This movie is a wonderful example of a film that isn't particularly deep or important BUT that still works well because it's so much fun and the writing, though quirky, works. Of course I will admit that the plot from time to time gets really silly (culminating with the sub being painted pink and being forced to go that way into action). I guess it's just that this is a nice blend of acting by Cary Grant and Tony Curtis in a cute little war picture that ALMOST makes WWII look kind of fun. The end result is charming and silly and worth watching but with no real meaning or significance at all--and is that always such a bad thing?
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planktonrules14 February 2006
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ccthemovieman-11 July 2006As with most movies from a different era, the attitudes are quite different. Feminists would hate this movie, if they saw it today. Hollywood would never make it now in first place, unless roles were reversed and men were made to look like sex objects. That would meet PC double standards.
Nonetheless, agendas aside, there is a lot of good humor in here; the story is interesting, and you get a well-known cast with Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Dina Merrill, Arthur O'Connell, Gavin MacLeod and Marian Ross. The latter went on to be big names on television more than movies, MacLeod on "Mary Tyler Moore" and Ross on "Happy Days."
This was Happy Days on a ship, at least when some attractive women board the vessel. Grant has the best lines in the film - speaking lines, that is. Good entertainment. Lots of laughs before the PC made it impossible to laugh at anything, including ourselves. -
ma-cortes17 September 2013World War 2 comedy about a submarine commander (Gary Grant , though Jeff Chandler was originally offered the role that went to Gary) teams with a cocky wheeler-dealer (Tony Curtis, though Bob Hope always said it was his biggest regret that he turned down this character), both of whom to make the sub seaworthy . Captain finds himself stuck with a decrepit (and pink) sub . The sub's commander experiences a certain amount of surprises at the unconventional methods used by his first lieutenant . They are joined by a group of army nurses (such as Nurse Barbara performed by Dina Merrill and Nurse Crandall played by Joan O'Brien , though Tina Louise was offered but turned down the role) whose lingerie is put to some unusual uses and the gags begin .
Agreeable comedy set in Pacific Ocean during WWII with plenty of humor, laughters , tongue-in-cheek and results to be pretty funny , though some jokes may be considered sexist these days . Top-notch performance by two masters of comedy , as Gary Grant was his hero in the genre and likable acting by Tony Curtis as a con-man executive officer . Great teamwork from Grant and Curtis keep things rolling . The whole film is a happy and at times comic vehicle for its wonderful stars . However , Grant himself was at first reluctant to take his role , knowing he was much too old to play a wartime captain . Some of the plot points of the movie were based on real-life incidents . Most notable were scenes set at the opening of WW II, based on the actual sinking of the submarine USS Sealion , sunk at the pier at Cavite Navy Yard, the Philippines ; Cmdr. Sherman's letter to the supply department on the inexplicable lack of toilet paper, based on an actual letter to the supply department by Lt. Cmdr. James Coe of the submarine Skipjack ; and the need to paint a submarine pink, due to the lack of enough red lead or white lead undercoat paint . Later remade , as nurse Barbara interpreted by Dina Merrill, the love interest for Tony Curtis' character, was played in the 1977 remake by Curtis' daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis ; furthermore TV series .
