious experience! It's a very forgettable film and I'm not surprised that Kenneth More's film career went into reverse! This film sadly is a real yawn!

Not much fun

[g-hbe · 5/10 · 16 October 2021]

As a fan of old British comedy films I have to say this one fails to float my boat. With its Eastmancolour production and a number of familiar British stars, it looks and feels like one of those mildly amusing Betty Box/Ian St John films from the late 50's, and the whole thing is weak and lacking any punch. It is episodic and relies to a great extent on nice scenery and sunlit japery for its appeal. It's a very average 5 from me.

Start the revolution without them.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 1 March 2023]

"This is the worst run Revolution I've ever saw." So says someone in this very bizarre, convoluted comedy about the British Navy becoming involved in the bizarre goings on of a non-existent country in the middle of Revolution and how it interferes with what the Americans are doing down there. This farce goes overboard in trying to spoof 60's global interference in what was going on in third world countries, and ends up being a very messy and ultimately unfunny and overwrought romp where grooans replace laughs and confusion replaces realism. I don't think I laughed once at the goings on here, although there was some merit in the performances of Lloyd Nolan as the naval commander and the aging Mischa Auer as the befuddled dictator.

But for leads Kenneth More, Jeremy Lloyd and Joan O'Brien, the results are not so good, and in spite of a color production, the film is very colorless and flat and sadly pointless. I blame this on a week script, poor direction and a rushed production, overwrought and overconfident performances, and a pacing that in spite of what the filmmakers were thinking during the rushes fails to keep the viewer's attention. This is badly dated and often obnoxious in its attempt to parody World interference where it doesn't belong, and I couldn't wait for this even before it hit the 90-minute mark. This is a sinking ship from start to finish, like sleeping on a submarine with the windows open. It's a film that the government and the audience could easily have agreed that treason was being committed.