Operation Petticoat (1959)

Blake Edwards's delightful 1959 comedy stars Cary Grant as a World War II submarine captain whose preference for a by-the-book command reluctantly yields to certain realities. Chief among those is that Grant's first officer (Tony Curtis, who impersonated Grant that same year in Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot), a shameless hustler, is better than the navy at delivering whatever supplies the ship and crew need to keep going. But when Curtis sneaks a handful of Philippine refugees and several gorgeous nurses onto the all-male sub, the skipper not only has to cool down his crew but deal with an unexpected feminine influence on ship protocol. The film is a great deal of fun, sprinkled with the director's trademark sight gags (including one of Edwards's best, involving a torpedo and jeep), and graced with his unmistakable lilt. Grant is in great form, his comic brilliance almost impossibly effortless. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

operation petticoat

I love this movie. I have been looking for it for quite awhile. It arrived promptly and in good condition, played beautifully. June 23, 2008

Pink Petticoat <= as so stated by my mom

Hilarious movie. A must own for Cary Grant fans. Great humor for those in similar predicaments. Or those with family in those situations. A great laugh to take the edge off. This show has the only pink submarine I've ever seen, which is all part of its humor a one of a kind show. June 12, 2008

Operation Petticoat

ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Though some may disagree that this film is essential I've found it to be one of the most entertaining movies that I've ever seen. Cary Grant was a very versatile actor able to do comedy & drama equally well. His co-star, Tony Curtis was versatile also though he never received the same respect as many of his peers. I've always felt that comedy was the strength of Tony Curtis, most of the films that I enjoy with Curtis fall into comedy. Tony Curtis was also the king of teaming-up with other actors. Curtis normally got second billing in these cases, don't know if teaming up so often with other actors was his choice or the studio. But he had teamed with the likes of Cary Grant (as here), Burt Lancaster (more than once), Kirk Douglas & Frank Sinatra just to name a few. About the only time Curtis got top billing in his pairings were his movies with Jack Lemmon which were also hilarious.

Operation Petticoat is a WWII comedy that involves the submarine Sea Tiger. Curtis in his role isn't really a war zone officer, he's been sitting it out in the rear echelon doing jobs that aren't directly related to the war. It's his misfortune that he's stuck in a place where combat is an everyday occurrence. He volunteers to join the Sea Tiger, his reason, to get back to an area where his talents can do him more good. He ends up being the supply officer because his scavenging skills & initiative are without equal. Many funny situations occur in this movie including where Curtis steals a pig & transports it back to the submarine. Grant, in his role, is somewhat tolerant but doesn't really want all the facts. He just wants to get the Sea Tiger fully shipshape & into the war. The most famous scene in the movie occurs when, due to the lack of gray paint, red & white paint are mixed creating a very brilliant hue of pink with which they paint the submarine.

There's more to the movie but do yourself a favor & get this; it's entertaining from beginning to end. May 12, 2008

Operation Petticoat

Cary Grant is cast as the commander of the Sea Tiger, a sub held together by a lick and a promise. Tony Curtis is cast as Lt Nick Holden. He was assigned sea duty as a punishment, and is very outside of his element. Since the country is at war, supplies are very scarce, and Holden discovers that he does have a talent in being a thief. If they can't get a requisition filled, Mr. Holden can find it. This crew has one catastrophe after another, and then they get stuck with team of nurses that are stranded. This is a hilarious movie that will make you laugh out loud. The cast is superb, and not just the talent of Grant and Curtis, but all the supporting players.
April 6, 2008

Good old fashion fun

A classic must have movie from an era where entertainment was based on fun not violence or special effects. March 2, 2008

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