The Boatniks

The Boatniks is a 1970 American comedy film starring Robert Morse, Stefanie Powers, Don Ameche, and Phil Silvers. It was made by Walt Disney Productions, released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and directed by Norman Tokar.

Plot[]

The film opens with U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Jordan responding to a number of pleas for help from sailors off the coast of Southern California. This is the type of event that the Coast Guard has to put up with on a regular basis, and it is one of the reasons why Jordan requested to transfer to a new station. He is handing over the reins to Ensign Tom Garland, a polite but remarkably clumsy fellow who will now report to Commander Taylor, a man who fought in World War II with Garland's father and holds him in high regard.

Through a series of events, we see Garland's ineptitude as the station's new skipper. He repeatedly flounders in tending to the various minor issues plaguing the crowded waters' impatient travelers. It also doesn't take long for him to set his eyes on Kate Fairchild, a "girl next door" type who runs a local boat rental and sailing school spot on the coast.

Meanwhile, three jewel thieves are making their way to Mexico while listening to reports of their pursuit. There's ringleader Harry Simmons who poses as a "commodore" and dispatches orders to his two associates, Charlie and Max. This trio has managed to steal a jewel collection, and they intend to smuggle them inside an assortment of casually-hollowed food. They decide to rent a boat from Kate to make their way south of the border, although none of the three know how to sail.

The Boatniks follows Tom's nautical misadventures and romance, while at the same time following the attempts of the jewel thieves to escape to Mexico. With Kate's suggestion that the crooks' suspicious behavior might indicate criminality, she and Tom begin to suspect that they are indeed the three men reported about in a newspaper article. Tom is right about the suspects, but Commander Taylor doesn't initially believe it. Ultimately, Garland is able to convince Taylor, retrieve the stolen jewels, and ensure that the jewel thieves are arrested.

Cast[]

Robert Morse as Ensign Garland
Stefanie Powers as Kate Fairchild
Phil Silvers as Harry Simmons
Norman Fell as Max
Mickey Shaughnessy as Charlie
Wally Cox as Jason
Don Ameche as Commander Taylor
Joey Forman as Lt. Jordan
Vito Scotti as Pepe Galindo
Tom Lowell as Wagner
Bob Hastings as Chief Walsh
Sammy Jackson as Garlotti
Joe E. Ross as Nutty Sailor
Judy Jordan as Tina
Al Lewis as Bert
Gil Lamb as Mr. Mitchell

Production Credits[]

Directed by Norman Tokar
Produced by Ron Miller
Written by Marty Roth, Arthur Julian
Music by Bruce Belland, Robert F. Brunner, Franklyn Marks
Cinematography by William Snyder
Editing by Cotton Warburton
Release date: July 1, 1970
Running time 100 minutes
Box office $18,607,492

Releases[]

The film was released on July 1, 1970 and re-released theatrically on June 10, 1977. It was released twice on VHS in November 1983 and March 18, 1997 and DVD on August 2, 2005.

A copyright renewal for the film was registered on June 29, 1998.^[1]