The Boatniks

I saw Boatniks back in 1971 at the post theater in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas and I remember talking a friend into seeing this. He wasn't keen on seeing a G rated family film. But he and I actually did enjoy it.

The three heist men, Phil Silvers, Norman Fell, and Mickey Shaughnessy, steal the film. These three are a trio of the most inept crooks ever filmed. Graduating from the Three Stooges School of Crime, one scheme after another keeps blowing up for these three. They're so bad that on viewing it again after 34 years, my question is how did these three pull off the heist in the first place. Makes you wonder since the film opens with the heist having already been committed.

Our hero isn't too much better. Robert Morse who made a sensational debut on Broadway in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and later did the film, seemed to go nowhere after that. He gets the role Dean Jones usually played in those Disney films of that era, the klutzy hero who finally pulls it together in the last reel after one foul up after another. Stefanie Powers gets the Suzanne Pleshette part, the girl who falls for the klutz.

In these Disney films there's always the hero's boss who is forever on Morse's case. Here that would be Don Ameche as the Coast Guard Commander at the Marina. As debonair and charming as he ever was back in his days at 20th Century Fox, Ameche is always a joy to watch.

Boatniks is not a terribly pretentious movie, but it's good fun.

This movie is not as far off-base as some may believe. Having served in the Coast Guard in the 80's (a little after this movie came out in 1970) it is not too hard to believe that many of the scenes could have really taken place (and still do in a lot of places).

Sure, you'd surely be relieved of command for sinking a boat, but chill - it's a comedy, not a documentary.

Anyway, Phil Silvers is marvelous and Norman Fell is so good in his deadpan role. Stephanie Powers is about as hot as she ever was and Don Ameche as the Base CO is perfect. And don't forget Wally Cox as Jason - I wish he had tied up near us!

Don't expect too much from this lightweight, but rather sit back, maybe crack open a cold one (don't set it by your compass - of course cans were made of steel then) and just enjoy a far simpler time.

Like THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG five-years later, Disney juggles two stories in one with wacky villains and a kindheart4ed underdog in a World War II hero's son taking over a West Coast/Coast Guard headed by strict Don Ameche bossing the short, pudgy, gap-toothed Robert Morse...

Way too quickly hooked up with gorgeous sailing instructor Stefanie Powers, who rents vessels to three bumbling jewel thieves headed by Phil Silvers flanked by a cautious Norman Fell and dimwitted Mickey Shaughnessy...

Who take up most of the film, NOT in trying to sail to Mexico but attempting to recover the treasure where they accidentally dropped it in the bay...

Thus providing Morse a chance to prove he's isn't a flake, which is strange since, as the film's "jinxed" lead, he's really not all that clumsy or unlucky...

Meanwhile the best scenes ultimately become the slowest as the crooks keep ahead of their pursuers using a stolen mini submarine in a 100-minute comedy that should've been a sparse 80...

But, overall, the most enjoyable aspect is visual as in bikinis and tan shirtless souls on yachts and sailboats under So Cal's groovy 1970's sunshine: A freedom long gone.

When Ensign Tom Garland (Robert Morse) shows up to his assignment at a U.S. Coast Guard Station in California he's revealed to have suffered poor luck throughout much of his life. Clumsy and inexperienced, he makes mistakes in front of his commanding officer Commander Taylor (Don Ameche) and his crush, sailing instructer Kate Fairchild (Stefanie Powers.) Enter three bumbling jewel thieves attempting to flee to Mexico led by Harry Simmons (Phil Silvers) and Tom may just have been given the opportunity to prove himself as an effective and capable Coast Guardsman. I really like The Boatniks first of all because of how fun it is. Moreover, I like all these characters and there's plenty of good running gags. Check it out.

As the humor and some of the music is definitely dated, for those of us who are old enough to remember low tech and simpler times as well as cleaner comedy,or seeing films like this at the theater this movie will hold up. However younger people raised in the digital age special effects, laptops i Pads/i Pods and cell phones and simple minded Humor of films and TV shows such as Jackass and Horror fare like Saw will not enjoy this film at all. There are parts of the film that are a little slow and maybe some better editing would have been beneficial, with that said it is funny and enjoyable. Some of the best comedic moments are provided by Dom Ameche no doubt, Robert Morse I always enjoyed in films and Phil Silvers, Norman Fell and Mickey Shaughnessy can't be beat for funny and really inept thieves! Also worth mentioning is Wally Cox, always on the boat with the girls and the parties..it's a shame that his role couldn't have been expanded on a bit, his comedic timing would have added something. What is irritating in the section of bloopers etc.. there is no sound, just dubbed in music. It would have been interesting to hear the sounds of those instead of the music. The locations are beautiful of course as is Stephanie Powers,and cool cars to see on the road then. The film is a bit of a time capsule that shows how much has changed in the filming locations,and the times. For a Disney Film it is an oddity,it is more of a film for adults, I couldn't see small children sitting still for this, not quite what you would expect from the Disney Studios. I am sure were in a Transition period after the 1966 passing of Walt Disney, who if he had a hand in it might have been an entirely different film. I am happy to have it in my DVD Collection for a lot of reasons, it does bring back memories of a time that has gone by. Also if you are a fan of boating it really hits the mark. After watching it you almost want to go down to the marina and hop in a boat.