The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell

List Price: $9.98
No availability for this item new from Amazon



Compare New & Used Prices From All Available Merchants:

Starring: Bob Hope
Rated: G (General Audience)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Frank Tashlin
Studio: Bci / Eclipse
Release Date: 2000-11-21
It only seems fitting that after spending so many years entertaining Amreican troops that Bob Hope would have enlisted into the Navy (on film that is) as the title character in The Private Navy of Sgt. O Farrell. When a Japanese torpedo hits a cargo ship containing a shipment of beer Sgt. O Farrell decides to rescue the beverages and deliver some nurses to the outpost for his men. The troops however are more than surprised to receive several male nurses and Phyllis Diller! Diller had worked with Hope before in Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number. Bob turned to collaborator Frank Tashlin to co-write and direct the picture. Tashlin a former cartoonist had penned The Paleface and Son of Paleface (which he also directed) and several Jerry Lewis / Dean Martin films. The film also features Jeffry Hunter who has played everything from Captain Pike on the first episode of Star Trek to Jesus Christ in King of Kings and Dick Sargent of Bewitched.System Requirements:Starring: Bob Hope Phyllis Diller and Dick Sargent. Approx. running time: 92 minutes / color (not rated) Copyright 1968 Columbia Pictures Television.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 090096098692 Manufacturer No: 60986-9

Hope not Hopeless
A good Bob Hope film where the main charcter played by Hope was the character and not Bob Hope in disguise. Well perhaps some Hope did manage to peek out of the Sgt. Entertaining and amusing

private navy of sgt o'farrell
we really love this movie and were glad to find it on dvd. A great family movie.

It;s really not that bad
Why this film was a commercial failure and is critically loathed is beyond me. No, this is not one of Bob's best, not by any means. But Hope himself is in fine form, and while the film is uneven, there are enough good one liners and sight gags to satisfy his fans. Hope is ably supported by an ace supporting cast, including Phyllis Diller, Dick Sargent, and Jeffrey Hunter. Just sit back, relax, and laugh.

A surprisingly sub-par military comedy from Bob Hope
It is rather ironic that Bob Hope (who turned 100 today) provided so much entertainment for American troops in the field from World War II to Vietnam and beyond yet could only come up with this less than stellar military comedy. Bob plays the titular Sgt. O'Farrell, the power behind the throne on a U.S. base during World War II. When the base turns dry, the result of a Japanese torpedo and unsympathetic officeers, the sarge comes up with a plan, involving his own private navy, to get beer to the troops. O'Farrell is helped by Calvin Coolidge Ishimura (Mako), a Japanese deserter hiding out on the island. Once the boys are liquored up, the next goal becomes female companionship. The good news is that this brings Gina Lollobrigida to the island; the bad news is that it also brings Phyllis Diller, who plays Nellie Krause. She takes a liking to O'Farrell, which makes it difficult for him to go after Gina (or "Maria" as she is called--but no name on earth is as good as Gina Lollobrigida). Hope and Diller worked fine in their first film together, "Eight on the Lam," but not this time around as she relentlessly pursues O'Farrell. There is some good slapstick shtick and good lines here and there, but overall it is rather uneven. Is this the best Bob Hope comedy film ever? No, that remains "Paleface," even above the Road pictures. But it is not as bad as "The Iron Petticoat" with Katharine Hepburn. Be glad I do not let anybody see my copy of that film. "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell" is worth one look, but I would not consider it worth repeat viewings.

Hope fan
This movie is so cornball that I just love it. Bob and Phyllis together are great, and so is Jeffrey Hunter. Light hearted goofy fun! Wish it were cleaned up and put in widescreen though cause the ocean island setting is very scenic.