Three US sailors fight German U-boats in World War I aboard a decoy ship and try to win Ginger Rogers who works on the Coney Island midway.Three US sailors fight German U-boats in World War I aboard a decoy ship and try to win Ginger Rogers who works on the Coney Island midway.Three US sailors fight German U-boats in World War I aboard a decoy ship and try to win Ginger Rogers who works on the Coney Island midway.
William Boyd
- Baltimore
- (as Bill Boyd)
Richard Alexander
- Crew Member
- (uncredited)
George Berliner
- Man
- (unconfirmed)
- (uncredited)
Eddie Borden
- Man Displaying Newspaper
- (uncredited)
James P. Burtis
- Cookie
- (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
- French Girl in Tangiers
- (uncredited)
Charles Delaney
- Sailor at Sally's
- (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez
- Havana Merchant
- (uncredited)
Nanette Faro
- French Girl in Tangiers
- (uncredited)
Tom Keene
- Lt. James Keene
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAn unscheduled rescue at sea was performed by the actors during production when a launch exploded off the Coronado Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Nine men, members of the film expedition, were in the launch when it's gas tanks blew up, throwing all into the water. Second cameraman Bobby Burns and sound engineer Elmer Ellsworth were slightly burned. William Boyd, James Gleason, Robert Armstrong and the director Al Rogell plunged into the ocean to rescue their assistants.
- GoofsThe United States entry into World War One is portrayed as coming as a complete surprise to Ginger Rogers and her male friends. In fact, a declaration of war had been pending before Congress for days before the House and Senate voted resolutions. President Wilson signed the Declaration of War on April 6, 1917.
- Quotes
'Dutch' Herman: Tommy, get hold of our destroyers!
Radio Operator: You bet! I'll give them the S.O.S.
'Dutch' Herman: S.O.S., hell! Tell them the German subs are planning to attack our troop ships that left New York yesterday.
- ConnectionsEdited into Below the Sea (1933)
- SoundtracksAnchors Aweigh
(1906) (uncredited)
Written by Charles A. Zimmerman
Played during the opening credits and at the end
Featured review
...at least during its first half. If it had started out with the three buddies in the navy and concentrated on the naval action scenes, it would have been a much better and tighter film. The second half of the film is worth it, especially for the action sequences and close up shots of early 20th century ships, but it's like a dull toothache getting there. Also, don't watch this film just because Ginger Rogers is in it. She has an important role, but it's a small one.
The film starts out showing three New York City buddies working the tourist trade and also in good-natured competition for the hand of Sally (Ginger Rogers), a singing candy salesgirl along the avenue. World War I breaks out, the three buddies seem completely indifferent to the struggle, yet enlist in the navy anyways. The one of the three with the least industry as a civilian (Bill Boyd as Baltimore) winds up the commanding officer to the other two (Robert Armstrong as Dutch and James Gleason as Skeets). To make matters more complex, Sally has fallen in love with one of the three, but doesn't have the chance to tell him before the three sail off to war.
The film is a little more interesting on board ship, mainly because of the close shots we have of the ship itself, and also because the chemistry among the three buddies is believable. However, James Gleason at age 49 looks a bit long in the tooth to be a swabby, especially when the sign at the enlistment office said you had to be between 17 and 35 to be eligible.
One real obvious flaw in the film that made me believe that everything outside the naval scenes was slapped together with minimum care is the costume design, or, I should say, the lack of it. In the scenes in New York just prior to WWI we have everyone dressed in the fashions of 1931 and everyone driving the cars of 1931 - no effort was taken to bring this film into period.
In conclusion, if you watch the few scenes with Ginger Rogers in them and the last 45 minutes involving the naval suicide mission, you've seen everything here worth seeing. The rest is padding.
The film starts out showing three New York City buddies working the tourist trade and also in good-natured competition for the hand of Sally (Ginger Rogers), a singing candy salesgirl along the avenue. World War I breaks out, the three buddies seem completely indifferent to the struggle, yet enlist in the navy anyways. The one of the three with the least industry as a civilian (Bill Boyd as Baltimore) winds up the commanding officer to the other two (Robert Armstrong as Dutch and James Gleason as Skeets). To make matters more complex, Sally has fallen in love with one of the three, but doesn't have the chance to tell him before the three sail off to war.
The film is a little more interesting on board ship, mainly because of the close shots we have of the ship itself, and also because the chemistry among the three buddies is believable. However, James Gleason at age 49 looks a bit long in the tooth to be a swabby, especially when the sign at the enlistment office said you had to be between 17 and 35 to be eligible.
One real obvious flaw in the film that made me believe that everything outside the naval scenes was slapped together with minimum care is the costume design, or, I should say, the lack of it. In the scenes in New York just prior to WWI we have everyone dressed in the fashions of 1931 and everyone driving the cars of 1931 - no effort was taken to bring this film into period.
In conclusion, if you watch the few scenes with Ginger Rogers in them and the last 45 minutes involving the naval suicide mission, you've seen everything here worth seeing. The rest is padding.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Mystery Ship
- Filming locations
- Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA(submarine docking area)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
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