MovieChat Forums > McHale's Navy (1962) Discussion > What was the critical reaction to this s...

What was the critical reaction to this show in 1962?

posted 10 years ago by bcamphome
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm curious to know if there was any kind of backlash against this show for making light of WWII or the military in 1962. The show is quite irreverent about things that were sacred cows just a few years earlier. These guys are anti-authority and not particularly patriotic about the war effort, attitudes which really looked forward to Robert Altman's M*A*S*H (movie, not the TV show). And the notion of a Japanese POW being a cooperative member of the crew must have enraged more than a few veterans of the Pacific War who'd had contact with Japanese prisoners. As far as I can recall, the idea of a comedy set in WWII combat zones was relatively new (and usually took place at sea) and emerged in these movies: MISTER ROBERTS, OPERATION PETTICOAT, THE WACKIEST SHIP IN THE ARMY.

None of these questions would have occurred to me when I watched the show in the mid-'60s, but in looking at episodes on YouTube this week, the first time I've seen the show in almost 50 years, I'm startled by the tone of the show and wonder how the reaction was at the time. Personally, I think the show holds up beautifully and is absolutely hilarious.

[–] loughsprng 10 years ago

I don't think the critics expected much from this show when it began in 1962 and Borgnine said that the show's success was way beyond what anyone thought it would be. I don't think there was any kind of backlash against it. People knew that it was all in fun and Borgnine himself was a 10 year veteran of the U.S. Navy.

In an interview about the series Borgnine recalled that when production on the show began they had a real Navy Lieutenant on the set and after the first show he came up to him and said "Ernie what is this you're making? I thought this show was about the United States Navy." Borgnine replied "No, this is about McHale's Navy." In a dismissive tone the Lieutenant replied "Oh I see. Well don't call us, we'll call you."

A couple years later Borgnine got a call to fly to Washington to visit the Pentagon and have lunch with the Secretary of the Navy. He told Borgnine your show is one of the best recruiting tools we've ever had. It seems like everyone coming into the Navy these days said they joined because they wanted to be in McHale's Navy!

Borgnine just laughed at the irony.

[–] FlushingCaps 10 years ago

I can't answer your question bcamphome, but will make a couple of comments.

I'm not sure what you meant by saying the crew wasn't "particularly patriotic." They were always shown ready to fight the "Nips" and everyone focused on their missions whenever they were engaged in military action. The shenanigans were only for their off-hours, when there was no patrol mission or other military activity to be done.

The character of Fuji was odd. I believe a scrutiny of his actions will show that he only helped the crew as a "house boy" because he was happy to be a POW in such a setting instead of in a regular POW camp. He never really helped them in action against his countrymen. They never took Fuji with them whenever they expected to come in contact with any Japanese.

My dad was shot during the war, while in the Pacific, losing a lung. He didn't watch much TV, but McHale's Navy was one of his favorite shows. He never expressed any ongoing hostility toward Japanese people, and definitely did not feel there was a problem with this series.

Although there were some episodes that weren't that good, overall it ranks as one of my all-time favorites.

[–] tightspotkilo 8 years ago

I was a teenager when this show was on. There was no reaction or backlash to this show, at least that I remember. Society wasn't the same then. People weren't looking to be offended by or to become victims by things they saw on TV. People took it for what it was: a slapstick comedy, yes, in a war setting. Hollywood had been telling so many stories about WWII since it happened that by the 60s they were were reduced to making comedies about it. One thing that I do seem to recall is some people thought they were giving the Japanese POW too much freedom.

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!