Onionhead (1958): Cast & Plot
Onionhead is a 1958 comedy drama directed by Norman Taurog, starring Andy Griffith as Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead, Roscoe Karns and Erin O'Brien. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- Norman Taurog
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Onionhead About?
The premise of Onionhead without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The Ship’s Cook who has the Coast Guard in a Stew! An irresponsible student enlists in the Coast Guard expecting to sit out World War II.
Onionhead Themes & Keywords
· 29 tags- college
- 1940s
- cook
- college graduate
- bar
- girlfriend
- galley
- boston massachusetts
- military service
- barber
- father son relationship
- infidelity
+17 more Show fewer
- u boat
- jealousy
- party
- dance
- baldness
- shaven head
- drunk
- whistleblower
- submarine attack
- fistfight
- food
- embezzlement
- coast guard ship
- world war two
- year 1941
- coast guard
- based on book
Onionhead Cast & Characters
Andy Griffith leads the cast as Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead, with Roscoe Karns as 'Windy' Woods and Erin O'Brien as Josephine 'Jo' Hill. Directed by Norman Taurog; 12 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Norman Taurog
-
Andy Griffith as Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead - Roscoe Karns as 'Windy' Woods
- Erin O'Brien as Josephine 'Jo' Hill
-
Walter Matthau as 'Red' Wildoe
Also Starring in Onionhead
· 8 more- Claude Akins Poznicki
- Joey Bishop Sidney Gutsell
- Felicia Farr Stella Papparonis
- Ray Danton Ensign Dennis Higgins
- Joe Mantell Harry 'Doc' O'Neal
- James Gregory Lt. Cmdr. Fox aka The Skipper
- Ainslie Pryor Chief Miller
- Karl Lukas Agnelli
More from Norman Taurog
More films directed by Norman Taurog, best-rated first: The Wizard of Oz, Girl Crazy, Room for One More and Blue Hawaii.
Onionhead Plot Summary
What happens in Onionhead from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the spring of 1941, Al Woods quits an Oklahoma college to join the armed forces after a quarrel with his co-ed sweetheart, Josephine ‘Jo’ Hill. He signs up for the Coast Guard, driven partly by luck and a flip of a coin, and quickly lands on a buoy tender in Boston called the Periwinkle, serving as a ship’s cook despite having no real cooking experience. From day one, he faces hostility from Red Wildoe, the stern galley chief, from the ship’s new crew and cooks’ helpers Sidney Gutsell and Poznicki, and from the department head who seems to look down on him. The atmosphere on board is tense, and Al’s adjustment is anything but smooth as he stumbles through basic tasks and stubborn pride.
Full summary
The whole story of Onionhead, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Onionhead?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which branch of the U.S. armed forces does Al Woods enlist in?
Cars in Onionhead
2 cars on screen: the unknown and the 1941 Buick Roadmaster.
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unknown Minor role -
1941 Buick Roadmaster Background role
Onionhead Also Known As
Also known as “È sbarcato un marinaio”.
- Also known as
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- È sbarcato un marinaio
Seen Onionhead?
Movies Like Onionhead
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Chef, On Board and You’re in the Navy Now.
Onionhead FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Onionhead, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Onionhead?
Onionhead runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Onionhead released?
Onionhead was released on October 25, 1958.
Who directed Onionhead?
Onionhead was directed by Norman Taurog.
More films by Norman Taurog Who is in the cast of Onionhead?
Onionhead stars Andy Griffith as Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead, Roscoe Karns as 'Windy' Woods and Erin O'Brien as Josephine 'Jo' Hill, among 12 credited actors.
Does Onionhead have a post-credit scene?
No. Onionhead has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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