The Wackiest Ship in the Army

1960

The Wackiest Ship in the Army

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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

45%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,341

The Wackiest Ship in the Army Photos

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Movie Info

Hijinks and spyjinks lighten this effective comedy by Richard Murphy, based -- very loosely -- on an actual incident in World War II. The place is somewhere in the Pacific and the not-so-good ship USS Echo, captained by the comic Lt. Rip Crandall (Jack Lemmon), has a very specific assignment. The floating anachronism has to safely carry an Australian spy deep into enemy territory where he will be stationed to report on the Japanese fleet's activities. Since the Echo should have been dismantled and sold for its parts long ago, this assignment is not easy. As the military and its stereotypical traits are parodied with sophistication and sharp humor, the Captain and his motley crew do their best to successfully complete their mission.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Comedy
Directed By:

Richard Murphy
Written By:

Richard Murphy, Herbert Margolis, Bill Raynor
In Theaters:

Dec 29, 1960 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Oct 12, 2004
Runtime:

100 minutes
Studio:

Columbia TriStar

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Cast

Jack Lemmon
as Lt. Rip Crandall

Ricky Nelson
as Ens. Tommy J. Hanson

John Lund
as Lt. Cmdr. Wilbur F. Vandewater

Chips Rafferty
as Patterson

Tom Tully
as Capt. McClung

Joby Baker
as Josh Davidson

Warren Berlinger
as Sparks

Patricia Driscoll
as Maggie

Mike Kellin
as Chief Mate MacCarthy

Richard Anderson
as Lt. Foster

Alvy Moore
as Johnson

Joe Gallison
as Cameo

Teru Shimada
as Maj. Samada

George Shibata
as Capt. Shigetsu

Richard Torrence
as Horse

Naaman Brown
as Goroka

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Critic Reviews for The Wackiest Ship in the Army

All Critics (4) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (3)

I should have realized that any one who could invent, or endure, such a title might be presumed to have no sense of humor. Such is the case.

Jul 22, 2019 | Full Review…

Dwight MacDonald
Esquire Magazine
A muddled WW2 slapstick comedy.

Jul 14, 2017 | Rating: C= | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Passable service comedy featuring Rick Nelson.

Jan 3, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

View All Critic Reviews (4)

Audience Reviews for The Wackiest Ship in the Army

Sep 05, 2010

This movie isn't as wacky as it sounds, it's actually kind of boring and stupid. I didn't care much for it, but it's not that bad either. It has it's moments.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Mar 21, 2008

Nothing new from Lemmon here. This is not an example of the military being a good source of humor. Nelson is stiff. The movie can be compared to the junker boat that is sent on a near impossible mission.

Byron B Super Reviewer