Barulho a Bordo

ELEANOR POWELL was in top tap-dancing form when she made SHIP AHOY! with RED SKELTON as her bumbling co-star and BERT LAHR for some added laughs, along with VIRGINIA O'BRIEN.

It's a daffy story about a gal asked to transport a magnetic mine aboard a ship to San Juan, Puerto Rico during World War II when Nazi spies were rampant in films of this sort. Her mission is soon in peril and the rest of the plot has her managing to stave off the bad guys with the help of Skelton and Lahr.

Worthwhile really only for the dancing talents of ELEANOR POWELL, who does a specialty number involving Buddy Rich on the drums that has to be seen to be believed. And watch for the young FRANK SINATRA singing with Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra.

It's a minor MGM musical comedy that deserves at least one watch.

So-so musical comedy with a flimsy espionage plot. Dancer Eleanor Powell is tricked VERY easily by Axis spies into taking some super special magnetic mine on board a ship headed to Puerto Rico. On the voyage she falls for writer Red Skelton, who also happens to be the guy who wrote the story that gave the spies the whole idea to begin with. Yeah, I know. Anyway, no one cares about all that. If you watched this, chances are you did so either to see Skelton do his shtick or to see Powell dance. If you're here for Skelton, you might be disappointed since he's rather subdued this time around. That's actually a plus for me as he isn't one of my favorite comic actors. If, like me, you watched this for Eleanor Powell, you undoubtedly enjoyed her nice tap numbers. Outside of the two stars, the movie has two other things worth mentioning about it. The first is a positive - an early appearance from a skinny Frank Sinatra singing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The second is a negative - the Cowardly Lion himself, Bert Lahr, plays Skelton's comic relief sidekick. Why Skelton, of all people, would need a sidekick trying to upstage him is beyond me. Lahr is a big drain on the movie, annoying to no end and playing a horndog chasing after girls half his age. The guy was literally born in the 19th century and poor Virginia O'Brien, in her early twenties here, is forced to play opposite him. Gross. Anyway, it's not the best movie but it will help to pass the time in a mostly pleasant way. The romance is flat and the comedy is a bit weak but Powell is charming and the musical numbers are good.

"Ship Ahoy" was probably made in order to showcase MGM talent. The film is a fun trip on an ocean liner on its way to San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the time in which the country was involved in WWII. This was typical fare for the studios, which gave the movie going public light weight entertainment as a distraction during those difficult times the country was living.

The beautiful Eleanor Powell is seen at her best in some musical numbers where she clearly shows us she was a dancer to be reckoned with. Red Skelton is also seen in a straight part with not too much clowning, as he pursues the beautiful Ms. Powell on the ship that is bringing them to Puerto Rico. The irresistible Bert Lahr has good opportunities in the film to show he was a funny man. Also Virginia Grey is seen as a fun girl who is not fooled by anyone.

There are good musical numbers featuring Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, in which one sees, among others, the amazing Buddy Rich, who has a few solos with Mr. Dorsey and Ms. Powell. A young Frank Sinatra appears also as the lead singer of the band, backed by the Pied Pipers.

This is a nostalgic trip that should be savored by fans of this genre, which MGM totally controlled.

One of the legendary Broadway stars who did not forge a memorable career in films, Bert Lahr performs at his cinematic best in this flimsy, albeit entertaining, musical comedy. Given considerable screen time and a character that permits his idiosyncratic comic turns to fit comfortably, Lahr exceeds his achievements in other movies. Whether working to only the camera, or with Red Skelton, or with Virginia O'Brien (a good partner for him), Bert Lahr at last shows what he can do. His brand of comedy may not be to everyone's taste (whose is?), but if you like his "shtick," don't miss this one.

"Ship Ahoy" is one of MGM's minor musical comedies of the early 40s with a simple plot, great dance numbers by Eleanor Powell and comedy antics by Red Skelton supplemented by the music of Tommy Dorsey's orchestra which includes Buddy Rich and a young Frank Sinatra. Fun added by Bert Lahr and Smile-less Virginia O'Brien. This film is fun to watch!