Operation Petticoat

During World War II, Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman commands a battered submarine that barely stays afloat after an attack. His crew includes a slick, scheming executive officer Lt. Nicholas Holden, a con man who keeps dodging the line between cunning and trouble. Amid the repairs, a detachment of Army nurses is assigned aboard to help with morale and medical duties, turning the cramped sub into a floating crossfire of romance and mishap. The men juggle maintenance, navigation, and faulty equipment while Sherman must keep discipline intact, all while Holden schemes to turn circumstances to his advantage. The cramped hull becomes a stage for unlikely alliances and comic tension. Their confined space becomes a stage for miscommunications, practical jokes, and small acts of courage.

Directed by Blake Edwards, Operation Petticoat hit theaters in 1959 with a breezy screwball energy and sharp timing. It draws from an original screenplay by Maurice Richlin, Stanley Shapiro and Paul King, rather than a pre existing novel.

The film earned about $6.8 million at the box office, a respectable return for a wartime comedy of its era that helped solidify Edwards' reputation in light hearted military entertainment audiences responded to Grant and Curtis managing a buoyant ensemble and the pull of romance on a war ship.

Critics at the time praised the film for its brisk pacing, likable performances, and the way it balances service satire with romantic complications. Sherman's leadership under pressure, Holden's schemes, and the nurses' presence highlight camaraderie, morale, and gender dynamics in a war comedy. The themes of duty and personal flirtation play against the backdrop of wartime constraints.

The film helped cement Cary Grant's lighthearted command persona and Tony Curtis' quick witted foil dynamic, influencing later ensemble military comedies. Its blend of nautical farce, flirtation, and straight faced bravado became a reliable template for mid century studio comedies that mix romance with war. Grant's charismatic command mixed with a comedic pace keeps the story lively without losing heart.