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
Ensign Parker damages a local’s boat and now the crew has to get the money to replace it or it will be reported to Binghamton. McHale’s crew wants to put on a beauty show for the army men to raise the money. With the tickets sold, local girls ready and the food mysteriously requisitioned for, everything is set. Meanwhile, Binghamton has just received a new secretary, a regulation-quoting lady ensign named Sandra Collins (Maura McGiveney). She runs across the strange requisitions from McHale’s crew. After she reports it to Binghamton, they go out and take back all the food and put a stop to the beauty show. Sandra feels bad that her action got the show axed. She goes over to talk with the crew and thinks of a plan where they can still have the show and it will not violate any code of misconduct. The plan also helps them bag a German submarine. In the meantime, she and Mr. Parker develop a mutual attraction to one another. Bill Quinn appears as Admiral Ennis.
McHale’s Navy Series
You can find a full index and overview of McHale’s Navy here.
Production & Filming Details
- Release Date: 22 February 1966.
- Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
- Running Time: 60 minutes.
- Country: US.
- Language: English.
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