During the 1950s, a military panel grills Junior Officer John Paul Steckler to find the whereabouts of a Navy destroyer that he temporarily commanded during WWII and is missing.During the 1950s, a military panel grills Junior Officer John Paul Steckler to find the whereabouts of a Navy destroyer that he temporarily commanded during WWII and is missing.During the 1950s, a military panel grills Junior Officer John Paul Steckler to find the whereabouts of a Navy destroyer that he temporarily commanded during WWII and is missing.
- Commuter at Station
- (uncredited)
- Commuter at Station
- (uncredited)
- Mother
- (uncredited)
- Fight Spectator
- (uncredited)
- Commander
- (uncredited)
- Wedding Guest
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaNot only was the USS Vammen DE644 (Destroyer Escort) used as the fictitious USS Kornblatt but so was her crew. The scenes (at around 37 mins) are the USS Vammen crew desperately trying to follow Jerry Lewis' chaotic commands.
- GoofsEnsign Steckler and Chief Wychinski go to explore an island after their ship has run aground. While exploring the island, a background shot of the ship shows it rolling in the sea swells.
- Quotes
Ens. Rita J. Benson: Lieutenant, I know you're the victim of one of the biggest boo-boos in the history of the U.S. Navy.
John Paul Steckler VII: Yeah, I am.
Ens. Rita J. Benson: I've looked over your record and it's spotless. You've always had the utmost concern for government property.
John Paul Steckler VII: W-well I always DID try my best - except maybe just that one time w-when I painted my seabag all red and cut the two holes in the bottom for my feet.
Ens. Rita J. Benson: Your feet?
John Paul Steckler VII: Well, it was a Halloween party, y' see. I went as a skinless frankfurter.
- ConnectionsReferences The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Don't Give Up The Ship deals precisely with a guy who apparently did just that and can't find it now. In a brief prologue to the film we see how Jerry playing several members of his family served their country in a kind of homage to Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets. Despite a Steckler serving in the Navy for seven generations, the USA still became a superpower.
As VJ Day was celebrated the USS Kornblatt was given orders to sail to San Diego and be decommissioned. Every other officer had enough points for discharge so command devolved on Jerry Lewis. The Kornblatt stopped at an island where Lewis was captured by some Japanese soldiers left there who weren't told the war was over. His men left him there, thinking he was killed. That was the last he saw of his ship.
With this renewed interest in the Kornblatt and Navy appropriations on the line, Admiral Robert Middleton has given Lewis a special assignment to find his lost destroyer. Aiding him is Ensign Dina Merrill from Naval Intelligence.
On top of everything else Jerry's planning to get married to Diana Spencer and the wedding has to be postponed. Diana's not understanding her beloved working in close quarters with Merrill. Romantic complications are the last thing Jerry needs.
I think Don't Give Up The Ship was one of Jerry Lewis's funniest solo films since breaking up with Dino. It's got a lot of good physical comedy that Lewis excelled at and many opportunities to overact outrageously and with gusto.
It's a must for Jerry Lewis fans.
- bkoganbing
- Oct 16, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Now Hear This
- Filming locations
- Silver Springs, Florida, USA(underwater scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1