Product Details

• Actors: Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Virginia O'Brien, William Post Jr.
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: February 24, 1995
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302747244
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,015 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Miss Winters is a dancer with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and is asked to secretly transport a prototype magnetic mine to Puerto Rico. She thinks that she is working for the US Government, but fails to see why she would be involved. The enemy agents got the plan from a pulp novel written by Kibble, who is also on the ship and falls for her. But then she overhears his new novel and believes that he is talking about her. So when they leave the boat, she ignores him, but somehow, the bags get switched and he gets the magnetic mine--which she must later retrieve. It is mainly a Tommy Dorsey showcase with Sinatra singing--Powell dancing--and a small plot.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I'd rate it 4 stars, except for the rotten sound on this VHS, June 23, 2002

By 

Scaramouche (Redlands, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ship Ahoy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My two-star rating is for this particular VHS version, not for the movie. This is a fun musical comedy with Eleanor Powell, Burt Lahr, Virginia O'Brien, Red Skelton, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra at their best. It opens with the band performing "Hawaiian War Chant," featuring spectacular solo playing by trombonist Dorsey, drummer Buddy Rich, and trumpeter Ziggy Ellman. Unfortunately, the sound quality on this VHS is so poor that only about 25 percent of the dialogue is understandable. This is no exaggeration--it's so bad it needs subtitles. The musical numbers are also diminished by the poor sound. I recently saw the movie on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), and the sound was fine. My recommendation: Don't waste money on this VHS version. Wait for it to show again on TCM, or until it's reissued on a quality DVD.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eleanor Powell Needs To Be On DVD !!!!!, July 31, 2007

By 

Robert M. Bonnett "bobbinthehouse" (towson, md.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ship Ahoy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Anything shes in should be on a re-mastered DVD NOW! My God its been 12 years sinc this movie was released on VHS isnt it time to upgrade it????

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One stares with wonderment at Eleanor Powell., June 25, 2006

By 

rsoonsa (Lake Isabella, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ship Ahoy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The plot of this enjoyable MGM musical is contrived and only occasionally amusing, dealing with espionage and romance but the focus of the film is properly pointed upon the tuneful interludes showcasing the enormously talented and athletic tap dancing Eleanor Powell, abetted by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, featuring Ziggy Elman, Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra. Red Skelton shares top billing with Powell, and he and sidekick Bert Lahr are given most of the comedic minutes, although Skelton is more effective when he, if it can be believed, performs as Powell's love interest, with Virginia O'Brien actually providing most of the film's humor as the dancer's companion. The technical brilliance of Powell is evidenced during one incredible scene within which Buddy Rich contributes his drumming skills, and which must be viewed several times in order to permit one's breathing to catch up with her precision. Director Edward Buzzell utilizes his large cast well to move the action nicely along despite the rather disjointed script with which he must deal, and permits Powell's cotangent impossibilities to rule the affair, as is appropriate.