The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Wackiest Ship in the Army is a 1960 war comedy directed by Richard Murphy, starring Jack Lemmon as Rip Crandall, Dale Ishimoto and Fuji. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $1,236 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Richard Murphy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Wackiest Ship in the Army About?
The premise of The Wackiest Ship in the Army without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Lieutenant Rip Crandall is tricked into commanding the “Wackiest Ship in the Navy,” a garbage scow crewed by misfits who don’t know a jib from a jigger. Unaware that the vessel carries a top‑secret mission through waters patrolled by the Japanese fleet, they must succeed to save hundreds of Allied lives while staying afloat against overwhelming odds.
The Wackiest Ship in the Army Cast & Characters
Jack Lemmon leads the cast as Rip Crandall, with Dale Ishimoto as Japanese Pilot (uncredited) and Fuji as Japanese Sergeant (uncredited). Directed by Richard Murphy; 30 actors are credited in all.
- Director Richard Murphy
-
Jack Lemmon as Rip Crandall - Dale Ishimoto as Japanese Pilot (uncredited)
- Fuji as Japanese Sergeant (uncredited)
-
Ricky Nelson as Tommy Hanson
Also Starring in The Wackiest Ship in the Army
· 26 more- John Lund Wilbur Vandewater
- Chips Rafferty Patterson
- Patricia Driscoll Maggie
- Mike Kellin Jack MacCarthy
- Warren Berlinger A.J. Sparks
- Richard Anderson Dennis Foster
- John Anderson Sailor (uncredited)
- Roy Jenson Shark Bait - USS Echo Crewman (uncredited)
- Tom Tully Captain McClung
- Richard Quine Narrator (uncredited)
- Alvy Moore Johnson
- Sid Tomack Arthur, Bartender at Kangaroo Club (uncredited)
- Teru Shimada Samada
- Nesdon Booth Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
- Joby Baker Josh Davidson
- Phil Adams Crewman (uncredited)
Show all 30 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Russ Whiteman American Colonel (uncredited)
- Clive Halliday Australian Major General (uncredited)
- Naaman Brown Cpl. Goroka (uncredited)
- Tom Anthony Crewman (uncredited)
- Ron Veto Native (uncredited)
- George Shibata Captain Shigetsu
- Hudson Shotwell Adm. Hathaway (uncredited)
- Lysa D'Anjou French guide (uncredited)
- Gavin W. Harper Seaman (uncredited)
- Richard Torrence Horse (uncredited)
The Wackiest Ship in the Army Plot Summary
What happens in The Wackiest Ship in the Army from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1943, during the height of World War II, Rip Crandall, a seasoned U.S. Navy Lieutenant and a passionate yachtsman in his civilian life, finds himself stationed in Townsville, Australia. His routine military duties take a surprising turn when he’s assigned command of the USS Echo, a rare sailing ship within the Pacific Fleet. This vessel, unlike the modern warships around it, relies entirely on sails and traditional navigation, making it a unique and somewhat unusual part of the war effort.
Full summary
The whole story of The Wackiest Ship in the Army, scene by scene
The Wackiest Ship in the Army Box Office
The Wackiest Ship in the Army grossed $1,236 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.2K
- International
- $1.2K
How Well Do You Know The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
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
In which year is 'The Wackiest Ship in the Army' set?
Cars in The Wackiest Ship in the Army
2 cars on screen: the Willys M38 and the LeTourneau MB-1A.
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Willys M38 Minor role -
LeTourneau MB-1A Background role
Seen The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Wackiest Ship in the Army, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was The Wackiest Ship in the Army released?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army was released on December 29, 1960.
Who directed The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army was directed by Richard Murphy.
More films by Richard Murphy Who is in the cast of The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army stars Jack Lemmon as Rip Crandall, Dale Ishimoto as Japanese Pilot (uncredited) and Fuji as Japanese Sergeant (uncredited), among 30 credited actors.
How much did The Wackiest Ship in the Army make at the box office?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army grossed $1,236 worldwide.
Does The Wackiest Ship in the Army have a post-credit scene?
No. The Wackiest Ship in the Army has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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