Film Summary CLXVI (The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell)


A strange hybrid between M*A*S*H and Animal House, despite the fact that this film predates both of them. If M*A*S*H wasn't based off of this movie it's sure as heck was inspired.


Bob Hope is a Master Sergeant* leading a ragtag group of army runts on the biggest most important mission in the entire War. Operation find the beer, a Japanese battlecruiser destroyed the supply boat of the US Army, but it wasn't carrying ammunition, technical supplies or even new military men, it was simply carrying a bunch of beer. And nothing crushes Army morale more than destruction of alcohol (well maybe the possible loss of women but as there aren't many women to begin with that seems to be a small problem).


Also everyone is favored army chaplain is here, yes it's the one and only father Mulcahy

Okay so William Christopher isn't actually playing at Champlin in this movie he's just a corporal who has the same basic desier as all the other army men. But I figured it's close enough. and we have Phyllis Diller the head nurse who was supposed to come and boost Army morale. The Army was not amused especially given that she was the only female nurse to show up on the whole island.


*Imagining Bob Hope as anything more than a first class private it's just unrealistic. he's the least military man that ever existed which is ironic as he's probably spent more time in the Army than any other person alive.

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