The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)

Lt. Commander Finchhaven, a ghostly relic from the First World War, he had fallen down dead drunk on his first assignment and been consigned from the great beyond to sail the seas until a ... See full summary »

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Hal Dresner, Phillip Rock (screenplay),

Stars:

David Niven, Faye Dunaway, Alan Alda

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Niven	...	Cmdr. John Finchhaven, RN
Faye Dunaway	...	Jennifer Winslow
Alan Alda	...	Lt. (j.g.) Morton Krim
Mickey Rooney	...	Cook 3 / C W. J. Oglethorpe
Jack Carter	...	Chief Gunners Mate Orville Toole
Juano Hernandez	...	Ali Shar
Manu Tupou	...	Seaman 1 / C Lightfoot Star
Barry Kelley	...	Adm. Barnwell
Leonard O. Smith	...	Dyak
Richard Guizon	...	Dyak
John Cochran	...	Dyak
Jerry Fujikawa	...	Adm. Shimagoshi

Storyline

Lt. Commander Finchhaven, a ghostly relic from the First World War, he had fallen down dead drunk on his first assignment and been consigned from the great beyond to sail the seas until a further opportunity arises to redeem his actions. During the Second World War, he is encountered by a quartet of American seamen that includes Lt. Morton Krim and cook W.J. Oglethorpe. A deal is completed whereby the men will help re-float Finchhaven's command in return for a passage to Australia. They raid a village to secure batteries for the engine and come upon the feisty Jennifer Winslow who offers them aid in return for a passage with the crew. Eventually they reach the open sea. Finchhaven's ghostly status is revealed and Lt. Krim and Jennifer help him to sink a Japanese cruiser.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | philippines | newsreel footage | seaman | gunboat | 

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Taglines:

We would like to thank Adolf Hitler, David Niven, Joseph Stalin, Faye Dunaway, Tojo, Mickey Rooney, Jack Carter, Alan Alda, John Frankenheimer, and the millions of Nazis, Japanese, and Americans who made this picture possible.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | War

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brod fantom

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film of Barry Kelley.

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Connections

Featured in Lionpower from MGM (1967)

User Reviews

Extraordinarily BAD

What seems like a good idea and with a very talented cast and good timing (Faye Dunaway was a huge star after Bonnie and Clyde) this appalling waste of everything has not improved with 25 years of many equally bad films becoming the norm. No wonder poor old MGM was dying. I would like to know the budget because it looks reasonably low, given most of the 'action' is aboard Niven's leaky old boat. I saw this film in 1969 in Sydney at MGM's own Liberty Theatre and even then as a 15 year old I thought it pretty bad. Seeing it again last night I know how and why it is a sad waste. It even commits the major cardinal sin of showing stock footage of the old tub 'sinking' at the climax of the film...NOT newsreel footage of WW2 which is splattered throughout, but obviously just cheap tinted crap of some other bow going down. MGM did this before with THE LAST VOYAGE, inserting stock at a crucial moment, infuriating and cheating everyone watching, and I was equally irritated with it happening here. Alan Alda was a surprise, as I had forgotten he was in this film and often photographed here quite like Elvis...don't laugh, it struck me several times that if Elvis had an acting male relative the same age he would look a lot like like Alan Alda in this film.