When Gilbert Barrows disobeys his boss and tries to refit an old Liberty Ship for cargo use instead of scrapping it, he inadvertently puts it into the hands of a colorful group of crooks led by good-hearted screw-up Bugsy G. Fogelmeyer and brainy sociopath George M. Wilson. The crooks plan to use the ship to make their getaway after they pull a bank robbery in Boston, and they kidnap Barrows and his girlfriend Elinor Harrison - his boss's daughter - to prevent leaving any witnesses behind. With the help of Bugsy's nephew Rodney J. Fogelmeyer, Gilbert and Elinor manage to foil the crooks' plans by using Elinor's bra as a slingshot and attracting the Coast Guard.
Cast
Robert Wagner as Gilbert Barrows
Dolores Hart as Elinor Harrison
Carolyn Jones as Virginia
Ernie Kovacs as Bugsy G. Foglemeyer alias "The Captain"
Frankie Avalon as Ensign Rodney J. Foglemeyer
Frank Gorshin as George M. Wilson
Jesse White as McDonald
Harvey Lembeck as Nickels
Sid Tomack as Sammy
Guy Raymond as Helmut
Buck Kartalian as Finster
Wilton Graff as Simon J. Harrison
Marjorie Bennett as Mrs. Chowder
Production
The film was based on a novel published in 1960. The New York Times called it "slightly daffy". Producer Philip Barry thought the novel would make a good film. He pitched it to MGM for whom he had made The Mating Game but that studio passed. Barry went on to sign a three picture deal at Columbia Studios. In June 1960 Barry said his first film for Columbia would be Sail a Crooked Ship which he described as "Some Like It Hot without drag". He hoped to star Jack Lemmon and hired William Bowers to write the script. "I can't remember how many opinions were brought to bear on the script," said Barry later. ""The ship has changed course quite a few times since I read the book." In January 1961 Ernie Kovacs was cast. Also that month Columbia announced the lead role would be played by Robert Wagner. He and then-wife Natalie Wood formed their own company, Rona Productions, which signed a three picture deal with Columbia for Wagner's services. The first film was Sail a Crooked Ship and the second would be The Interns. Wagner would get a percentage of the profits.. In March it was announced the female leads would be Joan Collins and Jean Seberg. These roles would end up being played by Carolyn Jones and Dolores Hart. Following the hijacking of the Portuguese ship Santa Maria the studio briefly considered renaming the film Steal a Crooked Ship to cash in. Barry wanted further work on the script but Bowers was on another project, so he hired other writers.. Filming started April 1961 without a completed script. Barry said during the shoot "basically we are in the same position as a play in New Haven with a third act that needs work before it gets to Broadway."