Ship Ahoy

Ship Ahoy


MGM, 1942, B/W, 96 minutes, ***

Released May, 1942



The spirit of World War II shines through this patriotic cavalcade, which features the magnificent dancing of Eleanor Powell, the romantic buffoonery of Red Skelton, and the Tommy Dorsey band's snazzy swing, including a very early film performance by an up-and-coming crooner: Frank Sinatra.



Powell is Tallulah Winters, a leggy lead dancer on a cruise ship who is asked to transport a mine to Puerto Rico. Eager to aid the war effort, she agrees, but neither she or her pulp-fiction author beau (Skelton) knows she's actually working for the spies - who got the idea from one of his potboiler novels!



With support from "Cowardly Lion" Bert Lahr and Virginia O'Brien (Till the Clouds Roll By), Ship Ahoy showcases some amazing talent - and swings to the Big Band beat of its time.


Produced by: Jack Cummings

Directed by: Edward Buzzell

Screen Play by: Harry Clork

Based on a Story by: Matt Brooks, Bradford Ropes and Bert Kalmar

Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll

Vocals and Orchestrations: Sy Oliver, Odd Stordahl, Leo Arnaud, George Bassman, Conrad Salinger

Dance Direction: Bobby Connolly

Musical Program: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra;

(original songs) Burton Lane and E. Y. Harburg;

"Last Call for Love" by Burton Lane, Margery Cummings, E. Y. Harburg;

"Cape Dance" and "Tampico" by Walter Ruick

Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye

Art Director: Cedric Gibbons

Associate: Harry McAfee

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Gowns by: Kalloch

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Leonard Smith, Robert H. Planck

Film Editor: Blanche Sewell



Cast: Eleanor Powell [Tallulah Winters], Red Skelton [Merton K. Kibble], Bert Lahr ["Skip" Owens], Virginia O'Brien [Fran Evans], William Post Jr. [H. U. Bennett], James Cross [Stump, dancer], Eddie Hartman [Stumpy, dancer], Stuart Crawford [Art Higgins], John Emery [Dr. Farno], Bernard Nedell [Pietro Polesi], Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra [Themselves], Additional Cast: Moroni Olsen [Inspector Davis], Ralph Dunn [Grimes], William Tannen [Flammer], Mary Treen [Nurse], Russell Hicks [Capt. C. V. O'Brien], Philip Ahn [Koro Sumo], Nestor Paiva [Felix], Bobby Larson [Waldo], Mariska Aldrich [Waldo's Mother], John Dilson [Dr. Loring], Barbara Bedford [Mrs. Loring], Carol Hughes [Secretary], Gladys Blake [Secretary], Mary Currier [Secretary], Addison Richards [Agent in Puerto Rico], Grandon Rhodes [Lt. Cmdr. Thurston], Grant Withers [Waiter], Otto Reichow [Waiter], Hillary Brooke [Girl], Natalie Thompson [Girl], Buddy Rich [Drums], Ziggy Elman [Trumpet], Frank Sinatra [Himself], Connie Haines [Herself], The Pied Pipers [Themselves]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Ha-Hai) (hot swing instrumental arrangement played by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Buddy Rich on drums, danced by Eleanor Powell and Chorus Girls); [0:27] The Last Call for Love (sung by Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); [0:31] I'll Take Tallulah (sung by Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Eleanor Powell and Tommy Dorsey with the Tommy Dorsey Orhcestra, danced by Eleanor Powell with Chorus Girls and male dancer; contains bit with Eleanor Powell and Buddy Rich doing some fancy stuff with drumsticks); [0:37] How About You (instrumental arrangement played by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, danced by ship passengers at costume ball); [0:39] Poor You (sung by Frank Sinatra, then sung by Red Skelton as he dances with Eleanor Powell, then sung by Virginia O'Brien to Bert Lahr, then danced by Stump & Stumpy, all accompanied by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); [1:01] Cape Dance / Tampico (instrumental arrangement played by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, danced by Eleanor Powell and Chorus Girls); [1:27] (On) Moonlight Bay (sung by Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, danced by Eleanor Powell and Chorus; Eleanor taps out a message in Morse code); [1:33] Ship Ahoy (finale medley sung by Tommy Dorsey, Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell and Company)