The Wackiest Ship in the Army
“You'll crack your timbers when you see how the Navy sticks the Army sad sacks with the crumbiest ship afloat!”
Synopsis
Lieutenant Rip Crandall is hoodwinked into taking command of the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" – a real garbage scow with a crew of misfits who don't know a jib from a jigger. What none of them knows, including Crandall, is that this ship has a very important top-secret mission to complete in waters patrolled by the Japanese fleet. Their mission will save hundreds of allied lives – if only they can get there in one piece.
Top Cast
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Jack Lemmon
Rip Crandall
Ricky Nelson
Tommy Hanson
John Lund
Wilbur Vandewater
Chips Rafferty
Patterson
Tom Tully
Captain McClung
Joby Baker
Josh Davidson
Warren Berlinger
A.J. Sparks
Patricia Driscoll
Maggie
Mike Kellin
Jack MacCarthy
Richard Anderson
Dennis Foster
Alvy Moore
Johnson
Joseph Gallison
Teru Shimada
Samada
George Shibata
Captain Shigetsu
Phil Adams
Crewman (uncredited)
John Anderson
Sailor (uncredited)
Tom Anthony
Crewman (uncredited)
Nesdon Booth
Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 29, 1960
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Murphy
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard Murphy
- Original Score
- George Duning
- Original Title
- The Wackiest Ship in the Army
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy, Herbert Carlson, William Raynor, Herbert H. Margolis
George Duning
Charles Lawton Jr.
Charles Nelson
Fred Kohlmar
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Murphy
Director
Fred Kohlmar
Producer
Richard Murphy
Screenplay
George Duning
Original Music Composer
Charles Nelson
Editor
Charles Lawton Jr.
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Wackiest Ship in the Army.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Wackiest Ship in the Army.
War: World War II
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Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Wackiest Ship in the Army
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Wackiest Ship in the Army about?
Lieutenant Rip Crandall is hoodwinked into taking command of the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" – a real garbage scow with a crew of misfits who don't know a jib from a jigger. What none of them knows, including Crandall, is that this ship has a very important top-secret mission to complete in waters patrolled by the Japanese fleet. Their mission will save hundreds of allied lives – if only they can get there in one piece.
Who directed The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army was directed by Richard Murphy.
Who stars in The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The principal cast of The Wackiest Ship in the Army includes Jack Lemmon, Ricky Nelson, John Lund, Chips Rafferty, Tom Tully.
When was The Wackiest Ship in the Army released and how long is it?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army was released in 1960 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
Who composed the musical score for The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Wackiest Ship in the Army was composed by George Duning.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Wackiest Ship in the Army?
The Wackiest Ship in the Army holds official age classifications: FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).