The motion picture was well directed by Blake Edwards , as he directs with good pace and enjoyable sense of humor . Blake is a classic comedy filmmaker and director of his own dialogue , there's no doubt he knows what he's about . His stories are amusing and well-realized though uneven , but thanks to Sellers many movies stand out . He had successes with ¨Pink Panther¨ series who became him a world-wide celebrity as ¨A shot in dark¨ , ¨Return of pink panther , ¨Revenge of pink panther¨ , ¨Curse of Pink Panther¨ , ¨Pink Panther strikes again¨ , ¨Trail of Pink Panther¨ , ¨Son of Pink Panther¨ , among others . Since then , there have been many more hit-and-miss comedies , some wildly unsuitable vehicles for his second wife Julie Andrews as ¨The Tamarind seed¨ , ¨Darling Lili¨, ¨SOB¨ , ¨10¨ , ¨That's life¨ . His greatest hits were ¨The party¨ , the travestite comedy ¨Victor/Victoria¨ and of course the joyously ¨Breakfast at Tiffany's ¨. The flick will appeal to Gary Grant and Tony Curtis fans . This is arguably one of the Blake Edwards' best . This consistently fun comedy deserves 'Two thumbs up' . -
redservo9 August 2003A wry and lighthearted look at the U.S. Navy in 1941. Cary Grant and Tony Curtis shine amongst a wonderful supporting cast in this fictional story inspired by an actual incident that occurred during WWII. So many war movies are depressing, while others are completely ridiculous. This film, while full of sexual innuendo and lighthearted humor, still manages to keep it's humanity, with one foot planted firmly in the reality of the Pacific theater.
A jaunty tale of an injured sub, a few army nurses, a group of lonely sailors, and some pink paint. The direction is above par for the time period and genre, the writing is bright and witty, even for today's standards, and the performances are thoroughly entertaining.
This is a recommended must-see for fans of Curtis and Grant. Grab the popcorn and soda and enjoy! I give this charming 1959 classic a 7 out of 10. -
rmax30482313 March 2008Cute and amusing. Cary Grant is the skipper of a submarine stuck in a remote Phillipine base at the beginning of World War II. Damaged in an air attack, the submarine barely gets under way, with Tony Curtis as a dapper last-minute replacement who shows up for duty in natty and immaculate dress whites. Curtis is a born social climber. He is also, however, a born thief and Grant appoints him Supply Officer for the boat.
In some funny scenes, accompanied by some clever dialog, Curtis manages to steal enough supplies from various depots to keep the boat going. He also steals such luxuries as toilet paper and a pig for a New Year's luau. At one such wayside stop he manages to pick up five stranded Army nurses, one of them being the hypermastic Joan O'Brian.
You can pretty much predict the gags that will follow -- five beautiful women aboard a submarine with a crew of horny young men. The men make a point of squeezing past O'Brian in the narrow passageways at every opportunity. The Chief Motor Mac improvises a piece of machinery out of somebody's girdle. Curtis gives up his dream of marrying his rich girl friend back in the states when he falls for the elegant, blond Dina Merril (who, in real life, probably had a fatter portfolio than Curtis's fictional girl friend). Cary Grant falls for O'Brian and after the war we see both couples, now friends, with Grant an admiral and Curtis the skipper of the submarine, a dedicated navy man.
Some of the jokes now seem dated, the current Zeitgeist being what it is. An officer showing the nurses around the boat is embarrassed and stutters fiercely while trying to tell them that the loo is called "the head." On the whole, though, the film is disarming enough to be pretty funny. Grant is fine in this light comedy. He grumbles a good deal at the disorder brought to his command, as if practicing for his later "Father Goose," but he's done this so often that he could have done it all in his sleep. Tony Curtis is often criticized for his "mannerisms" but I don't know why. He's very good indeed at this sort of thing. He knows how to deliver a gag line without dwelling on it, almost running over it, so that if it's a clunker the viewer hardly notices. He's convincing in expository dialog as well and usually brings something fresh to his lines. He could do drama too, and better than Grant.
The submarine winds up being painted pink. It is attacked by an American destroyer (DD 568, which should be USS Wren) and Grant desperately sends up the nurses' underwear. The destroyer picks up some of the "debris" and the captain holds Joan O'Brian's brassiere up, staring at the capacious thing, and mutters, "The Japanese have nothing like this." You may or may not think you'll get a kick out of it, but you probably will. -
bkoganbing31 March 2007In Tony Curtis's filmed tribute to Cary Grant for TCM he made much of his well known idolatry of the man who made him want to become an actor. As a kid growing up in the mean streets of New York, young Bernie Schwartz saw in Cary Grant all he ever wanted to be up there on the silver screen.
