The 1959 WW2 comedy movie “Operation Petticoat”, starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis was remade in 1977 as a TV series on ABC that lasted a fraction over one season. It’s pilot movie was a near-remake of the original movie and starred John Astin, Richard Gilliland, Jim Varney (later of “Ernest” fame) and in one of her early roles, Jamie Lee Curtis (just 19 at the time!) as one of the four Army nurses stranded aboard a rickety pink submarine. After the show’s first season, almost the entire cast was fired and an attempt was made to retool the show with a new cast that proved unsuccessful.
While a number of episodes have aired on TV Land in the years since its cancellation and can be found on YT, the pilot movie remake is harder to come by. This was something I recorded from the WCBS “Late Late Show” in June 1985, where it aired under its syndicated title “Life In The Pink.” I don’t often upload this kind of material, but because of its rarity and because it was one of my very earliest VCR recordings, I’m including it here.
NOTICE-Any comments complaining about the video quality will be DELETED! This is a nearly 40 year old recording of a program that when it aired was using a 16mm quality print, not a pristine 35mm source element because that is how old television programs were aired back in the day which means even under the best conditions (as these were since my recording is an original recording with no generation loss and no dropouts) I’m not going to have a razor sharp remastered looking image. I have no control over that, and I have zero patience for people who fail to grasp that point and instead choose to bellyache over the video quality and waste my time.
39 Comments
Aside from wearing the wrong helmets, all the dates are off by six to eight months. Did the producers and writer not know that the Philippines were attacked on 8 Dec 41 (local date) and that Corregidor, the last holdout of US forces, fell on 6 May 42?
It's nice to see Jamie Lee Curtis in this film since her father costarred with Cary Grant in the original movie.
Excellent movie. Too bad they don't make them like this anymore.
One of the greatest lines ever heard in TV was by John Austin when he would say with a smile–"But I'm feeling much better now"
This lot are in the wrong Navy; Back in the 60s, away from authority and regulations, the RAN used to sort its problems used to resolve operational issues its own way, ship by ship and boat by boat.
It's a pity that the film doesn't end per the original. Years after the war, the Captain, now an Admiral, comes to farewell the boat with Hogan now a Commander and CO, is taking her out for her last dive. They are firm friends'.
Read Holden, spellcheck error
I forgot about this show but I recognized the Nurse Major from Archie Bunker's Place and Lt. Watson from Barney Miller.
This TV series should have lasted much longer than it did.
Jackie Cooper WAS a honest to god Naval Officer. He was a captain in the Naval reserve.
This is an excellent TV pilot. John Astin kept it real while the comedic situation unfolded naturally. Talented producer/director/actor.
Sou d's lime a major screw up. But I'm not surprised. When the original is working, forget follows up.
I’m watching from Pocatello.
I love the music 🎼 played in this movie. 🍿🍿🍿💕🙃🙃💕🙃🥰🥰🥰😅😅😅
Ty very much
If you're used to John Astin as Gomez Addams or Buddy from Night Court, it's surprising to see him playing a more serious role! He's playing it straight, although it seems tongue in cheek &/with twinkle in his eyes. This is a good remake w/a lot of the original plot points from the Cary Grant/Tony Curtis movie. Surprising & ironic to see a young Jamie Lee Curtis in it (Tony's daughter).
As good as the Hollywood version !
Amazing, thank you!
Thanks for posting this. It's an interesting reflection of the 1970's era. The video quality is actually pretty good for a VHS transfer. I have a lot of old VHS tapes that don't look this good. How did you get it from the tape to a digital file?
I watched this all the time as a kid. At 57 I wish I could find a doorway back to that much better world 70's 80's,,, This world is lost.
Gumez Getz Drafted !🇨🇦
Using the footage from the original film when they went to attack a ship and sunk a truck was a lovely throwback to the original and sorry but it’s so much better than this one, I enjoyed this one but it’s not the original with tony Curtis and Cary Grant, father Goose and charade where other great favourites of mine.
Also using aircraft/film footage from Tora tora tora was a good way to use altered harvards (the British name for the T5 trainer I think) these had been altered to look like the Mitsubishi Zero and Nakajima torpedo bomber for TTT, using the old footage from these movies gives this movie an air of reality as a war film.
Remake of the CARY GRANT MOVIE
I missed the scene, where a sailor with a lewd tattoo embarrasses one of the nurses, that was in the movie. He got drunk and woke up with the tattoo of a naked lady. He claims he can't go home after the war because of it. The embarrassed nurse tells him to get bra and panties tattooed over the nude.
I saw this as a kid my mon shoes it to me byt i was small and didnt see that GOMEZ !!!
You can not pump out a submarine using a pump and dumping the water in the ocean! You will flood the ocean
There is one missing went to Sea tiger is under way. There is a bang then there is a puff of smoke
44:35
The 1959 version is undeniably better. This seems like a feeble attempt to surpass something that was already flawless.
16 june 2024 watching from Pakistan, after i came across the torpedo scene at Facebook 😅😅
Much prefer the movie with Cary Grant. Much more superior.
I'll go with almost 69, this is so disappointing a repeat of the original movie. It maybe fun to see stars in their younger years,but I can go downstairs and watch the real thing is far better so far (1/3 in). Bit of a spin, but Hollywood doesn't care.
it's te-ri-bul. this nonsense and tasteless nothing as far from the top-class 1959 movie as te-ri-bul (russian pronunciation) far from the word terrible
Jamie Lee Curtis was 19 than and eye poppin gorgeous! Now several years later, Jamie Lee Curtis is eye poppin gorgeous still!
Hey that was just fun good times!
Cute movie but I still prefer the original.
John Astin is still alive (7/12/24)
Does anybody know please if this is the same pilot called "The Petticoat Affair"? I appreciate any help about this pilot. Thank you
Cool that John Astin directed.
1:04 would be totally inappropiate by today standars. A gang of horny navy men watching Jamie Lee Curtis butt. Hahaha…