I agree with several of the previous reviewers.This is a peculiar mixture of comedy and drama. After all, getting run through by a samurai sword is hardly a joke.But for the most part it is pleasant enough mild comedy, though scarcely a classic.Since this movie is not intended to be taken seriously, pointing out "factual errors" is just for fun.One happens after they are captured.The Japanese officer shows them an aerial photo taken several days previously showing the ship with the crew disguised as natives, and says that because of this they can be shot as spies.While the Japanese were not noted for adhering to the rules of war, and did not sign the Geneva Convention, as the officer points out, Japan DID sign the Hague conventions on naval warfare of the 1890's. One provision, sometimes known as the "disguised commerce raider clause" gives Naval vessels in wartime free rein to do what soldiers are NOT permitted to do on land.Warships and their crews may adopt any disguise they choose, fly neutral or enemy flags, adopt any deception that they want.Soldiers doing the same on land , if caught, can legally be shot as spies.It may seem unfair and inconsistent, but that is the way it is under the rules of war.A minor point is that since the days of sail were not that far in the past then, you would think that the Navy could find enough men experienced in sail to man the ship.But then veterans of the armed forces will tell you that the military rarely uses common sense!

I think the wackiest ship in the army is a fantastic movie, I first watched this on 1st July 2004, and i thought it was a good comedy movie, jack lemmon is my favourite actor. I taped the movie even though i haven't seen it, maybe it's because it's got jack lemmon in it, i feel that happens to others, people having a favourite actor or actress or even both and taping one of their movies when they haven't seen it. I have taped quite a few films and bought films with jack lemmon in that i haven't seen. I have always loved jack lemmon's movies because he was such a great actor and a great comedian. I will always be a fan of jack lemmon because he made such great movies and did fantastic ones with Walter Matthau who i think is a good comedian actor as well as jack. Thank you jack for the great movies you have made for us all fans. I give this movie 10 out of 10.

Based on true events (we were at war with the Japanese in 1943 in the Pacific), "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" stars Jack Lemmon as, once again, a naval officer.Lemmon made his first big film in 1955 when he played the con artist, Ensign Pulver, in "Mister Roberts," a movie that's attained classic status. In this 1961 film he dons the navy uniform again, this time as a lieutenant (senior grade). A reserve officer who was a dapper yachtsman in California before the war, Lemmon is assigned to command a sailing vessel with (barely functioning) auxiliary mechanical propulsion.The U.S.S. Echo is hardly the dream command of any officer, reserve or regular. But the new C.O. gamely takes on training an eager but totally bemused crew in the art of sailing a vessel.The Echo is assigned to land an Australian coast watcher on an island occupied by the stereotypically portrayed Japanese (more Japanese officers with U.C.L.A. degrees appear in film than ever showed up on the front). The heroic coast watchers were very important during the island hopping campaign and they deserve every bit of cinematic recognition they have received. Many died, some after being tortured by their captors.Nowhere nearly as smoothly directed as "Mister Roberts," "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" (and there's no rational reason for the title-the Army doesn't even play a role here) teeters unevenly between some nice comedy and some very 1950s-1960s war action supplemented by combat footage (one Japanese plane has been shown blown out of the sky so often in movies that if the pilot's estate was entitled to royalties the heirs would be richer than Bill Gates).The exploits of the Echo's crew led, we are told, to the American victory in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, an important engagement.This is a good film for renting. Jack Lemmon plays the competent and caring C.O. very nicely and is the center of the story.The Navy must have really liked the script. They put a fleet anchorage at the filmmaker's disposal. Here's a quiz for the sharp-eyed. At one point the stern of one of the most famous and important smaller combatant vessels of World War II is shown while Lemmon is instructing his crew. What ship is it?6/10.

This is one of those overlooked films Lemmon made in the early years of his legendary career. It kind of became lost in the midst of such higher profile films as "Some Like it Hot" and "The Apartment", and never truly found its way out. "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" represents a list of forgotten Lemmon titles that deserve recognition. Such films include, "It Happened to Jane", "Operation Mad Ball", "The Notorious Landlady", and "Alex & the Gypsy"."Wackiest" is a one of those type of films that is perfect for a lazy afternoon. Often amusing and boasting a quintessential Lemmon performance, it's worth checking out just for pure nostalgia!*** (out of 5)