During naval service on board a submarine in World War II he got to see Cary Grant in Warner Brothers Destination Tokyo. As Curtis said, life has a funny way of working things out. What happens; Tony Curtis gets to star with Grant years later in a World War II service comedy that is set aboard a submarine.
Destination Tokyo was not one of Grant's best films, but Operation Petticoat definitely is. Right after World War II starts, Grant's new ship, the Tigerfish is sunk right in her berth in a remote Pacific Island. Grant persuades Admiral Robert Simon to make whatever repairs he can and try and get the ship back to Pearl Harbor for repairs.
Among other things Grant gets is a new officer Tony Curtis who hasn't exactly seen much sea duty, but he's quite the operator. The two develop quite an interesting relationship on the voyage.
And it's one thing after another on that memorable shakedown cruise back to Pearl Harbor. But Cary Grant is as unflappable and charming as ever, though even he seems a bit put out at times.
There are some pretty hilarious moments in Operation Petticoat, the sinking of a truck, the painting of the Tigerfish pink and then having to leave it that way until Pearl Harbor. And who can forget how they are saved from friendly fire at the climax of the film.
Operation Petticoat was one of the biggest commercial and critical hits that Cary Grant had in Hollywood. Coming right after North By Northwest it could well be argued this was the high point of his career.
The film holds up very well today, I think today's audience would laugh just as hard as they did in 1959. -
cordaro941811 September 2008Though 'Gray Lady Down' is code for a downed sub, the boat itself doesn't play as big a part in the movie as one fears.
The story of a WWII submarine crew looking to survive aboard their oft damaged ship moves briskly, with style and serves as a great war themed picture.
Watching the crew work against the enemy, their own and the vessel itself is just some good fun.
Teaming Tony Curtis with his film idol in Grant, the two have great chemistry and play wartime officers quite well, giving this comedy a battlefront appeal.
Saturday afternoon fare, bring the popcorn but only take the bathroom break in case of emergency. -
ozthegreatat4233014 February 2007I have read this film called "fluff" with which I can most certainly not agree. I first saw in in first run forty seven years ago and it remains just as fresh and delightful today after many more viewings. Tony Curtis is at his very best in this picture as a shore-side con man reassigned to sea duty aboard the USS Sea Tiger in the opening days of WWII. Suave Cary Grant is as always flawless in his performance as the captain of the badly damaged sub, trying to keep it in the war with bailing wire and sealing wax. Edwards uses tight camera shots, well cut to maintain the illusion of the claustrophobic conditions of the sub, and witty dialog to keep the plot rolling. The chemistry between the principals and the supporting cast make this one of the best ever. That Edwars would go on to many other comedy triumphs is not at all surprising after seeing this film. I must see for anyone with a funny bone.
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gavin694226 June 2014World War II comedy about a submarine commander (Cary Grant) who finds himself stuck with a decrepit -- and pink -- sub, a con-man executive officer (Tony Curtis) and a group of army nurses.
Apparently, the film was pitched by Curtis in an effort to work with Grant, whom he had loved in "Destination Tokyo" (1943), today a lesser-known film among Grant's filmography. Seeing as Curtis has no script credit, he seemingly offered no suggestion beyond putting Grant on a boat again.
Curtis had previously worked with director Blake Edwards on "Mister Cory" (1957) and "The Perfect Furlough" (1958), another military film. The latter was written by Stanley Shapiro. If the story of Curtis launching "Petticoat" is true, it is no surprise he approached his most recent writer and director with the idea. Edwards was still relatively new at this time, not having made "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or "The Pink Panther" yet. This film sky-rocketed him to the A-list of Hollywood directors.
The film was a huge box office hit in its day, making it the #3 moneymaker of 1960, earning $6,800,000. The only films beating it were "Ben-Hur" and "Psycho" -- the latter coincidentally starring Curtis' wife, Janet Leigh!
