The Private Navy of Sgt. OFarrell

February 2024 · 4 minute read

The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell is an okay, but crudely plotted comedy set in World War II, routinely directed by Frank Tashlin from his awkward screenplay.

The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell is an okay, but crudely plotted comedy set in World War II, routinely directed by Frank Tashlin from his awkward screenplay.

Tashlin’s script, from a John L. Greene-Robert M. Fresco story, has Bob Hope as one of these stock all-knowing, all-wise paternal non-coms, herein looking out for the morale of his troops. Site is a South Pacific island, around which the war and the action have detoured. Seems a cargo ship loaded with beer has been torpedoed, and Hope fears a dip in morale unless the booze is found.

Diller is a daffy civilian nurse, not quite the morale-lifter Hope had anticipated. Jeffrey Hunter is a junior naval officer. Gina Lollobrigida is an old Hope sweetie with whom he split in a flashback to a Hawaiian beach rendezvous, moments before the Pearl Harbor attack. She pops up again – goddess-ex-machina – adrift on a raft, with niece Mylene Demongeot.

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References to Bing Crosby (appearing in an old clip), a takeoff on the Burt Lancaster-Deborah Kerr beach scene in From Here to Eternity and satirical sub-titles, plus occasional good gags from assorted players, make the 92 minutes sporadically enjoyable.

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The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell

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