Ensign Pulver (1964)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Peter S. Feibleman (writer)
Thomas Heggen (novel) (play "Mister Roberts")

Release Date:

31 July 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

1945, on an old cargo ship somewhere deep in the Pacific ocean: Captain Morton strives to become commander...

Plot Keywords:

Slingshot | Navy | WWII | US Navy | Island

Cast

Robert Walker Jr.	...	Ens. Frank Pulver (as Robert Walker)
Burl Ives	...	Capt. Morton
Walter Matthau	...	Doc
Tommy Sands	...	John X. Bruno
Millie Perkins	...	Nurse Scotty
Kay Medford	...	Head Nurse
Larry Hagman	...	Billings
Peter Marshall	...	Carney (as Peter L. Marshall)
Joseph Marr	...	Yeoman Dowdy
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	LaSueur (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
Diana Sands	...	Mila
Robert Matek	...	Capt. Donald 'Stretch' Zimmer
Jack Nicholson	...	Dolan
Al Freeman Jr.	...	Taru
Richard Gautier	...	Stefanowski

Runtime:

USA:104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Walter Matthau appeared in Ensign Pulver (1964), the sequel to Mister Roberts (1955), for which his friend and often co-star Jack Lemmon won an Oscar.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Burl Ives falls overboard, Ensign Pulver releases a rubber raft to assist in the Captain's rescue. When the raft falls into the water, it obviously falls upside down, however, in the next shot it appears that the raft is upright and all of the equipment is still aboard.

Quotes:

Sailor: [Ensign Pulver is smuggling liquor aboard in a case marked "Brassieres"] Are bras that heavy, Mister Pulver?
Ens. Frank Pulver: Only when they're full.

Movie Connections:

References Superman (1941)

Not A Remake of Mister Roberts

I have just purchased the VHS tape of this movie and I enjoyed it very much. Mainly for the performance of Robert Walker Jr.

I would like to point out that "Ensign Pulver" is not a remake of "Mister Roberts". Ensign Pulver is the same ship and same characters as Mr. Roberts only with different actors in the leads.

Burl Ives continues the role of Capt. first played by James Cagney. Robert Walker Jr. continues the role of Ensign Pulver first played by Jack Lemmon. Walter Matthau continues the role of Doc first played by William Powell.

Early in the movie, Doc notes that it has been only a few weeks since they found out about the death of Doug, Mr. Roberts(Henry Fonda). Pulver receives a package from someone who was on the ship where Mr. Roberts died. It is medical books that Mr. Roberts wanted Pulver to have because he knew he would like the dirty pictures.

This movie is much more of a comedy than "Roberts" and is alot of fun to watch.

Also in the crew you can spot George Lindsey, "Goober" from the Andy Griffith show, future TV game show host Peter Marshall, a skinny James Coco and a very young James Farentino.

Too bad this movie is not on DVD. Yet.