The film, overall, has aged well. The humor is more subtle than the in-your-face comedies of today, and the role of women in society has certainly changed. But there is a timelessness to any Cary Grant or Tony Curtis performance that makes the films they appear in timeless. Curtis is a lovable con man, and to see him steal everything in sight -- even an office wall -- has a charm to it that is hard to match.
Thanks to Olive Films, the movie is now available on Blu-Ray looking and sounding better than ever before. Unfortunately, the disc contains no special features (not even a trailer), but is well worth owning for any fans of Grant, Curtis or Edwards. This is a true gem. -
catchick1 January 2007This is one of my very favorite movies. I now own the DVD, but have watched it who knows how many times since childhood.
"Operation Petticoat" never fails to make me laugh. I don't have to give a synopsis here, since so many viewers before have summed it up nicely, but I wanted to throw in my two cents.
This movie is a perfect illustration of the notion that funny and filthy are not necessarily synonymous. Parents can watch this movie with their children and not be afraid of what their children are hearing or seeing. The writers have produced a script that is funny, without pandering to the lowest common denominator. The humor is a cut above, but easily understood by most viewers.
Other viewers have rightly praised Cary Grant's and Tony Curtis' performances. However, there are some other gems, not the least of which is Arthur O'Connell as the machinist's mate. "Have a piece of pig, Major." Gavin MacLeod as the beleaguered clerk, Hunkle; Dick Sergeant's Ensign Stovall; and George Dunn as the Prophet, singing his plaintive tune "You can't win, my friend" and predicting the early demise of Lt. Holden as they go scrounging for supplies.
It doesn't matter how low I'm feeling--this movie gives me a lift. It does not gloss over the deadly seriousness of war, but does show the truth that funny things often happen in the midst of the greatest chaos. In fact, to quote Nick Holden, "In confusion, there is profit." And a great deal of laughter. -
ronin_angel1 August 2005Operation Petticoat is yet another military farce directed by Blake Edwards. It is in pretty much the same military "farce" style that he used in other movies such as Operation Mad Ball, and What Did You Do In The War Daddy? He makes a thing as horrific and serious as the concept of war, and transforms it into something quite witty and jocose. Blake does this without causing any offense however, and therefore he did it well. Basically, the movie has an astonishing likeness to Down Periscope, or I should say that Down Periscope has a peculiar likeness to this movie. In essence, a naval submarine commander is given command over a broken down sub, and a motley, ragtag crew. The most rowdy crew member however, is the supply officer Lt. Holden. He displays a blatant disregard for rules, and yet still portrays as likable. Even more surprising is the fact that somehow, despite his various behaviors, Holden manages to get the job done and have some fun along the way.The commander encounters various "obstacles" because of his supply officer, but nothing that isn't purely entertaining. The commander is portrayed by Cary Grant, and Holden is played by Tony Curtis. Both Grant and Curtis do a fantastic job in this film, and play off of one another quite well. Grant, as you know, is an amazing actor, and has been in many classics like Arsenic and Old Lace, An Affair to Remember, North by Northwest, Only Angels Have Wings, To Catch A Thief, and The Bishop's Wife, just to name a few. This is a classic Grant performance, his style predictable, yet this litany is somehow appealing. Tony Curtis is also one of my favorite actors, at least in his older films. As of late, Curtis' movies have been losing a lot of their former luster. It's only one more reason that this light-hearted movie is enjoyable, seeing Curtis in one of his finer performances. I would put it right up there with his performances in movies such as Houdini, Spartacus, Some Like it Hot, not to mention the Boston Strangler, and Six Bridges to Cross. In some of their finer performances, Curtis and Grant dominate the film with their clever acting. However, the acting aside from Curtis and Grant was actually good, not specifically notable, but never was there a moment in which I was aware of bad acting. The only small exception was in some of the dialogue referring to women, in which the lines were rather cliché for war movies. Also, aside from the actors and directors of course, the camera work is as fine quality as it could have been. The musical score fit perfectly in with the style of the movie, and writing was well done on the parts of the writers; especially Maurice Richlin, who has worked with Blake on quite a few of his productions, including some of the Pink Panther movies, as well as the aforementioned, "Daddy What Did You Do In The War?" The situations that the writers came up with for a war scenario are ridiculous, but very entertaining. Overall, this is a higher quality film, and noteworthy in the long run. Despite this, it certainly was not amazing by any means. This movie in the end was a very appealing, satirical, and splendid production. A movie which is definitely worth a view, but not important to have seen.
