THE PLOT THUS FAR
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Operation Petticoat” is a dramatic comedy about the goofiest people trying to survive during World War II. In that Post WWII era, every studio was trying to slap out their take on what it meant to serve in the Great War. Some films were super serious, while others played up the lighter side of things. This movie was a dramatic comedy that played up these elements during the Christmas 1959 era. Americans wanted to laugh about War, as it seemed like a distant memory of victories during a great time in American history.
All Cary Grant wants is for his ship to stop being damaged and start working. All Tony Curtis wants to do is make some money off a few suckers. The gaggle of nurses on the ship don’t matter because they’re women and this is a family movie from the 1950s. Questions about war profiteering and endangering the war effort aren’t ever answered, as this is a film about men finding themselves and doing the right thing. Even if their boat is pink. The pink color of the submarine never goes away and it keeps coming back as a joke that’s far beneath Blake Edwards. This is a guy that would later have Mickey Rooney define Yellowface for a generation. So, that should put into perspective how bad the running gag was for a modern viewer.
The Blu-Ray comes with no special features. The A/V Quality is pretty strong for a classic release. The 1080p transfer looks far cleaner than what I remember. The PCM 2.0 mono track is direct, but it might be underwhelming for younger listeners. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!