Ship Ahoy (1942)

83% of users liked it
(99 ratings)

This musical -- a concoction of comedy, songs, dancing, and war-time patriotism mixed together with a spy spoof plot -- opens with Tommy Dorsey and his band swinging through "Hawaiian War Chant" while Eleanor Powell taps away. Powell, it turns out, is Tallulah Winters, the band's official tap… More This musical -- a concoction of comedy, songs, dancing, and war-time patriotism mixed together with a spy spoof plot -- opens with Tommy Dorsey and his band swinging through "Hawaiian War Chant" while Eleanor Powell taps away. Powell, it turns out, is Tallulah Winters, the band's official tap dancer, and she and the orchestra are taking an ocean liner to Puerto Rico for their next gig. Also on board are some enemy agents, anxious to secretly and safely transport their stolen plans, which include a prototype magnetic mine that can make play a big role in the war. Utilizing a plot device from a novel by Merton K. Kibble (played by Red Skelton), the enemy agents pretend to be working for the U.S. government and enlist Winters to help them with their plans. A series of misunderstandings and confusions ensue, including a baggage mix-up that leaves Kibble unwittingly in possession of the mine. Eventually Winters discovers that she has been duped and works to set all things right. Ship Ahoy takes advantage of the talents of its musical stars -- including Frank Sinatra and Jo Stafford -- to offer a nice spread of musical numbers, including "Last Call for Love," "I'll Take Tallulah," "Poor You," and "On Moonlight Bay." ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Edward Buzzell
Written By: Harry Kurnitz
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 1, 1942 Wide
On DVD: May 26, 1993

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Mixes music, comedy, a spy spoof and patriotism into one lame film.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Cast

            Eleanor Powell as Tallulah Winters

            Red Skelton as Merton K. Kibble

            Virginia O'Brien as Fran Evans

            William Post Jr. as H.U. Bennett

            Jimmy Cross as "Stump"

            Eddie Hartman as "Stumpy"

            Stuart Crawford as Art Higgins

            John Emery as Dr. Farno

            Bernard Nedell as Pietro Polesi

            Philip Ahn as Koro Sumo

            Barbara Bedford as Mrs. Loring

            Gladys Blake
            
            Hillary Brooke
            
            Mary Currier as Secretaries

            John Dilson as Dr. Loring

            Ralph Dunn as Grimes

            Connie Haines
            
            Russell Hicks as Capt. C.V. O'Brien

            Tsui Siu Keung
            
            Bert Lahr as "Skip" Owens

            Bobby Larson as Waldo

            Moroni Olsen as Inspector Davis

            Nestor Paiva as Felix

            The Pied Pipers
            
            Otto Reichow as Waiter

            Grandon Rhodes as Lt. Cmdr. Thurston

            Buddy Rich as Himself

            Addison Richards as Agent in Puerto Rico

            Jo Stafford
            
            Tommy Dorsey & His Band as Themselves

            Mary Treen as Nurse

            Carolyn Hughes
            
            Frank Sinatra as Singer in Tommy Dorsey's Band

            William Tannen as Flammer

            Grant Withers
            
            Natalie Thompson as Girl

            Mariska Aldrich as Waldo's Mother
See full cast

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