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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Hard to believe these guys stole those jewels in the first place., 18 February 2005
7/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

I saw Boatniks back in 1971 at the post theater in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas and I remember talking a friend into seeing this. He wasn't keen on seeing a G rated family film. But he and I actually did enjoy it.

The three heist men, Phil Silvers, Norman Fell, and Mickey Shaughnessy, steal the film. These three are a trio of the most inept crooks ever filmed. Graduating from the Three Stooges School of Crime, one scheme after another keeps blowing up for these three. They're so bad that on viewing it again after 34 years, my question is how did these three pull off the heist in the first place. Makes you wonder since the film opens with the heist having already been committed.

Our hero isn't too much better. Robert Morse who made a sensational debut on Broadway in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and later did the film, seemed to go nowhere after that. He gets the role Dean Jones usually played in those Disney films of that era, the klutzy hero who finally pulls it together in the last reel after one foul up after another. Stefanie Powers gets the Suzanne Pleshette part, the girl who falls for the klutz.

In these Disney films there's always the hero's boss who is forever on Morse's case. Here that would be Don Ameche as the Coast Guard Commander at the Marina. As debonair and charming as he ever was back in his days at 20th Century Fox, Ameche is always a joy to watch.

Boatniks is not a terribly pretentious movie, but it's good fun.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Boat yuks by the dozen, a funny, funny film but more for adults, really, 15 December 2007
8/10
Author: Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio

Thomas (Robert Morse) had the bad luck to be born the son of a celebrated Navy man. Although he is now an ensign in the Coast Guard, he is sort of a bad-luck magnet. He gets into numerous fender benders and mishaps, at home and on the job. This causes his superior officer (Don Ameche) much grief. Nevertheless, Tom's goofy charm wins him the heart of a woman in the boat business, Kate (Stefanie Powers). Into this mix comes a trio of jewel thieves with a leader named Harry (Phil Silvers). They were headed toward Mexico when the police, chasing them, closed the borders. Trying to hideout at the shoreline, they accidentally dropped their picnic basket full of jewels into the shallow coast waters. Aspiring to draw little attention to themselves, they take turns diving into the water to try and recover their jewelry. But, Thomas becomes suspicious and tries to find out their secret. Can Thomas salvage his reputation with a big bust on the waters? This is a terrific little film, made long ago, but still every bit a winner. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have the talents of Ameche, Morse, Powers, the great Silvers, Wally Cox, and others on screen. They are supremely capable of generating a "boat load" of laughs, haha. The plot is ingenious, too, with several twists, turns and surprises. Although the film does look a bit dated, it still sports nice costumes and lovely scenery, but the cinematography is definitely lacking. What is really strange is that the film, made for families, is truly more for the adults than for children. There is some slapstick, of course, but most of the humor will fly over the heads of the kiddies. Then, too, there is a good deal of women running around in skimpy swimsuits and some celebration of those "happy hours" on board. Nevertheless, do not skip over this little gem. It is quite funny and clever, putting any viewer into a "yuk fest" funk that will last for hours.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
great family movie, 5 August 2003
10/10
Author: avroom1964fk

I loved the movie I saw it on PBS in Canada Why haven't they made available on DVD yet. I hope Disney put movies on DVD soon.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
I was surprised when I discovered this movie, 1 May 2003
Author: brycenielsen from Rochester, NY

I thought I had seen just about every Disney live action film from the 60's and 70's but I had never even heard of this one till I saw it on the shelf at the public library. I really enjoyed it. You've got your klutzy Coast Guard ensign Thomas Garland, a nice boating instructor girl who helps him out of his jams, and the very well-acted trio of jewel thieves. Plus some interesting minor characters as well. I particularly enjoyed watching Phil Silvers boss around his two crook associates and always seemed to get out of doing any work himself - it was very in character with his cheating and taking advantage of people in his other role I have seen, in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The only downside for me was that I usually watch films that have a lot of recognizable names (at least for a Disney live-action fan) and Silvers was the only one I could place, and not in a Disney film. I recognized the names of Mickey Shaughnessy, Norman Fell, and Don Ameche as Ensign Garland's superior but didn't know from where until I did some research. I give it an 8 for a very enjoyable story.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
* * * out of 4, 16 December 2007
Author: Bleeding-Skull from Review Land

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The inept Ensign Garland (Robert Morse) battles a trio of jewel thieves in this Walt Disney comedy. Garland starts by spilling paint on the lovely Kate Fairchild (Stephanie Powers). Harry (Phil Silvers), Max (Norman Fell) and Charlie (Mickey Shaughnessy) try to recover the jewels accidentally dumped by Garland into a picnic basket. Garland's superior is Commander Taylor (Don Ameche), who hounds the harried ensign for being a constant bumbler. Jason Bennett (Wally Cox) is the playboy who has replaced his yacht engine with a wine cellar. Character actors Joe E. Ross and Al Lewis witness the sight gags and react to the seafaring shenanigans.

