The Extraordinary Seaman
The Extraordinary Seaman is a 1969 American comedy war film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring David Niven, Faye Dunaway, Alan Alda, Mickey Rooney, and Jack Carter.[1] Apart from his participation in the documentaries That's Entertainment! (1974), and That's Entertainment! III (1994), the movie is notable for being the last film Mickey Rooney acted in which was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, his studio during the period of his major stardom during the 1930s and '40s.
| The Extraordinary Seaman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Frankenheimer |
| Produced by | Edward Lewis |
| Screenplay by | Phillip Rock Hal Dresner |
| Starring | David Niven Faye Dunaway Alan Alda Mickey Rooney Jack Carter |
| Music by | Maurice Jarre |
| Cinematography | Lionel Lindon |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
A ghostly British naval officer (Niven) persuades four members of the American Navy to launch an attack on Japanese positions, hoping to redeem the family honor and his own tattered record from the First World War. He had been condemned to sail the seas forever after falling down drunk before his first battle in the Great War. With his typical luck he actually succeeds in sinking a Japanese naval vessel -- after it had officially surrendered to the US Navy. As a result, he is seen again consigned to sailing his ship forever, this time in a children's amusement park lake, to await another chance at redemption.
Reception
This movie was widely panned by the critics and barely achieved any kind of a commercial release. Director John Frankenheimer said in an interview that of all the films he directed this was his least favorite. He said it was the only movie he ever made that he considered "an absolute disaster from beginning to end".