Operation Petticoat

Operation Petticoat is a 1959 American color comedy film from UniversalInternational, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Blake Edwards, and starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. The film was the basis for a television series in 1977 starring John Astin in Grants role. Other members of the cast include several actors who went on to become television stars in the 1960s and 1970s Gavin MacLeod of The Love Boat and McHales Navy, Marion Ross of Happy Days, and Dick Sargent of Bewitched.

OnDecember 1941, a Japanese air raid sinks the Sea Tiger while she is docked at the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines. Lieutenant Commander Sherman and his crew begin repairs, hoping to sail for Darwin, Australia, before the Japanese overrun the port. Believing there is no chance of repairing the Sea Tiger, the commodore of the squadron transfers most of Shermans crew to other boats, but promises him that he will have first call on any available replacements. Lieutenant junior grade Nick Holden Tony Curtis, an admirals aide, is reassigned to the Sea Tiger despite lacking any submarine training or experience. Holden became a naval officer not out of patriotism, but to escape poverty and to find a wealthy spouse.Holden demonstrates great skill as a scrounger and con artist after Sherman makes him the submarines supply officer. Early on, he teams up with Marine Sergeant Ramon Gallardo, an escaped prisoner he was caught misappropriating Navy property to operate his own restaurant in Manila, to obtain material for the Sea Tigers desperately needed repairs, persuading the captain to sign Ramon on as the ships cook. What Holden and his raiders cannot find in warehouses, they midnight requisition from sources as varied as a civilian refrigeration plant and US Army barracks plumbing. ........

Source: Wikipedia