Don’t Give Up the Ship (1959), starring Jerry Lewis, Dina Merrill
Don’t Give Up the Ship. New bridegroom is called to D.C. to explain what happened to a navy destroyer escort gone since World War II.
Comedy highlights
- The running gag of Steckler repeatedly getting taken away by MP’s when he’s trying to join his wife on their honeymoon!
- Stan Wychinski, talking to Steckler & Benson — while in the middle of a professional wrestling match! Possibly the funniest scene in the movie.
Cast
- Jerry Lewis (Scared Stiff) … John Paul Steckler I / John Paul Steckler IV / John Paul Steckler VII. Our protagonist, who can’t remember what happened to a battleship that was under his temporary command. And the Navy wants to know, or he has to pay for it! $5 million dollars!
- Dina Merrill (I’ll Take Sweden) … Ensign Rita J. Benson. Navy psychiatrist, who helps John Paul help recover his memories.
- Diana Spencer … Prudence Trabert Steckler. John Paul’s newlywed bride. They’ve just gotten married, and their honeymoon is cancelled!
- Mickey Shaughnessy (Pocketful of Miracles) … Stan Wychinski. On board the ship, Steckler’s right hand man. Since he has the practical experience that Steckler’s missing.
- Robert Middleton (The Court Jester) … Vice Adm. Philo Tecumseh Bludde. John Paul’s former commanding officer.
- Gale Gordon (The Lucy Show, Visit to a Small Planet) … Congressman Mandeville. Investigating the disappearance of the USS Cornblatt, before releasing any additional funds to the Navy.
- Mabel Albertson (Barefoot in the Park) … Mrs. Trabert. John Paul’s mother-in-law. Who “helpfully” joins them in the honeymoon suite!
- Claude Akins (Rio Bravo) … Lt. Commander Farber
- Hugh Sanders (That’s My Boy) … Admiral Rogers
- Richard Shannon (Artists and Models) … Commander Cross
- Chuck Wassil (I Married a Monster from Outer Space) … Commander Craig.
Editorial review of Don’t Give Up the Ship courtesy of Amazon.com
Comedy legend Jerry Lewis (The Nutty Professor) stars as a newlywed naval officer whisked away from his honeymoon by a senate investigating committee who would like to know what happened to WWII battleship had commanded the crew arrived home safely, but the battleship has completely disappeared. They don t know that he suffers from a mental block concerning the mission, so they assign a beautiful psychiatrist (Dina Merrill, Butterfield 8) to probe his subconscious. Oscar® winner*, Norman Taurog (Visit to a Small Planet) directed this hilarious comedy based on a true incident, Don’t Give Up the Ship is now considered to be one of Jerry Lewis best films.