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In The Navy (film)
Encyclopedia
Plot
Popular crooner Russ Raymond (Dick PowellDick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
) abandons his career at its peak and joins the Navy using an alias, Tommy Halstead. However, Dorothy Roberts (Claire Dodd
Claire Dodd
Claire Dodd was an American film actress.Born as Dorothy Anne Dodd in Baxter, Iowa, Dodd was born to Walter W. Dodd, a farmer and veterinarian, and Ethel V. Cool Dodd, the daughter of Baxter Postmaster Peter J. Cool. As Dorothy Dodd, she attended school in Baxter...
), a reporter, discovers his identity and follows him in the hopes of photographing him and revealing his identity to the world.
Aboard the battleship Alabama, Tommy meets up with Smoky (Bud Abbott
Bud Abbott
William Alexander "Bud" Abbott was an American actor, producer and comedian. He is best remembered as the straight man of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Lou Costello.-Early life:...
) and Pomeroy (Lou Costello
Lou Costello
Louis Francis "Lou" Costello was an American actor and comedian best known as half of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Bud Abbott...
), who help hide him from Dorothy, who hatches numerous schemes in an attempt to photograph Tommy/Russ being a sailor. Pomeroy is in love with Patty, one of The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters were a highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews , soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews , and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews...
, sends her numerous fan letters, and tries to impress her with false tales of his physique and his naval rank. Eventually, Patty discovers that Pomeroy is only a baker, and Pomeroy spends much of the movie attempting to win her affection.
Production
In the Navy was filmed from April 8, 1941 through May 9, 1941. The Navy only reluctantly let the crew use a battleship to film the movie. However, the film was sent back in for reshoots after the Navy prevented Universal from releasing it. They were offended at a scene which showed Pomeroy Watson impersonating a captain and putting the battleship through a series of madcap maneuvers. The scene was left in, but the reshoots turned it into a dream of Pomeroy's so as not to portray the Navy in a bad light.Despite the fact that it was filmed after Hold That Ghost
Hold That Ghost
Hold That Ghost is a 1941 comedy horror film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello and featuring Joan Davis, Evelyn Ankers, and Shemp Howard....
, Universal decided to release this military themed film after Buck Privates
Buck Privates
Buck Privates is the 1941 comedy/World War II film that turned Bud Abbott and Lou Costello into bonafide movie stars. It was the first service comedy based on the peacetime draft of 1940. The comedy team made two more service comedies before the United States entered the war...
became a huge hit.
Routines
A scene in the galley with Abbott and Costello, along with Shemp Howard includes the routine of math, where 13 x 7 = 28. In another routine in which Abbott and Costello fill their mouths with water in order to trick the other into asking to be sprayed in the face, Costello suddenly breaks up and sprays the water on the deck. Director Arthur LubinArthur Lubin
Arthur Lubin was an American film director and producer who directed several Abbott & Costello films and created the TV series Mr. Ed.Arthur Lubin was born Arthur William Lubovsky in Los Angeles, California in 1898...
left it in the film.