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Posted: |
Aug 28, 2021 - 4:47 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In 1959's OPERATION PETTICOAT, "Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman" (Cary Grant) commands the Sea Tiger, a submarine patrolling Japanese-held waters during World War II. After a leak in the hull forces Matt to dock at a nearby island, "Lt. Nick Holden" (Tony Curtis), a socialite Naval officer, is sent to scout the island. He returns with "Maj. Edna Hayward" (Virginia Gregg), "Lt. Barbara Duran" (Dina Merrill), "Lt. Claire Reid" (Madlyn Rhue), "Lt. Ruth Colfax" (Marion Ross) and "Lt. Dolores Crandall" (Joan O'Brien), nurses who have been stranded en route to Manila. Naval hi-jinks ensue. Gavin MacLeod plays seaman “Ernest Hunkle” in the film.
Gavin MacLeod and Tony Curtis in OPERATION PETTICOAT
Blake Edwards directed the comedy, which has an unreleased score by David Rose. OPERATION PETTICOAT was the #3 film of the year at the U.S. box office, with a $26.6 million gross.
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Posted: |
Aug 29, 2021 - 4:37 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In 1960’s HIGH TIME (a title born of a more innocent age), Bing Crosby portrays 51-year-old “Harvey Howard,” a restaurant magnate who has decided to finally get his college degree. Gavin MacLeod plays “Mr. Thayer,” the school's inept faculty advisor and chemistry professor.
Blake Edwards directed this comedy, replacing James B. Clark, who left after the first few weeks of production. Henry Mancini (of course) scored. Mancini’s music was re-recorded for an RCA LP, which was re-issued on CD by RCA Spain in 1998, BMG Camden in Great Britain in 2001, and as part of the 2014 Legacy box set “Henry Mancini - The Classic Soundtrack Collection.” The actual film tracks have only appeared as an isolated score track on the 2012 Twilight Time Blu-ray release of the film. HIGH TIME made it into the top 50 films of the year, with a $7.1 million gross.
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Posted: |
Aug 30, 2021 - 10:26 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In WAR HUNT, Private “Roy Loomis” (Robert Redford), an idealistic new recruit, is sent to the front in Korea in May 1953. The company commander, Captain “Wallace Pratt” (Charles Aidman), explains that they cannot actually win the war because it has to be settled at the conference table. The enemy has to be hurt so that they lose men every day they stall at Panmunjom, making it easier for the UN negotiators. One member of Loomis’ squad, Private “Raymond Endore” (John Saxon), has adopted a Korean orphan named “Charlie” (Tommy Matsuda), and goes out every night to hunt the enemy. Captain Pratt accepts Endore’s independent actions because Endore brings back invaluable information about the enemy positions. However, the killings seem to serve some personal mission for Endore, since he draws a circle around each victim. Gavin MacLeod played “Private Crotty” in the film.
Denis Sanders directed the 1962 release. The film marked the feature film acting debuts of Robert Redford, Tom Skerritt, and Sydney Pollack. Bud Shank’s score has not had a release. Shot in only 15 days for a budget of $275,000, the film brought in $1.1 million at the box office, still a low figure for its day.
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Posted: |
Aug 30, 2021 - 4:35 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway starred in the Universal television series “McHale’s Navy”. Borgnine played “Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale,” skipper of the PT 73. Conway played “Ensign Charles Beaumont Parker”, McHale's likable, but goofy second-in-command.
The PT 73’s crew consisted of:
- Seaman Joseph "Happy" Haines (Gavin MacLeod)
- Motor Machinist Mate Harrison James "Tinker" Bell (Billy Sands)
- Gunner's Mate Virgil Edwards (Edson Stroll)
- Quartermaster George "Christy" Christopher (Gary Vinson)
- Radioman Willy Moss (John Wright)
- Torpedoman's Mate Lester Gruber (Carl Ballantine)
Gavin MacLeod, Billy Sands, Edson Stroll, Gary Vinson, and John Wright in “McHale’s Navy”
ABC debuted the show on Thursday, 11 October 1962 at 9:30 PM, following the #28-rated “My Three Sons,” then in its third season. NBC’s “Hazel” ruled the 9:30 timeslot that year, ranking as the #15 show for the season. But “McHale’s Navy” held enough of the “My Three Sons” audience to warrant a renewal.
In its second season (1963-64), ABC moved the show to Tuesdays at 8:30 PM, following “Combat!”. “McHale’s Navy” went up against the second half of CBS’s popular “The Red Skelton Show”, which was the 11th highest-rated series that year. Even so, “McHale’s Navy” found enough of an audience to break into the top 30 shows, finishing at #22 for the season.
Prior to the beginning of Season 3 (1964-65), Gavin MacLeod left the show, in order to return to feature film work. This included the two “McHale’s Navy” feature films (see below). Season 3 found “Red Skelton”’s ranking rising to #6 and McHale’s dropping to #29, while both of them battled a new show on NBC: “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
The fourth season (1965-66) had “McHale’s Navy” undergo a change of locale. The entire PT-73 crew, along with Japanese deserter “Fuji” (Yoshio Yoda, who hid in the -73 as it was being transported), move to the liberated Italian theater in "late 1944" to the coastal town of Voltafiore in "Southern Italy", where Captain Binghamton becomes the military governor and they become members of PT Boat Squadron 19. Moneymaking schemes of the wacky and somewhat crooked “Mayor Mario Lugatto” (Jay Novello) and the looney antics of the citizens introduce many more plot twists and gags.
The changes in the show did not help. “Red Skelton” continued to capture a greater share of the audience, coming in as the 4th most watched program on the air that year. “McHale’s Navy” was cancelled after 138 episodes. Gavin McLeod appeared in 73 episodes.
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