The Horizontal Lieutenant

Last updated

The Horizontal Lieutenant
The Horizontal Lieutenant.jpg
theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Written by George Wells
Based onnovel The Bottletop Affair by Gordon Cotler  [ fr ] [1]
Produced by Joe Pasternak
Starring Jim Hutton
Paula Prentiss
CinematographyRobert J. Bronner
Edited by Richard W. Farrell
Music by George Stoll
Production
company
Euterpe
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • April 18, 1962 (1962-04-18)(U.S.)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,020,000 [2]
Box office$1,850,000 [2]

The Horizontal Lieutenant is a 1962 American romantic comedy war film, based on the 1961 novel The Bottletop Affair by Gordon Cotler who was a Japanese interpreter for US Army Intelligence during World War II. [3] It is a military comedy about an unfortunate army intelligence lieutenant who finds himself isolated on a remote island army outpost during World War II. [4] It stars Jim Hutton and Paula Prentiss and was directed by Richard Thorpe.

Contents

It was the last of four teamings between Hutton and Prentiss following Where the Boys Are , The Honeymoon Machine and Bachelor in Paradise . [5] [6]

Plot

2nd Lt. Merle Wye, an Army Intelligence officer stationed in Hawaii, is rendered horizontal when struck in the head by a foul ball while playing for his unit's baseball team. In the post hospital he is attracted to Lt. Molly Blue, a nurse he once knew in college. His superior (and manager of the team) orders the inept Merle to distant Rotohan, a Pacific island liberated from Japanese occupation some months before, ostensibly to relieve Lt. Billy Monk, who has been unable to capture a Japanese holdout called Kobayashi suspected of pilfering military supplies. However the coach really wants Monk, a former professional baseball player, for his team. By claiming to be ordered to dangerous duty Merle tries to seduce Blue; when she discovers the ruse, she barely gives him the time of day.

On Rotohan, Merle and his Nisei interpreter (and lothario) Sgt. Roy Tada team up with Monk to flush out the wily thief hiding in the hills. Using a reluctant Tada as a "spy" they discover that Kobayashi has been stealing the supplies, all creature comforts, to feed and clothe his pregnant girlfriend. But Merle is distracted when Blue is also assigned to his camp. With the Navy, in the form of obnoxious Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag, also hunting Kobayashi, Merle is threatened by his new superior, Col. Korotny, with another transfer if he does not capture Kobayashi soon—this time to an even more remote rock with only six other soldiers as company.

While romancing a local girl, Akiko, Tada discovers that Kobayashi is not even a soldier but a former circus performer hidden in a cave in the hills by the villagers. That night Kobayashi is to appear at a variety show staged by the locals to entertain the Americans. When Merle tries to arrest him, the agile Kobayashi stuns him using judo, knocking him horizontal again, and escapes. Col. Korotny tells Merle he is shipping out in the morning. During a drive in the hills to "say goodbye", Merle and Blue stumble on the cave, where Blue captures the acrobat after Merle once more becomes "the horizontal lieutenant". Merle is given a medal anyway and wins her heart.

Cast

Production

The novel was published in 1959. [7]

Hutton and Prentiss were under contract to MGM at the time. [8]

It was known as The Bottle Cap Affair. [9]

Reception

Critical

According to Variety, the film "never gets off the ground." [10]

Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned $1.1 million in the US and Canada [11] and $750,000 overseas, resulting in a loss of $380,000. [2]

Comic book adaption

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Battle of the Bulge</i> (1965 film) 1965 film by Ken Annakin

Battle of the Bulge is a 1965 American widescreen epic war film produced in Spain, directed by Ken Annakin and starring Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, Telly Savalas, Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews and Charles Bronson. The feature was filmed in Ultra Panavision 70 and exhibited in 70 mm Cinerama. Battle of the Bulge had its world premiere on December 16, 1965, the 21st anniversary of the titular battle, at the Pacific Cinerama Dome Theatre in Hollywood, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Alda</span> Italian-American actor

Robert Alda was an Italian-American theatrical and film actor, a singer, and a dancer. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productions, then moved to Italy during the early 1960s. He appeared in many European films over the next two decades, occasionally returning to the U.S. for film appearances such as The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paula Prentiss</span> American actress

Paula Prentiss is an American actress. She is best known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are (1960), Man's Favorite Sport? (1964), What's New Pussycat? (1965), Catch-22 (1970), The Parallax View (1974), and The Stepford Wives (1975).

<i>Where the Boys Are</i> 1960 film by Henry Levin

Where the Boys Are is a 1960 American CinemaScope comedy film directed by Henry Levin and starring Connie Francis, Dolores Hart, Paula Prentiss, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux, Jim Hutton, and Frank Gorshin. It was written by George Wells based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Glendon Swarthout. The screenplay concerns four female college students who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who played one of the foursome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Hutton</span> American actor (1934–1979)

Dana Scott James "Jim" Hutton was an American actor in film and television best remembered for his role as Ellery Queen in the 1970s TV series of the same name, and his screen partnership with Paula Prentiss in four films, starting with Where the Boys Are. He is the father of actor Timothy Hutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Kelley</span> American actor (1908–1991)

Edward Barry Kelley was an American actor on Broadway in the 1930s and 1940s and in films during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The heavy-set actor created the role of Ike in Oklahoma! on Broadway. His large size and acting range had him playing primarily judges, detectives, and police officers.

