The Extraordinary Seaman
2.8 /10 1 Votes
Duration Language English | 2.6/10 IMDb Genre Adventure, Comedy, War Country United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date 1969 (1969) Writer Hal Dresner, Phillip Rock (screenplay), Phillip Rock (story) Cast (Cmdr. John Finchhaven, RN), (Jennifer Winslow), (Lt. j.g. Morton Krim), (Cook 3 / C.W.J. Oglethorpe), (Chief Gunners Mate Orville Toole) Similar movies Related John Frankenheimer movies Tagline We would like to thank Adolf Hitler, David Niven, Joseph Stalin, Faye Dunaway, Tojo, Mickey Rooney, Jack Carter, Alan Alda, John Frankenheimer, and the millions of Nazis, Japanese, and Americans who made this picture possible. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stranded World War II sailors and a woman (Faye Dunaway) meet a dapper British naval officer (David Niven) left over from World War I.
Contents
The Extraordinary Seaman is a 1969 American comedy war film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring David Niven, Faye Dunaway, Alan Alda, Mickey Rooney, and Jack Carter.
Cinematography is by Lionel Lindon.
Lt. Commander Finchhaven, a ghostly relic from the First World War, he had fallen down dead drunk on his first assignment and been consigned from the great beyond to sail the seas until a further opportunity arises to redeem his actions. During the Second World War, he is encountered by a quartet of American seamen that includes Lt. Morton Krim and cook W.J. Oglethorpe. A deal is completed whereby the men will help re-float Finchhaven's command in return for a passage to Australia. They raid a village to secure batteries for the engine and come upon the feisty Jennifer Winslow who offers them aid in return for a passage with the crew. Eventually they reach the open sea. Finchhaven's ghostly status is revealed and Lt. Krim and Jennifer help him to sink a Japanese cruiser.
Plot
A ghostly British naval officer(Niven) persuades four members of the American navy to launch an attack on Japanese positions, hoping to redeem the family honor and his own tattered record from the First World War. He had been condemned to sail the seas forever after falling down drunk before his first battle in the Great War. With his typical luck he actually succeeds in sinking a Japanese naval vessel *after* it had officially surrendered to the US Navy. As a result he is seen again consigned to sailing his ship forever, this time in a childrens amusement park lake, to await another chance at redemption.
Reception
This movie was widely panned by the critics and barely achieved any kind of a commercial release. Director John Frankenheimer said in an interview that of all the films he directed this was his least favorite. He said it was the only movie he ever made that he considered "an absolute disaster from beginning to end".
References
The Extraordinary Seaman WikipediaThe Extraordinary Seaman IMDb The Extraordinary Seaman themoviedb.org