Don't Go Near the Water

They also serve who only sit and type! Hollywood brought audiences to atten-hut! in the 1950s and '60s with a string of military comedies like Mr. Roberts, Operation Petticoat, Ensign Pulver, No Time for Sergeants and this splash into the typing pool of dry-land sailors -- a Navy publicity team in the World War II Pacific. Glenn Ford, who appeared in a fistful of the era's service comedies, stars as a lieutenant with a knack for PR activities like placating big shots, calming romantic waters, deflating puffed-up journalists and puffing a profane-mouthed gob into the public's idea of the perfect enlisted man. Also in the large, shipshape cast: Anne Francis, Keenan Wynn and Mickey Shaughnessy.

• comedy