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

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the 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 serve merely as breaks ...

CinemaScope CinemaScope is an 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 creation in 1953 by ...

directed by Norman Taurog and starring

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

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

Donald R. Morris Donald Robert Morris (November 11, 1924 – December 4/5, 2002) was an American naval officer, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, novelist, military historian and foreign affairs writer. He joined the navy in 1942 and after World War ...

Plot

Lt Donald (

) of the US Navy is assigned to look after a troublesome sailor, Garfield ( Buddy Hackett), who is from an oil-rich Indian tribe. He also romances journalist Sally Hobson ( Barbara Eden).

Cast

as Lieutenant Victor 'Vic' Donald * Buddy Hackett as Garfield * Dennis O'Keefe as Lieutenant Commander O'Gara * Barbara Eden as Sally Hobson * Warren Berlinger as Ensign Rush * Gale Gordon as Admiral Bintle * David Brandon as Lieutenant Kutley

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'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' 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 was mentioned as a possible co star but did not appear in the final film. Jody McCrea 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), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

, 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'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' {{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 humor in film Films about the United States Navy 1960s American films