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

Congresswoman Clara Clark (Jean Willes) is visiting the base with the intention of picking out a regular GI to help sell war bonds in the States. Parker and the crew scheme to get McHale chosen for the war bond tour. But when they find out that they will not be included, they cook up another plan to get McHale off the hook. The plan does not work and Ms. Clark still insists on McHale going. That is, until she finds a certain other Commander that comes from her state of Massachusetts (implied to be John F. Kennedy).

McHale’s Navy Series

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

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 17 January 1963.
• Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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