Operation Petticoat (Universal 1959, Cary Grant, Tony Curtis)

Edwards is responsible for the deft pacing, and the long string of successful comic setups is courtesy of screenwriters Shapiro and Richlin, who wrote ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959). The plot is almost incidental, but concerns the WWII exploits of a sub captained by Grant, and the often unmilitary results of his evacuating beautiful nurses. The sub ends up pink and Grant and Curtis, in superb comic turns, both end up married to nurses.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Operation Petticoat (1959) made Cary Grant the highest-paid actor in the world at that time; Grant owned a percentage of the very successful film’s profits.

Academy Award Nomination: Best Screenplay.

production details
USA | Universal | 124 minutes | 1959

Director: Blake Edwards
Producer: Robert Arthur
Original Story: Paul King, Joseph Stone
Cinematography: Russell Harlan, Clifford Stine
Editor: Frank Gross, Ted J. Kent
Music: David Rose
Script: Maurice Richlin, Stanley Shapiro
Production Design: Alexander Golitzen

cast
Virginia Gregg as Maj. Edna Heywood RN
Tony Curtis as Lt. (j.g.) Nicholas Holden
Robert Gist as Lt. Watson
Nicky Blair as Seaman Kraus
Gene Evans as Chief Molumphry
Dina Merrill as Lt. Barbara Duran, RN
Marion Ross as Lt. Colfax RN
Arthur O’Connell as Chief Mechinist’s Mate Sam Tostin
Cary Grant as Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman
Robert F. Hoy as Reiner
Dick Crockett as Harmon
Joan O’Brien as Lt. Dolores Crandall, RN
Dick Sargent as Ens. Stovall
Robert F. Simon as Capt. J.B. Henderson
Gavin MacLeod as Ernest Hunkle
George Dunn as The Prophet
Madlyn Rhue as Lt. Reid RN
Clarence Lung as Sgt. Ramon Gillardo
Frankie Darro as Pharmacist Mate Dooley
Tony Pastor, Jr. as Fox
John W. Morley as Williams