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"Operation Petticoat" brings Tony Curtis and his idol, Cary Grant, together for a very funny film directed by Blake Edwards. Curtis, of course, does a great Cary Grant impression in "Some Like it Hot," and working with Grant was a dream come true for the 34-year-old actor. And nothing about the experience disappointed him or the audience. The film also features Dina Merrill, Gene Evans, Dick Sargent, Arthur O'Connell, Madelyn Rhue, Virginia Gregg and Marion Ross.
The film is shown in flashback as the submarine Sea Tiger is about to be junked. Grant, as Lt. Cmdr. Matt Sherman, looks at his log book and reminisces to a time when he was trying to get the Sea Tiger back into the war after his sub is nearly destroyed in an air raid. However, it is next to impossible to get supplies. Assigned as a replacement officer to the Sea Tiger is one Mr. Holden (Curtis), a wheeler-dealer who got into uniform so he could meet the right people. Though he maneuvered a country club job as an aide to an admiral planning to go to Manila, the war intervened, and the admiral cancels his plans. Holden gets the Sea Tiger assignment. He promises that he can get supplies and presents one of his band of merry men, Ramon Gallardo, a prisoner whom he promises can travel on the sub. "But he's a Marine," Sherman objects. "There isn't a thief, pickpocket, or fence in the islands that doesn't know, love, and respect him," Holden answers. Holden gets supplies by any means necessary, including taking pipes from the bathrooms, part of the major's office wall, etc. He also manages to rescue five nurses who were stranded on an island, disrupting the entire sub. Though he finally confines Holden to quarters, Sherman realizes soon enough that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and calls on Holden for help again.
"Operation Petticoat" has some hilarious moments, including Holden's stealing of a pig for New Year's dinner and the subsequent confrontation with the owner and military police on the sub, where Sherman and Holden refer to the pig as "Hornsby." Unable to get the right color paint, the sub is painted pink and nearly bombed by a U.S. ship.
Cary Grant is wonderful as the commander, authoritative, and then authoritative but frazzled as he is haunted by one of the nurses, a Jonah (Joan O'Brien) who causes disaster for him whenever she shows up. Tony Curtis is equally good, and he does not play the role for comedy; rather, he has the comedy come out of the character - a former street kid, ambitious to marry money, with his own agenda in the Navy.
The rest of the cast is very good, with pretty Dina Merrill being the love interest for Curtis, only to learn that he's already engaged to a wealthy woman. Arthur O'Connell is funny as the frustrated mechanic as nurse Heywood insists on helping him run the ship, at one point using a girdle to connect some of the parts.
"Operation Petticoat" is a real treat - a very funny film with good direction, script and acting all around. -
tommytin326 August 2006I just watched this movie for about the 40th time and bless me if I didn't spot something I'd never noticed before. When the nurses first come on board, the Joan O'Brien character gets her left heel stuck in the deck and Cary Grant pulls it out. A moment later she attempts to climb the conning tower and he advises her to take off her other shoe, which she does. Only the "other shoe" is her left shoe, which Grant had apparently removed a moment earlier.