Good Disney film, although I am not a big fan of Disney movies. This one is not as cheesy and only a few flaws.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Who's Guarding the Coast?, 17 February 2007
7/10
Author: Jim from Taylorsville, KY

This movie is not as far off-base as some may believe. Having served in the Coast Guard in the 80's (a little after this movie came out in 1970) it is not too hard to believe that many of the scenes could have really taken place (and still do in a lot of places).

Sure, you'd surely be relieved of command for sinking a boat, but chill - it's a comedy, not a documentary.

Anyway, Phil Silvers is marvelous and Norman Fell is so good in his deadpan role. Stephanie Powers is about as hot as she ever was and Don Ameche as the Base CO is perfect. And don't forget Wally Cox as Jason - I wish he had tied up near us!

Don't expect too much from this lightweight, but rather sit back, maybe crack open a cold one (don't set it by your compass - of course cans were made of steel then) and just enjoy a far simpler time.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Boatniks!!!!! Hahahaha!!!!!, 1 August 2006
10/10
Author: Seth Nelson from (Near) D/FW Airport, Texas, USA

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Disney's 1970 film "The Boatniks" may not be the best of the grand old Disney films, but it's still a funny one!!!!!

I've seen this film on an old VHS way back in 1996. All I remember is that this film was kind of like some sort of "McHale's Navy" type stuff. I'm just saying that because of the submarine: now that's funny! The scene where the man put what at first looked like a chicken sub into the torpedo tube, it was really a salami!!!!! LOLOLOL

Not everyone may like this movie, but it's watchable. For other good movies not from Disney but are a lot like this, watch "Down Periscope;" that is good also!

"The Boatniks" - set sail for fun!!!!!

10 stars.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Not San Diego, 21 July 2006
10/10
Author: Dagwood from United States

Whoever wrote this was in San Diego Harbor obviously didn't watch the movie or has never been to San Diego. It is in Balboa Bay. You see the car ferry crossing the bay and almost being smashed, and San Diego doesn't now or ever had a car ferry in their bay. Also, they talk about Balboa in several places. I saw this in the movies in 1970 and have had it on VHS for years. Great summer movie. It's lots of fun, don't expect too much, like the Ugly Dachshund, the Love Bug movies just enjoy! It is fun to see these classic actors doing a fun goofy movie. Wally Cox and Joe E Ross are hilarious. I am sure Rodney Dangerfield did his crazy boat driving in Caddyshack after seeing Joe E Ross as the crazy boater in this movie. Just the best!

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Breezy Fun at San Diego Harbor in the early 70's, 30 September 2005
9/10
Author: Danny Starmine from San Francisco, CA

This is a combination boating comedy and caper yarn and works breezily on both levels. It is a truly funny time capsule that features Wally Cox as the Boatyard's playboy constantly surrounded by gorgeous and nubile young women in bikinis. The combination of weekend boating dilettantes that monopolize the Coast Guard's time and efforts is depicted quite well, and in humorous fashion. One of the early boats in need of a rescue is "The Dramamine Dragon." Gil Lamb is wonderful as a sailor committed to taking a three-year trip around the world. Joe E. Ross, Al Lewis, Bob Hastings, Joey Forman, and other sitcom stars are also on hand for lots of fun. And all of the above along with wonderful 1970-style clothes and music (think Love American Style) are just the backdrop for two stories which get intertwined.

The main character, awkwardly naive Ensign Garland (Morse), is a typically Disney-style heroic blunderer who starts off over his head but comes out on top in his new Coast Guard assignment for harbor taskmaster Don Ameche. He gets to romance bright and ornery Stephanie Powers at the top of her sexual appeal and comic timing. Complicating matters are jewel thieves Phil Silvers, Mickey Shaughnessey, and drop-dead-deadpan Norman Fell. When they learn of the highway and airport dragnet set up to capture them, they seek an escape to Mexico via water. They rent a boat from Stephanie Powers who subsequently picks up on some unusual behaviors to become suspicious.

None of it is terribly original, but this movie for family entertainment and some nice scenery (especially for male adults). It accomplishes these aspirations with many titters, giggles, and guffaws.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Good comedy but slow in places, 3 August 2003
Author: J.D. Wigley from Arkansas

An accident prone Coast Guard ensign finds himself in charge of one of the busiest waterways in the U.S. Include three bumbling jewel thieves and their attempts to recover the jewels from the bottom of the bay. Good comedy but slow in places.

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