''All Hands on Deck'' is a 1961 American DeLuxe

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

CinemaScope CinemaScope is an anamorphic format, anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its cr ...

directed by

Norman Taurog Norman Rae Taurog (February 23, 1899 – April 7, 1981) was an American film director and screenwriter. From 1920 to 1968, Taurog directed 180 films. At the age of 32, he received the Academy Award for Best Director for ''Skippy (film), Skippy' ...

and starring

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, television personality, radio host and philanthropist. He sold nearly 50 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and has acted in many films. Boone ...

as a naval officer. It is based on the novel ''Warm Bodies'' by Donald R. Morris.

Plot

Lt Donald (

) of the US Navy is assigned to look after a troublesome sailor, Garfield (

Buddy Hackett Buddy Hackett (born Leonard Hacker; August 31, 1924 – June 30, 2003) was an American comedian and comic actor. Known for his raunchy material, heavy appearance, and thick New York accent, his best remembered roles include Marcellus Washburn in ...

), who is from an oil-rich Indian tribe. He also romances journalist Sally Hobson (

Barbara Eden Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress and singer, who starred as the title character in the sitcom ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965–1970). Her other roles included Roslyn Pierce opposite Elvis Presley in ...

Cast

as Lieutenant Victor 'Vic' Donald *

as Garfield *

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vance Flanagan; March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. Early years O'Keefe was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, as Edward Vance Flanagan, the son of Edward J. Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan ( ...

as Lieutenant Commander O'Gara *

as Sally Hobson *

Warren Berlinger Warren Berlinger (August 31, 1937 – December 2, 2020) was an American character actor, with Broadway runs, movie and television credits, and much work in commercials. Early life Warren Berlinger was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, ...

as Ensign Rush *

Gale Gordon Gale Gordon (born Charles Thomas Aldrich Jr., February 20, 1906 – June 30, 1995) was an American character actor who was Lucille Ball's longtime television foil, particularly as cantankerously combustible, tightfisted bank executive Theodore J ...

as Admiral Bintle * David Brandon as Lieutenant Kutley *

Ann B. Davis Ann Bradford Davis (May 3, 1926 – June 1, 2014) was an American actress. She achieved prominence for her role in the NBC situation comedy ''The Bob Cummings Show'' (1955–1959), for which she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outs ...

as Nobby

Original novel

The film was based on a 1957 novel, ''Warm Bodies'' by Donald R. Morris, based on his experiences in the Navy. ''The New York Times'' described it as "a delightful book, fresh, warmhearted and full of fun." The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' called it "the best funny novel about the navy since... '' Mr Roberts''".

Production

In 1958 screenwriter Jay Sommers optioned the rights to the novel and wrote a script, which he succeeded in selling to 20th Century Fox as a vehicle for Pat Boone. Part of the deal was that Sommers was kept on as writer; Oscar Brodney was assigned to produce.Michael A. Hoey, ''Elvis' Favorite Director: The Amazing 52-Film Career of Norman Taurog'', Bear Manor Media 2013 It was Pat Boone's first film in a number of months. He had been studying with

Sanford Meisner Sanford Meisner (August 31, 1905 – February 2, 1997) was an American actor and acting teacher who developed an approach to acting instruction that is now known as the Meisner technique. While Meisner was exposed to method acting at the Group ...

for two years and felt in this film he was finally a "good actor".

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van ...

was mentioned as a possible co star but did not appear in the final film.

Jody McCrea Joel Dee "Jody" McCrea (September 6, 1934 – April 4, 2009) was an American actor. He was the son of actors Joel McCrea and Frances Dee. Career McCrea had small roles in his father's film, '' Wichita'' (1955). He was also in '' Lucy Gallant' ...

made an early appearance. Filming started 14 November 1960. It was photographed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color.Reid, John Howard. 20th Century-Fox: CinemaScope 2. orrisville, North Carolina Lulu Press, 2009, pages 15-16,

Release

The studio did not create a pressbook to market the film in the rush to release it. Instead, the studio's marketing of the film centered on interviews with the cast.Kibbey, Richard D. ''Pat Boone: The Hollywood Years''. Mustang, Oklahoma: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, 2011, page 190, ''Diabolique'' magazine says "The racism against native Americans here is both casual and formal, but it's a rare Hollywood film at the time where they are shown to have some status in the modern world... It is all done with high spirits. Boone is quite animated, and it is a relaxed performance: his best to date. The Meisner training did pay off. Director Norman Taurog worked several times with

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

, and this feels like it could have been a Presley vehicle."

Songs

The film features four songs by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston: * ''All Hands on Deck'' * ''Somewhere There's Home'' * ''There's No One Like You'' * ''I've Got It Made''

References

External links

* * *
''All Hands on Deck''
review at ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' {{Norman Taurog 1961 films 1961 musical comedy films 20th Century Fox films American musical comedy films 1960s English-language films Films based on military novels Films directed by Norman Taurog Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Military comedy films Films about the United States Navy 1960s American films Films about Native Americans English-language musical comedy films