THE BABY AND THE BATTLESHIP

UK, 1956, 96 minutes, Colour.
John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Andre Morrell, Bryan Forbes, Michael Hordern, Ernest Clark, Lionel Jeffries, Thorley Walters.
Directed by Jay Lewis.

The Baby and the Battleship is a pleasant British comedy of the 1950s. This was the period when many memories of World War Two action were filmed, especially with John Mills and Richard Attenborough. It looks as if they are taking time off to relax.

A young Bryan Forbes also appears in the film (and was responsible for additional dialogue). Forbes was to go on to become a stronger writer and director with many films in the 1960s including Séance on a Wet Afternoon and The Madwoman of Chaillot?

When a baby is accidentally brought on a ship in Naples, the crew look after it and have to conceal it from the officers – especially during an inspection by a Russian marshal. The supporting cast of British actors offer their usual idiosyncratic performances, especially a dithering Michael Hordern and a young Lionel Jeffries.

1.Entertaining light comedy? British style? The 50s?

2.The filming at sea? In Naples? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?

3.The credibility of the situation – the sailors, shore leave, Knocker White and his liaisons in Naples, the baby, getting it on board, looking after it? It saving the day for the inspection by the Russians?

4.John Mills as Puncher, his boxing career, a bit dim, genial, friends with Knocker, with the professor? Work on the boat? Shore leave, the clash and the fight, his being left with the baby? Smuggling it on board? His looking after it, becoming attached to it? The busy concealment of the baby? The farcical aspects? Looking after the baby and the final saving of the day by the rescue of the baby?

5.Richard Attenborough as Knocker White, the knockabout sailor, friendship with Puncher, his relationship with the rest of the crew, in Naples, the family, the girlfriend, the baby? The fight, his losing Puncher, his staying, getting anxious, going to the authorities, the family putting pressure on him? His signing up for more years in the navy? The happy ending?

6.The members of the crew: Professor Evans, reading books, more intellectual? George, the clashes? Their all banding together to look after the baby? The other members of the crew? Food, comfort, changing nappies…? The farcical aspects of moving the baby around to avoid the authorities?

7.The captain, his confidence, his war career, his manoeuvre to escape detection? The others knowing about it and finding him out? The commander and his loyal support? The visit of the Russians? The bad translations, the marshal moving around, his assistant? The baby?

8.The being found out and the manoeuvre being thwarted? The quick thinking and the rescue of the baby? The commendation for all around?

9.A pleasant and humane and humorous story?