Things may have changed from when this and a bunch of other Navy movies were made to when I was in the Navy in the late 60's and early 70's but when given a command by a superior officer, a subordinate officer never answered "very well" but rather "aye aye sir." "Very well" was reserved for the superior officer to reply to the lesser ranked officer when receiving a reply from the original command.
KS
I would also add that subordinate officers are to hold their salutes until the senior officer drops his but this hardly ever passes muster either.
KS
I seem to recall other Navy movies in this period where they said "aye aye sir." In the Navy (1941) with Abbott and Costello came out right before this movie and I seem to remember "aye aye sir" from that film. I wonder if this movie just got it wrong. If so, too bad, because it's so authentic in just about every other way. It's an amazing snapshot of pre-Pearl Harbor America. That color photography is incredible.
share