MCHALE'S NAVY: MOVIES ARE YOUR BEST DIVERSION (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedies about an unusual Navy unit during World War II.
In this episode, Captain Binghamton is highly annoyed when McHale's bored and "island-happy" men pull a false air-raid alarm in order to party with some of the ladies. He orders them to undertake an observational mission on the nearby island of Tuvalagi. McHale, knowing that his men are thoroughly sick of endlessly rewatching their small stock of cheesy cartoon movies, steals some prime Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn films that are intended for his superiors, much to Binghamton's frustration. On Tuvalagi, the PT-73 crew goofs off and hangs out with the locals, including Chief Maku-Maku and his tribe, unconcerned about the Japanese soldiers on the other side of the island.
Binghamton, not fooled by Parker's "purple prose" about their supposedly challenging mission, is upset to learn that a convoy is soon to sail right by Tuvalagi, making them "sitting ducks" for the Japanese. Parker rushes to McHale with Binghamton's orders to protect the convoy at all costs; McHale gets the clever idea to use the sound effects from the movies to fool the sentry into thinking that they are destroying the Japanese fleet with heavy artillery. The plan works, despite a near-miss with the cartoon movies, and the convoy passes safely without incident. Binghamton is forced to praise McHale's ingenious strategy – but then punishes the men for destroying his beloved movies for the scheme. Later, the convoy carries some new Bob Hope and Betty Grable films, which McHale happily steals. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:46
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:13157
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; United States Navy; World War II - Pacific campaign; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1962-1966
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - B.F. Goodrich tires
- TV - Commercials - Camel cigarettes
CREDITS
- Edward J. Montagne … Producer, Director
- Larry Markes … Writer
- Michael Morris … Writer
- Axel Stordahl … Music by
- Ernest Borgnine … Cast, Lt. Cdr. Quinton McHale
- Joe Flynn … Cast, Capt. Wallace Binghamton
- Tim Conway … Cast, Ensign Charles Parker
- Carl Ballantine … Cast, Lester Gruber
- Gary Vinson … Cast, George "Christy" Christopher
- Billy Sands … Cast, Harrison "Tinker" Bell
- Edson Stroll … Cast, Virgil Edwards
- Gavin MacLeod … Cast, Joseph "Happy" Haines
- John Wright … Cast, Willy Moss
- Yoshio Yoda … Cast, Fuji Kobiaji
- Bob Hastings … Cast, Lt. Carpenter
- Leon Lontok … Cast, Chief Maku-Maku
- Lee Krieger … Cast, Supply Lieutenant
- Lloyd Kino … Cast, Japanese Major
- John Mamo … Cast, Japanese Aide
- Mako … Cast, Japanese Sentry
- Keoni Khan … Cast, Polynesian Man
- Humphrey Bogart
- Errol Flynn
- Betty Grable
- Bob Hope