Operation Petticoat

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Operation Petticoat

1959,

2h 4m,

Comedy

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81%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman (Cary Grant) is in charge of the submarine "Sea Tiger," which was badly damaged at a Philippine shipyard by a Japanese air raid. Seeking to make sail before an oncoming invasion, Sherman enlists the help of newly transferred Lieutenant Nick Holden (Tony Curtis) to use his talents as a con artist to procure the needed supplies. Once they're underway, Sherman evacuates a group of beautiful nurses, but can't find anyone who will take them off his hands.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

May 15, 2012

Blake Edwards directs with his customary wit, breeziness, and acute sense of pacing.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 7, 2010

Operation Petticoat has no more weight than a sackful of feathers, but it has a lot of laughs.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

Not unpleasant, but the situations (including the inevitable invasion of women aboard the sub) are horribly familiar, and the dialogue none too inspired.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Aug 27, 2020

2/5

Woefully dated.

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Sean Mulvihill

FanboyNation.com

Oct 30, 2018

3/5

While I think Operation Petticoat has a number of issues - it's too long, overstuffed, and rather buttoned down - I still respect as it a piece of cinematic history.

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Nathan Rabin

The Dissolve

Aug 4, 2014

3/5

There's a distinct lack of forward momentum plaguing Operation Petticoat, which takes forever to get going, and even then only moves in fits and starts, plot-wise.

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Feb 2, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made!

Kylo R

May 27, 2018

Wonderfully funny and engaging war-comedy. 8/10 The Philippines, December 1941. Lt. Commander Matt Sherman is the captain of USS Sea Tiger, a submarine. While in harbour she is damaged by a Japanese air raid, and is close to being written off as sunk. However the crew manage to refloat her and repair her as best they can. Sherman acquires a supply officer, Lt (j.g.) Nick Holden, a staff officer with no discernible naval experience or talents, except one - he is a master of scavenging parts and supplies. The submarine sets out for Australia for repairs. On the way they stop at a US -held island only to find it deserted, but for five nurses. Things are about to get very complicated. Wonderfully funny and engaging war-comedy. Some great lines and situations. Does border on the silly at times but such is the lightness and momentum of the movie that this never gets out of hand or lingers too long. Good work by Cary Grant as Sherman. The character of Sherman suits him - fast-talking with a hint of sarcasm, all with a great deal of gravitas and authority. Tony Curtis does well as Lt. Holden and the Grant-Curtis combination works very well. Solid work by the supporting cast.

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Blake Edwards

Director

Cary Grant

Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman

Tony Curtis

Lt. JG Nicholas Holden

Dina Merrill

Lt. Barbara Duran RN

Joan O'Brien

Lt. Dolores Crandall RN

Arthur O'Connell

Chief Mechinist's Mate Sam Tostin

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Synopsis

Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman (Cary Grant) is in charge of the submarine "Sea Tiger," which was badly damaged at a Philippine shipyard by a Japanese air raid. Seeking to make sail before an oncoming invasion, Sherman enlists the help of newly transferred Lieutenant Nick Holden (Tony Curtis) to use his talents as a con artist to procure the needed supplies. Once they're underway, Sherman evacuates a group of beautiful nurses, but can't find anyone who will take them off his hands.

Director: Blake Edwards
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenwriter: Stanley Shapiro, Maurice Richlin
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2018
Runtime: 2h 4m

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