All Hands On Deck (1961)

A Lieutenant (Pat Boone) in the U.S. Navy is assigned to look after a troublesome sailor (Buddy Hackett) who comes from an oil rich Indian tribe. This assignment conflicts with his intended marriage to a reporter (Barbara Eden). Based on the novel WARM BODIES by Donald R. Morris and directed by Norman Taurog (BLUE HAWAII). The novel received good reviews and was compared to MISTER ROBERTS. I've not read the book but obviously something was lost in its transition to the screen. It's pure sitcom material (and not a good sitcom) and it plays out like an extended episode of MCHALE'S NAVY. The most glaring aspect of the movie is the troublemaking Native American played by Buddy Hackett. Simply put, its portrayal is degrading to Native Americans and it's not a situation of "that's how they did things then" because is was embarrassing even in 1961. This was Boone's first film since JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1959) because he took almost two years off to study acting with Sanford Meisner. With Dennis O'Keefe, Warren Berlinger, Gale Gordon and Ann B. Davis.