In World War 2 four American sailors are marooned in the Philippines and encounter an old vessel captained by Commander Finchhaven, apparently a relic from WW1. They help him get his engine ... Read allIn World War 2 four American sailors are marooned in the Philippines and encounter an old vessel captained by Commander Finchhaven, apparently a relic from WW1. They help him get his engine going and ask him for a passage to Australia.In World War 2 four American sailors are marooned in the Philippines and encounter an old vessel captained by Commander Finchhaven, apparently a relic from WW1. They help him get his engine going and ask him for a passage to Australia.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Narrator throughout the film is Dick Wesson (not the actor Dick Wesson). He is best known as the announcer for The Magical World of Disney (1954) and The Wonderful World of Disney from 1954-79, as well as many Quinn Martin series. Dick was also the Narrator for Disneyland's extinct attraction, America the Beautiful in Circarama.
- Quotes
Jennifer Winslow: [Pointing to something in the water beyond the ship] I wonder what that is?
Lt. Morton Krim: [Excitedly] What? What? Where?
Jennifer Winslow: There, floating...
Lt. Morton Krim: Oh, that's, uh, that's just some flotsam, or jetsam. Whatever the difference is.
Jennifer Winslow: Well, flotsam is something from a shipwreck, and jetsam is something thrown overboard in order to lighten the ship.
Lt. Morton Krim: Oh... I guess that makes me flotsam, then.
Jennifer Winslow: And apparently my brother considers me jetsam.
Lt. Morton Krim: That must've been some kind of mistake.
Jennifer Winslow: Oh, Johnny and I were never exactly close. When I was nine, he tried to sell me to a steamer captain. I guess it comes from living in the islands.
- ConnectionsEdited from Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
- SoundtracksMy Gallant Crew
(uncredited)
Music by Arthur Sullivan (uncredited)
Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert (uncredited)
[Played over sinking ship montage]
THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAMAN is one of those sloppy experimental comedies from the 1960s. An anti-"war movie" (rather than an "anti-war" movie). Irreverent, satirical, but a bit messy and undercooked. It's certainly not a great film, but it has its merits. The stylistic conceit of incorporating vintage newsreel footage (with faux newsreel narration) into the story is an interesting touch. The patriotic newsreel montages create an ironical juxtaposition with the decidedly unheroic circumstances of the main characters. Maurice Jarre's bouncing score adds a quirky edge to the wartime setting and keeps things lively.
The plot: A motley group of shipwrecked American sailors (led by a young Alan Alda) comes across a dilapidated British naval vessel and its eccentric and mysterious captain, played by David Niven. The lovely Faye Dunaway joins the crew as they pull out of the Philippines and head out to sea during the final days of WWII. Hijinks ensue.
Mickey Rooney plays one of the sailors and suspects that everyone is a Jap spy. Despite a rather weak script, David Niven gives an enjoyable performance. I liked the casual way he'd report that Alda fell overboard.
During the '60s filmmakers liked to experiment with unconventional storytelling. THE EXTRAORDINARY SEAMAN is an atypical film from John Frankenheimer. The novelty of the newsreel footage gives the film a unique personality, but the madcap editing comes off as messy sometimes. There are some good creative ideas, but the finished movie lacks focus. The result is a little-known curiosity with some recognizable names attached. A mediocre movie, perhaps, and certainly not up to the director's standard, but I think the IMDb community is being too harsh on it (a 2.5 rating?!).
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