"Ship Ahoy" is a film with a couple strikes against it at the onset. First, like many of the worst of Red Skelton movies, it's a musical-- which was a waste of his considerable talents. He was a comedian first and foremost and when they stuck him in films where he was just a supporting character, they were second rate. More comedy less singing and dancing!! Second, the plot is obviously inspired by the war and simply makes no sense. It was first and foremost a propaganda film and occasionally these films simply didn't have reasonable plots and they don't age well.
As to the plot, a government official approaches Tallulah Winters (Eleanor Powell) and asks her to take an important mine to Puerto Rico. The reasoning is that since the band for which she performs she should take the mine. Now think about it....the mine is supposed to be top secret and an important part of the American arsenal...and they just ask some civilian to sneak it to Puerto Rico!! And, the fact that these turn out NOT to be government officials but Nazis...well that is completely ridiculous! What's also ridiculous and completely perplexing is the way she behaves throughout the film...especially with her scenes with Skelton. On hand are Skelton as a dopey hypochondriac and her romantic interest (sometimes...yet at other times she's cold as ice towards him...and I had no idea why), Bert Lahr as his goofy sidekick as well as music by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra along with Frank Sinatra doing a bit of singing. In fact, singing and dancing and music make up the bulk of this film, as the plot is not only nonsensical but incredibly thin.
The bottom line is that this is a very watchable film but one that really isn't a coherent whole. Bits and pieces, such as a bit of the dancing and Sinatra's singing and Skelton's gentle comedy are nice...but also a bit of a jumble and the ending is rather disappointing. There's simply not enough of any of each of the good elements to make a really good film.
As to the plot, a government official approaches Tallulah Winters (Eleanor Powell) and asks her to take an important mine to Puerto Rico. The reasoning is that since the band for which she performs she should take the mine. Now think about it....the mine is supposed to be top secret and an important part of the American arsenal...and they just ask some civilian to sneak it to Puerto Rico!! And, the fact that these turn out NOT to be government officials but Nazis...well that is completely ridiculous! What's also ridiculous and completely perplexing is the way she behaves throughout the film...especially with her scenes with Skelton. On hand are Skelton as a dopey hypochondriac and her romantic interest (sometimes...yet at other times she's cold as ice towards him...and I had no idea why), Bert Lahr as his goofy sidekick as well as music by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra along with Frank Sinatra doing a bit of singing. In fact, singing and dancing and music make up the bulk of this film, as the plot is not only nonsensical but incredibly thin.
The bottom line is that this is a very watchable film but one that really isn't a coherent whole. Bits and pieces, such as a bit of the dancing and Sinatra's singing and Skelton's gentle comedy are nice...but also a bit of a jumble and the ending is rather disappointing. There's simply not enough of any of each of the good elements to make a really good film.