Frota Suicida

Immediately after the United States enters World War 1 against Germany, three men from Coney Island by the names of "Baltimore" (William Boyd), "Dutch" (Robert Armstrong) and "Skeets" (James Gleason) enlist in the U. S. Navy and leave behind a young woman named "Sally" (Ginger Rogers) who each of them has fallen in love with. Unfortunately, Sally only loves one of them, So, the other two (Dutch and Skeets) do their best to keep them apart by deceiving Baltimore about Sally's true affection for him. However, although Baltimore falls for their deception, they soon discover that he has his own plans for them as well--and this involves a deception toward the German Navy. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a comedy which had a bit of slapstick humor here and there but otherwise I didn't really see much humor in it. Of course, this film was produced over 80 years ago when budgets were rather strained. So, perhaps I am being a bit too harsh in my evaluation. Be that as it may, although it wasn't a great film by any means, I didn't think it was necessarily that bad either and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

The threesome of Bill Boyd, Robert Armstrong, and James Gleason play Coney Island carnys vying for the hand of Ginger Rogers, a working gal who sells salt water taffy. With the outbreak of World War I, the threesome enlist and pursue Ginger from afar. The first half of this RKO Pathe production is hard going, with the three male leads chewing up the scenery with overcooked one-liners and 'snappy' dialogue that quickly grows tiresome. The second half concentrates on action sequences as the US Navy pursues both a German merchant cruiser and a U-boat. These sequences are lively and well-filmed, but overall this is an overlong and unsatisfying comedy-drama with a flat ending. For fans of the stars only.

There were two sailing ships used in this film: "Bohemia" and "Indiana" Both were part of the de Mille "fleet". Both were built on the Kennebec River, at Bath, Maine, in the 1880s. The Indiana was built by and for the Sewell Family. The Bohemia was built by and for the Houghton Bros. and sailed for them until 1897, when she was sold to Alaska Packers. Bohemia sailed the West Coast for 20 years before acquired by Hollywood.

Bohemia was used in "Wreck of the Hesperus", "Blood Ship" and "Yankee Clipper", all 1927. ("Yankee Clipper" also starred "Indiana"; William Boyd and his real-life Wife, Eleanor Fair.)Bohemia is the ship destroyed in "Suicide Fleet".

One of the "four-piper" destroyers used in "Suicide Fleet" was built by Bath Iron Works, which bought the former Houghton yard during World War I.

Three carnival workers romance the same girl until WWI interferes with their plans. They join the Navy and the plot meanders all over the place with tiresome effect.

WILLIAM BOYD (later "Hopalong Cassidy") spouts his dialog in a slow-moving way, and ROBERT ARMSTRONG and JAMES GLEASON mug their way through some silly shenanigans as sailors looking for a good time. Boyd is the Chief Petty Officer who comes out of retirement to rejoin the service. GINGER ROGERS is the carnival gal who can't seem to decide whether to get serious about Boyd or not, until the finale.

It's hopelessly contrived and full of hokey situations, dated dialog and interesting only for a glimpse of the Naval ships.

Summing up: Totally unsatisfying from almost every standpoint.

James Gleason runs a tour bus and tells his passengers about the sights from the Woolworth Building to Coney Island. Robert Armstrong take photos of people at Luna Park, and William Boyd runs a shooting gallery there. They all love Ginger Rogers, who runs a candy counter. When the US declares war, they all join the navy and eventually find themselves on an old sailing ship, hunting for German submarines.

It's a rambling, random sort of movie which relies on the three male stars and tastes of exotic locations like Tangiers and Havana -- all on the RKO lot, of course -- as well as some help from the Navy. They also sank an actual ship at sea in an exciting sequence. It's also a lotof fun in this buddy comedy.