I'm not sure how much more I can write about this film. By way of noticing things I'd never noticed before, I noticed that Marion Ross played the fifth nurse, although she only had four or five lines. I thought that was quite a coincidence, see as I am Tivoing old episodes of the Gilmore Girls (I never watched it when it first came out) and Marion Ross played Lorelai the First (Lorelai's grandmother) in that show. Considering forty or more years had gone by, she looked remarkably the same. -
wes-connors1 February 2010World War II Navy commander Cary Grant (as Matt Sherman) wants to get his "Sea Tiger" submarine back in action, despite suffering serious damage during a Japanese air raid. He gets his wish, but has to take aboard some questionable crew members. Chief addition is wet-behind-the-ears Lieutenant Tony Curtis (as Nicholas "Nick" Holden), who comically clashes with Mr. Grant. When their laughs lines ebb, the ship takes on five female nurses, including shapely Joan O'Brien (as Dolores Crandall) and blonde Dina Merrill (as Barbara Duran). Then, having men and women share close quarters provides the situation comedy.
Some films age well, and others don't. For evidence, consider that this one immediately followed Grant's "North by Northwest" and Curtis' "Some Like it Hot". Though directed by the accomplished Blake Edwards, most of the comedy sinks like a stone. Still, "Operation Petticoat" was huge hit - and, with Grant and Curtis on board, it couldn't miss. The promise of sexy women implicit in the title didn't hurt, either. Today, the film's main appeal isn't sex, but the supporting cast - credit familiar TV faces like Dick Sargent, Gavin McLeod, Marion Ross, and Arthur O'Connell with keeping a Cary Grant-Tony Curtis film afloat.
***** Operation Petticoat (12/5/59) Blake Edwards ~ Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Arthur O'Connell, Dick Sargent -
celluloidrabbit6 April 2004There's really no reason to expect that this easy-going military comedy should hold up so well after almost 50 years. While extremely popular as a Christmas release in '59, it then boasted two top box office stars to bring in the crowds, which most critics agreed were the primary attraction supporting some rather thin and predictable material. But the merits are considerably more than reviewers originally gave credit for, and the film endures as a cleverly crafted entertainment on several levels. Its uncomplicated premise accommodates humor less derived from incident than from character and situation, making it seem far less pretentious than most films of its kind. Service comedies of this period tend to follow a pattern set by MR. ROBERTS, which was based on a hugely successful stage play and quite reverent to those origins. PETTICOAT is far more spontaneous, so even if plot threads tend to be a bit familiar, its the delivery rather than the content which holds our attention. Of course it doesn't hurt to have Cary Grant at the peak of his powers, hitting all the right notes, balancing the role of naval officer with innate dedication combined with his own charismatic charm and seemingly effortless humor, a performance which is both naturalistic and funny. Curtis, too, had found his groove at this point (he had just completed his tour de force for Billy Wilder, SOME LIKE IT HOT) contributing just the right balance of ingenuousness and star-of-the-month savvy to make his `second banana' role a success. But the lion's share of the credit must go to Blake Edwards, then in the early stages of his most successful period as a master comedy craftsman, boisterous yet sophisticated, among the last of a breed of Hollywood stylists on the rise at a time when the old studio system was nearing its end.
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elo-equipamentos13 November 2017Delight war comedy, easy to watch and hard to forget, a bright constellation of stars, Grant as the Captain of a pink submarine every time try put out the fire, Curtis continues set on fire, all five woman are the main reason for so many confusion on board, each one them had a special moments along the picture in the particular way a clumsy and sexy Joan O'Brien and the chemistry between O'Connell and Virginia Gregg, an everlasting funny moments with all casting, a movie to be discovering for new ones !!!
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First watch: 2007 / How many: 3 / Source: Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5 -
a-ripanucci28 April 2021Funny but classy, romantic but clean, a perfect comedy that get better with age. No computer special effects, no hyper muscled men, no impossible action stunts, no awful oscar winning actress, no political correctness. What a great movie!!
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OPERATION PETTICOAT is a submarine comedy which, in a tasteful way, examines the relationship between "aggressive" sailors and military nurses during the service.
A US submarine was, after an air raid, badly damaged and anchored near Manila. The captain of the submarine and his crew begin repairs, hoping to sail for Darwin, Australia before the Japanese overrun the port. One lieutenant was, despite the lack of training or experience, assigned to serve on the submarine. He shows, in addition to the obvious lack of discipline, great skill in procurement of necessary materials for repairs on the submarine. The submarine is finally "ready" for an unusual trip, which, among other things, involves a funny evacuation of five attractive Army nurses...
