McHale’s Navy (1962): SO1E02 – A Purple Heart for Gruber

Introduction McHale’s Navy is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from 11 October 1962 to 12 April 1966 on the ABC television network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated from a one-hour drama titled “Seven Against the Sea”, broadcast on 03 April 1962.…

Andrew Marshall

19/02/2022

1–2 minutes

Comedy, Military TV Series, US Navy, World War Two

Introduction

McHale’s Navy is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from 11 October 1962 to 12 April 1966 on the ABC television network.

The series was filmed in black and white and originated from a one-hour drama titled “Seven Against the Sea”, broadcast on 03 April 1962. The ABC series spawned three feature films: McHale’s Navy (1964); a sequel, McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force (1965); and a 1997 sequel-remake of the original series. A documentary, McHale’s Navy: The Crew Remembers, was aired in 2007.

Producer Edward Montagne set up a female version of McHale’s Navy entitled Broadside, which ran for 32 episodes in the 1964-1965 ABC season.

Background

Trouble follows when Gruber (Carl Ballantine), PT 73 Torpedoman’s Mate, who is competing with a hometown neighbour for Greatest War Hero, is awarded a Purple Heart for a small cut on his finger, which he got while doing laundry. Meanwhile, the crew has to go out after a Japanese sub that Binghamton believes they have already sunk. Dale Ishimoto appears as the Japanese Commander.

McHale’s Navy Series

You can find a full index and overview of McHale’s Navy here.

Production & Filming Details

Release Date: 18 October 1962.
Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
Running Time: 60 minutes.
Country: US.
Language: English.