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

McHale, the 73 crew, greedy Captain Binghamton, and Lieutenant Carpenter have all been transferred to a base in the little coastal town of Voltafiore, Italy. They soon find themselves dealing with the town’s crooked, money-hungry Mayor Lugatto (Jay Novello) and his assistant Dino Baroni (Dick Wilson). From claiming a whiplash from a door hitting him, to creating an accident with the PT 73, this mayor has his hands into everything. But when Fuji makes the trip to Italy and the mayor accidentally comes across him, the mayor believes he will receive an cash award from Binghamton by turning in the Japanese spy. McHale and the boys manage to convince Binghamton that Fuji is an American soldier.

McHale’s Navy Series

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

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 14 September 1965.
• Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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