Hormones are raging in limited space. Young nurses have seriously undermined discipline and functionality of the crew. This romantic game, through a slight sexual tension, is quite fun. However, this mess, after a while, becomes monotonous and boring. Everything is too "pink" in this film.
Cary Grant as Lieutenant Commander Matthew T. "Matt" Sherman was faced with two problems at the same time. These problems can not be solved through official channels. Mr. Grant is perhaps too indulgent for a captain in this film. A resistance in his character is actually a shameful lie. Tony Curtis as Lieutenant Nicholas "Nick" Holden is a man of ideas. However, each of his ideas has a price. He and Mr. Grant are maybe too similar. They were hooked up with two blondes at the end.
This is a charming and funny comedy, in which, regardless of the circumstances, we do not need to look for some meaning or significance. -
aesgaard4121 April 2001I don't watch war movies unless they're actually comedies.Down Periscope, Stalag 17, Mr. Roberts and The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell are two good examples and this one is the third. Tony Curtis shines as he matches wits with Cary Grant. A con-man and a scavenger, he holds their submarine and the movie together with a lot of sheer honest to goodness stealing and horse trading as Grant humors and even cajoles him. The movie really takes a wild turn as their sub takes on women and the men have to double up. Trying to get rid of them proves to be easier said than done, but eventually they save the day just when all seems almost lost. This is one movie that belongs in anyone's video collection.
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JohnHowardReid15 September 2016I must admit there are a few chuckles and a few minor thrills in this labored farce. It takes a long time for the promise inherent in the title to get under way. And when the girls finally appear, it is mostly all good clean fun. In fact, just as much footage is devoted to other comic interludes, such as Curtis scrounging supplies at the casino/supply depot, as to the predictable situations that develop when women are forced to live in cramped quarters. Needless to say, these constricted quarters have allowed the movie to be filmed very economically. Long dialogue scenes can now take place in tiny, economy-sized sets that even Monogram would have been ashamed of. True, there is some welcome exterior filming with real subs and ships that were kindly provided free of charge by the Department of Defense. As might be expected, director Blake Edwards has handled this routine assignment in a totally pedestrian style. He just plonked the actor in front of the camera and said, "Action!". And as for the flat, characterless photography, Russell Harlan hang your head in shame! Cary Grant does little more that just say his lines, allowing Tony Curtis to work all out to exploit his own limited charm/talent. The rest of the players are strictly from hunger. Thanks to an aggressive promotion, this movie was enormously successful at the box=office. Back in 1959, there was an enormous appetite out there for films that promised a raciness that they actually failed to deliver. People just couldn't get it through their heads that no movies could be released without the concurrence of the Roman Catholic church, and racy films were most definitely "Out!"
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g_newman.geo11 September 2000Curtis does turn in a strong romantic lead performance in this movie, probably one of his best, and does come very close to eclipsing Grant. However, for me the greater laughs were watching Grant's hand-to-nurse, umm, hand-to-hand tactics against the young woman Curtis sics on him early in the film. Somehow, as competent a nurse as she appears in the rest of the films, she becomes all thumbs around Grant.
Ah, yes, then there is the immortal line: "We just sank a truck!" -
ebiros215 December 2011Cary Grant and Tony Curtis teams up in this one of a kind comedy about a submarine at sea during WWII.
Submarine Sea Tiger docked at harbor gets attacked by the Japanese, and nearly sinks. The newly appointed executive officer Lt. Holden (Tony Curtis) knows nothing about seamanship, but knows plenty about how to get in the back door of the supply room. The sub is ready to ship out, but not quite shipshape. While going ashore on an island, they discover American women stranded there, and brings them aboard. Plenty of mishaps, and misadventure follows the crew of the submarine. This includes being hunted by US destroyer thinking that the submarine painted in pink is an enemy vessel.
