All Hands on Deck

I laugh till I cry every time I watch this movie. I know what is going to happen, but it still cracks me up! Buddy Hackett is one comedian that I never get tired of watching. He has a wonderful way with surprise actions. The battles of the world should be as well thought out as this movie. It does rival "Operation Petticoat" and Jerry Lewis' "Sailors Beware" for slapstick and clean humor. Jerry and Buddy, in my opinion, are two of the top Kings of movie slapstick since Vaudeville and talkies first came in vogue. Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante were good, but Buddy does it in this movie by being open and honest with his viewing public. I do not know when I have enjoyed a movie so very, very much.

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Lt. Cmdr. O'Hara is fishing with Garfield but on separate decks-Seeing the Lt.Cmdr. frustrated by not having caught any fish, Garfiled quickly releases his "healthy" catch into the sea with an expression of displeasure on his face relating to what he considers an "unworthy" catch! This infuriates the Lt.Cmdr. even more and he commands his subordinates saying-"Full Fish ahead"(meaning full speed ahead but replacing the word speed with fish as fishing was all that currently occupied his mind! Moreover, the thought of Garfield-considered by the Lt.Cmdr as an unworthy seaman, having caught a bigger catch(or for that matter caught a catch at the least!) was a fact that the Lt.Cmdr. could not digest!)

Having already read "Warm Bodies", I was prepared to find "All Hands on Deck" a funny movie. But, with the likes of Gale Gordon, Buddy Hackett, Dennis O'Keefe, Barbara Eden, and Pat Boone, I found it hilarious, with Buddy Hackett stealing the show! He makes a good Oklahoma Indian sailor and shows there is more to the Navy than goofy regulations and spit and polish. It is a very good general audience film, but it helps if you are (or were) an LST sailor.

If you are willing to accept Buddy Hackett as a Chickasaw Indian replete with feather and scalping knife as part of his navy uniform than you will enjoy All Hands On Deck. Buddy Hackett was one of the funniest men ever put on God's green earth and he adds something to any film he's in.

This ship is commanded by Dennis O'Keefe who just wants to get away for some good fishing. He lives the executive officer Pat Boone in charge and he's got romance on his mind with reporter Barbara Eden.

Seaman Buddy Hackett for Thanksgiving brings a turkey on board and then can't kill it so it becomes a ship's mascot. The bird is named Owasso and he's got a problem on the order of Clyde the Orangutan had with Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way But Loose. A female turkey is found and pretty soon the ship might become a turkey farm.

Pat Boone gets a couple of forgettable songs to sing. Buddy Hackett supplies the comedy and Admiral Gale Gordon starts developing an ulcer in All Hands On Deck.

It's an amusing picture, but no classic.

The love affair between Pat Boone as Lieutenant Donald and Barbara Eden as Sally Hobson makes up the basic story line in this fun movie. Buddy Hacket or is it "hatchet" as Garfield acts as a crazy (and I do mean crazy) indian to add the comedy. The fast moving plot includes the antics of Garfield and a pet turkey which they are trying to hide from Lieutenant Donalds superiors. The main plot, the love affair and attempts to smuggle Sally Hobson on board with the ensuing coverup and confusion make for an extremely funny movie. Barbara Eden's excellant acting and Pat Boones singing and acting are prime ingredients in this very fine enjoyable production.