Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Extraordinary Seaman

  • 1969
  • G
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
3.4/10
815
YOUR RATING
The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
AdventureComedyWar

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 fu... Read allLt. 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 encount... Read allLt. 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. Oglethorp... Read all

  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Phillip Rock
    • Hal Dresner
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Faye Dunaway
    • Alan Alda
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    3.4/10
    815
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writers
      • Phillip Rock
      • Hal Dresner
    • Stars
      • David Niven
      • Faye Dunaway
      • Alan Alda
    • 26User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

    David Niven in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Faye Dunaway in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Mickey Rooney in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Alan Alda in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    David Niven, Alan Alda, and Faye Dunaway in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Alan Alda and Faye Dunaway in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Alan Alda and Mickey Rooney in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Faye Dunaway in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Mickey Rooney in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    David Niven and Alan Alda in The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Lt. Commander Finchhaven, R.N.
    Faye Dunaway
    Faye Dunaway
    • Jennifer Winslow
    Alan Alda
    Alan Alda
    • Lt. J…
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Cook 3…
    Jack Carter
    Jack Carter
    • Gunner's Mate Orville Toole
    Juano Hernandez
    Juano Hernandez
    • Ali Shar
    Manu Tupou
    Manu Tupou
    • Seaman 1…
    Barry Kelley
    Barry Kelley
    • Admiral Barnwell
    Leonard O. Smith
    • Dyak
    Richard Guizon
    • Dyak
    John Cochran
    • Dyak
    Jerry Fujikawa
    Jerry Fujikawa
    • Admiral Shimagoshi
    Winston Churchill
    Winston Churchill
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Charles de Gaulle
    Charles de Gaulle
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Olivia de Havilland
    Olivia de Havilland
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Errol Flynn
    Errol Flynn
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Van Johnson
    Van Johnson
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writers
      • Phillip Rock
      • Hal Dresner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Story of a Love Story
    5.5
    Story of a Love Story
    The Fixer
    6.8
    The Fixer
    The Gypsy Moths
    6.3
    The Gypsy Moths
    99 and 44/100% Dead!
    5.5
    99 and 44/100% Dead!
    All Fall Down
    6.8
    All Fall Down
    The Horsemen
    6.2
    The Horsemen
    A Place for Lovers
    5.5
    A Place for Lovers
    I Walk the Line
    6.5
    I Walk the Line
    The Young Savages
    6.9
    The Young Savages
    The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story
    7.1
    The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story
    The Challenge
    6.2
    The Challenge
    The Rainmaker
    6.6
    The Rainmaker

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Narrator throughout the film is Dick Wesson (not the actor Dick Wesson). He is best known as the announcer for The Magical World of Disney (1954) and The Wonderful World of Disney from 1954-79, as well as many Quinn Martin series. Dick was also the Narrator for Disneyland's extinct attraction, America the Beautiful in Circarama.
    • Goofs
      Alan Alda's character is a Lieutenant (j.g.) [junior grade] but wears an Ensign shoulder board on his left shoulder throughout the entire movie.
    • Quotes

      Jennifer Winslow: [Pointing to something in the water beyond the ship] I wonder what that is?

      Lt. Morton Krim: [Excitedly] What? What? Where?

      Jennifer Winslow: There, floating...

      Lt. Morton Krim: Oh, that's, uh, that's just some flotsam, or jetsam. Whatever the difference is.

      Jennifer Winslow: Well, flotsam is something from a shipwreck, and jetsam is something thrown overboard in order to lighten the ship.

      Lt. Morton Krim: Oh... I guess that makes me flotsam, then.

      Jennifer Winslow: And apparently my brother considers me jetsam.

      Lt. Morton Krim: That must've been some kind of mistake.

      Jennifer Winslow: Oh, Johnny and I were never exactly close. When I was nine, he tried to sell me to a steamer captain. I guess it comes from living in the islands.

    • Connections
      Edited from Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
    • Soundtracks
      My Gallant Crew
      (uncredited)

      Music by Arthur Sullivan (uncredited)

      Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert (uncredited)

      [Played over sinking ship montage]

    User reviews26

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    An unconventional 1960s war comedy from John Frankenheimer
    John Frankenheimer directed some truly great films in the 1960s, including BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962), THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962), SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964), and THE TRAIN (1964). THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAMAN (1969) is a rare foray into comedy for the director, who'd found such success with dramas and thrillers.

    THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAMAN is one of those sloppy experimental comedies from the 1960s. An anti-"war movie" (rather than an "anti-war" movie). Irreverent, satirical, but a bit messy and undercooked. It's certainly not a great film, but it has its merits. The stylistic conceit of incorporating vintage newsreel footage (with faux newsreel narration) into the story is an interesting touch. The patriotic newsreel montages create an ironical juxtaposition with the decidedly unheroic circumstances of the main characters. Maurice Jarre's bouncing score adds a quirky edge to the wartime setting and keeps things lively.

    The plot: A motley group of shipwrecked American sailors (led by a young Alan Alda) comes across a dilapidated British naval vessel and its eccentric and mysterious captain, played by David Niven. The lovely Faye Dunaway joins the crew as they pull out of the Philippines and head out to sea during the final days of WWII. Hijinks ensue.

    Mickey Rooney plays one of the sailors and suspects that everyone is a Jap spy. Despite a rather weak script, David Niven gives an enjoyable performance. I liked the casual way he'd report that Alda fell overboard.

    During the '60s filmmakers liked to experiment with unconventional storytelling. THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAMAN is an atypical film from John Frankenheimer. The novelty of the newsreel footage gives the film a unique personality, but the madcap editing comes off as messy sometimes. There are some good creative ideas, but the finished movie lacks focus. The result is a little-known curiosity with some recognizable names attached. A mediocre movie, perhaps, and certainly not up to the director's standard, but I think the IMDb community is being too harsh on it (a 2.5 rating?!).
    helpful•9
    0
    • jimjo1216
    • Aug 18, 2014

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1969 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Brod fantom
    • Filming locations
      • Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.
      • Edward Lewis Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The Extraordinary Seaman (1969)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.