This frequently seen movie never seems to get old. The humor still works in the 21st century. Performance of Cary Grant, and Tony Curtis is one of the best. Scenery set in the south pacific is also beautiful.
One of the finest comedy from the '50s and one of the best comedy Cary Grant and Tony Curtis starred in. -
I_Ailurophile7 August 2023I should have rather known how good this was going to be with Tony Curtis and especially Cary Grant involved, nevermind Blake Edwards, though the simple truth of the matter is that films from the 50s or so seem to be a crapshoot in terms of quality. Yet it's not for nothing that Paul King, Joseph Stone, Stanley Shapiro, and Maurice Richlin earned an Academy Award nomination for their screenplay, for simply put this is an utter delight. There are scattered points throughout where a little earnest storytelling and action violence are injected into the proceedings, offering balance and grounding the proceedings so they don't become a total farce. By and large, however, this is a fabulously irreverent, silly frivolity that is built purely to entertain, and that it does with one hearty laugh after another - and where one isn't laughing, the picture keeps us smiling. From start to finish 'Operation Petticoat' is a blast!
Curtis and Grant are tremendous, bringing two very different energies to the film that complement each other marvelously well. Where Grant plays Sherman straight, the commander who is trying with all due patience and good humor to keep the vessel war-ready, Curtis portrays Holden with a terrifically underhanded wry levity befitting the consummate con man. These dynamics quite inform the feature overall, varying between gentler hues of warm comedy and nonsense of a more outrageous nature, and all throughout one can be assuredly of highly enjoying themselves. The supporting cast is just as splendid, wholly embracing the spirit of the movie, and for as light on its feet as this is I can only imagine that each day of shooting was more fun than work. The production design is outstanding, benefiting from strong resources that allowed the feature to be its best self; between the sets, the vehicles and filming locations that the producers had access to, and the stunts and effects, the writers' script is brought to vivid life with a joyful vibrancy that's all but infectious.
There are but faint shreds of realistic threads providing a foundation for this lighthearted romp, and from there the title just goes all out to make itself as ridiculous and merry as it can. With so pure an intent, however, and excellent contributions from all involved - writers, director, cast, and crew - the result an unfailingly good time. If anything, this is even better than I had hoped when I first sat to watch, and that's no small feat. More than sixty years later it seems to me that this isn't especially well known; it was only by chance that I came across it. The fact remains that 'Operation Petticoat' holds up superbly, a fantastic, funny treasure of a film that deserves more recognition. I'm hard-pressed to think of anyone who wouldn't appreciate it, and as far as I'm concerned this is well worth seeking out wherever you have the chance! -
DKosty12326 August 2008This is a light comedy which was done the same year Tony Curtis did his impression of Cary Grant in the movie Some Like It Hot. While this movie and the other are light comedies, this one is not quite as effective because in spite of a strong cast, it does not comes off quite as well as the other film.
Grant is the Captain & Curtis is his second on a Submarine which somehow happens to pick up a group of women while on a combat mission. Before all is said & done there is plenty of sexual innuendo and a freshly painted pink submarine to be sailed.
This is a sexual tension comedy which offers a light look at what happens when women were brought into this type of situation in the days before equal rights. While the stereo types have changed since this was made, the comedy is OK and who could argue with a talented list of support actors including Marion Ross & Gavin Mccloud that keep this film moving. -
oneinfinity1 February 2006I decided to watch this film because I love Cary Grant and eventually I want to see every film he made. Unfortunately, this one isn't even nearly one of his best. Far too much of the humor relies on the audience buying into those wonderful 1950's female stereotypes. I mean, we have female army officers, nurses, acting like silly little girls. It's quite revolting. In other words, far from being a classic, the film feels like an unintelligent, unenlightened piece of pop trash. Compare this to another Cary Grant film that came out the same year, North by Northwest; or Tony Curtis's Some Like it Hot which also came out in 1959. On an intellectual and artistic level, Operation Petticoat doesn't begin to come close.