

Ensign Pulver
1945, on an old cargo ship somewhere deep in the Pacific ocean: Captain Morton strives to become commander, so he demands the maximum quality of work from his crew, without granting them any freedom or favors - ignoring that they're thousand of miles away from the front. In one word: he drives his crew crazy. They are near mutiny, but no-one dares to do the first step. Until Ensign Pulver plays a prank on the captain that triggers fatal consequences...
Insights
Plot Summary
Set during World War II, the film follows the misadventures of Ensign Pulver, a perpetually drunk and insubordinate officer aboard the cargo ship "SS Nashua". Pulver finds himself in conflict with his rigid commanding officer, Captain Morton, and the rigid rules of the Navy. His attempts to maintain his freedom and a semblance of sanity amidst the monotony and harshness of war lead to a series of chaotic and often darkly humorous situations.
Critical Reception
Ensign Pulver received a mixed to negative reception upon its release. While some critics appreciated its attempt to depict the disillusionment of servicemen, many found the film to be unfocused, lacking the satirical bite of its predecessor, 'Mister Roberts', and weighed down by a heavy-handed moralizing tone. The performances, particularly from Burl Ives and Walter Matthau, were often singled out for praise, but the overall narrative struggled to find its footing.
What Reviewers Say
- A lackluster follow-up to 'Mister Roberts' that fails to capture the original's spirit.
- Despite some strong performances, the film suffers from a weak script and an inconsistent tone.
- The depiction of naval life and wartime ennui is often heavy-handed and unconvincing.
Google audience: Audience reception information for Ensign Pulver is not readily available through typical Google user review aggregations, making it difficult to summarize specific user opinions.
Fun Fact
Ensign Pulver is a sequel to the 1955 film 'Mister Roberts', with Walter Matthau reprising his role as Ensign Reno and Burl Ives taking over the role of Captain Morton, both characters originally played by different actors in the first film.
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