<i>The Thin Red Line</i> (1964 film) 1964 film by Andrew Marton

The Thin Red Line is a 1964 American war film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Keir Dullea, Jack Warden, James Philbrook, and Kieron Moore. Based on James Jones's 1962 novel of the same name, the film follows the lives of a number of American soldiers during the battle of Guadalcanal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Gordon</span> British actor (1911–1972)

Colin Gordon was a British actor. Although primarily a stage actor he made numerous appearances on television and in cinema films, generally in comedies. His stage career was mainly in the West End, but he was seen in the provinces in some touring productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Haggerty</span> American actor (1914–1988)

Don Haggerty was an American actor of film and television.

<i>The Honeymoon Machine</i> 1961 film by Richard Thorpe

The Honeymoon Machine is a 1961 American comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Jack Mullaney and Dean Jagger, based on the 1959 Broadway play The Golden Fleecing by Lorenzo Semple Jr. In the film, three men devise a plan to win at roulette with a United States Navy computer. The scheme works until an admiral ruins their plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Seton</span> British actor (1909–1969)

Sir Bruce Lovat Seton, 11th Baronet was a British actor and soldier. He is best remembered for his eponymous lead role in Fabian of the Yard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Birch (actor)</span> American actor (1912–1969)

Paul Birch was an American actor. He was a film star of 39 movies, 50 stage dramas, and numerous television series, including the Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuki Shimoda</span> American actor

Yuki Shimoda was an American actor best known for his starring role as Ko Wakatsuki in the NBC movie of the week Farewell to Manzanar in 1976. He also co-starred in the 1960s television series Johnny Midnight, with Edmond O'Brien. He was a star of movies, early television, and the stage. His Broadway stage credits include Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell, and Pacific Overtures, a musical written by Stephen Sondheim and directed by Harold Prince.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franco Ressel</span> Italian actor

Franco Ressel was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1961 and 1985.

<i>Bachelor in Paradise</i> (film) 1961 film

Bachelor in Paradise is a 1961 American Metrocolor, CinemaScope romantic comedy film starring Bob Hope and Lana Turner. Directed by Jack Arnold, it was written by Valentine Davies and Hal Kanter, based on a story by Vera Caspary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Faulkner</span> American actor

Fielden Edward Faulkner II is an American film and television character actor. He is most known for his roles in John Wayne films, including Hellfighters, The Green Berets, Rio Lobo, McLintock! and The Undefeated. He also played small roles on other films and TV series including Dragnet and The Tim Conway Show. Before becoming an actor, Faulkner served in the United States Air Force for 2 years as a fighter pilot, eventually leaving the service ranked First Lieutenant.

<i>Follow the Boys</i> (1963 film) 1963 film by Richard Thorpe

Follow the Boys is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, and Janis Paige, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Shot on location on the French and Italian Riviera, Follow the Boys was MGM's second film vehicle for top recording artist Francis following Where the Boys Are (1960). While Francis' role in the earlier film had been somewhat secondary, she had a distinctly central role in Follow the Boys playing Bonnie Pulaski, a newlywed traveling the Riviera.

<i>Breakthrough</i> (1950 film) 1950 film by Lewis Seiler

Breakthrough is a 1950 American war film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring John Agar about an American infantry unit in World War II. Approximately one-third of the film was assembled from preexisting footage.

<i>The Marines Fly High</i> 1940 film by George Nicholls, Jr.

The Marines Fly High is a 1940 action film, starring Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Lucille Ball and directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and Benjamin Stoloff from a story by A.C. Edington.

The Reluctant Heroes is a made-for-TV movie and war film set in the period of the Korean War. It was directed by Robert Day and starred Ken Berry, Jim Hutton, Trini López, Don Marshall, Ralph Meeker, Cameron Mitchell and Warren Oates.

References

Notes

    • "Writer Gordon Cotler dies at 89". Variety.com . January 23, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
    • Gordon CotlerThe New Yorker
    • site:classic.esquire.com/article/ "Gordon Cotler"
    • "The New York Times" "By Gordon Cotler"
    • Gordon Cotler - The Atlantic
    • Gordon Cotler - Kirkus Reviews
    • Gordon CotlerPublishers Weekly
    • Gordon Cotler - FictionDB
    • Gordon CotlerIBDB
    • Gordon Cotler (Writer) - Playbill
    • Gordon Cotler - Rotten Tomatoes
    • Gordon CotlerFilmaffinity
  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. "Writer Gordon Cotler dies at 89". January 23, 2013.
  3. The New York Times
  4. The Horizontal Lieutenant at Turner Classic Movies
  5. Hopper, Hedda (October 22, 1961). "Every Hollywood Press Agent Dreams of a Story Like Hers. This Time If's True". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b18.
  6. ORVILLE PRESCOTT (July 31, 1959). "Books of The Times". New York Times. p. 21.
  7. Tinee, Mae (November 12, 1961). "Young Jim Hutton Owner of Long Term Film Contract". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. f11.
  8. Tinee, M. (November 12, 1961). "Young jim hutton owner of long term film contract". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest   183061527.
  9. "The Horizontal Lieutenant". Variety. April 4, 1962. p. 6.
  10. "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. January 9, 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  11. Dell Movie Classic: The Horizontal Lieutenant at the Grand Comics Database
  12. Dell Movie Classic: The Horizontal Lieutenant at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original )