I would like to first point out that it is a darn shame that Ted Healy is in this film but his 'Stooges' are not. In the early 1930s, this act WAS signed by MGM but after a falling out because Healy was reportedly an obnoxious drunk as well as his taking the lion's share of the money, these Stooges left and signed with Columbia--thus becoming the Three Stooges. They can be seen in a few MGM films together (such as "Dancing Lady") but alas they are not in this film--only Healy and it's a shame as I would have LOVED to see Moe, Curly and Larry in the middle of this murder mystery on the open seas!
As far as this picture goes, despite being made by a premier studio, MGM, as well as some big-name actors, it sure bears the look and feel of a B-movie--and I think it is, as Robert Taylor is still young and this is one of his earliest roles. The plot is only fair and the film lacks the polish you would see in Taylor films made only a year or two later.
The plot involves some murders aboard a Naval ship, the USS Carolina. Who is doing it and why is the mystery that must be unraveled. However, as another reviewer pointed out, solving the mystery seems secondary to hi-jinx as well as routine tasks on the ship. If this is the sort of Navy we had in the 1930s, it's a wonder the US won WWII! Ironically, the person who is the maniacal killer happens to be played by the same person for whom the Academy later named its humanitarian award that is given annually for service to the community and/or motion pictures!!
By the way, listen carefully to Jean Parker as she delivers her lines to Taylor early in the film--she's, at times, simply awful. She flubs lines and gives poor deliveries repeatedly and I can't see why they didn't re-shoot this. To top this off, they made her character too annoying and selfish to be realistic.
As far as this picture goes, despite being made by a premier studio, MGM, as well as some big-name actors, it sure bears the look and feel of a B-movie--and I think it is, as Robert Taylor is still young and this is one of his earliest roles. The plot is only fair and the film lacks the polish you would see in Taylor films made only a year or two later.
The plot involves some murders aboard a Naval ship, the USS Carolina. Who is doing it and why is the mystery that must be unraveled. However, as another reviewer pointed out, solving the mystery seems secondary to hi-jinx as well as routine tasks on the ship. If this is the sort of Navy we had in the 1930s, it's a wonder the US won WWII! Ironically, the person who is the maniacal killer happens to be played by the same person for whom the Academy later named its humanitarian award that is given annually for service to the community and/or motion pictures!!
By the way, listen carefully to Jean Parker as she delivers her lines to Taylor early in the film--she's, at times, simply awful. She flubs lines and gives poor deliveries repeatedly and I can't see why they didn't re-shoot this. To top this off, they made her character too annoying and selfish to be realistic.