Don’t Give Up the Ship

Don't Give Up the Ship (1959), starring Jerry Lewis, Dina Merrill

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 SpencerPrudence 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.

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Professional clown for over 25 years - happily married, with 5 children and 1 grandson