Sail a Crooked Ship: A Cinematic Voyage of Comedy and Mayhem
Overview:
“Sail a Crooked Ship” is a delightful 1961 comedic gem that combines elements of adventure, heist, and quirky character dynamics. Directed by the ever-inventive actor-turned-director Richard Thorpe, this film showcases a whirlwind of amusing escapades that ensue when an unsuspecting protagonist gets drawn into a criminal plot designed for laughs.
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around Gilbert Barrows, played with charm and wit by Robert Wagner. Barrows, an everyday man with dreams of refurbishing a vintage Liberty Ship, quickly finds himself entangled in a comedic caper when he and Elinor Harrison, portrayed by the radiant Dolores Hart, are kidnapped by a group of eccentric crooks. At the helm of this madcap crew is Bugsy G. Foglemeyer, a bumbling yet endearing character brought to life by the talented Ernie Kovacs. The gang, in a chaotic bid for grand theft, plans to use the refitted vessel as their escape route after a bank heist in Boston.
As the narrative unfolds, the mismatched group encounters a series of challenges and humorous hijinks, showcasing their incompetence and endearing camaraderie. With each twist and turn, the film encapsulates the spirit of comedy and adventure, making the audience root for both the captives and their captors.
Cast:
- Robert Wagner as Gilbert Barrows
- Dolores Hart as Elinor Harrison
- Ernie Kovacs as Bugsy G. Foglemeyer
- With supporting performances from a cast that brings this quirky gang to life.
Director:
- Richard Thorpe
Writer:
- The screenplay weaves the humor and heart into the plot, though specific writers for this film may not be highlighted in the credits.
Conclusion:
“Sail a Crooked Ship” is a charming blend of laughter and adventure that exemplifies classic 1960s cinema. Its engaging performances, particularly from Wagner and Hart, coupled with Kovacs’s comedic flair, make it a memorable watch for fans of light-hearted heist comedies. Whether you’re revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, the film promises a delightful cinematic experience that sails through the waters of mischief and hilarity.
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Video “Sail a Crooked Ship | FREE MOVIE (Robert Wagner, Dolores Hart)” was uploaded on 05/11/2026 to Youtube Channel Stream City


































George biting down on that ballbearing 😂 how's your IQ feeling now A-hole ? 🤣
Lots of talent but the script was silly
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
What year did this come out
And why is it in black and white
Avalanche Programing
Dolores Hart – quit Hollywood and became a devout nun.
God bless her.
What a waste of time and talent!!!!! This is an awful and UNfunny movie: poorly written, poorly directed, and only mediocrely acted. Harry Cohn would have rejected the finished product outright as it stands here; more likely, he would have insisted on rewrites and retakes after viewing the daily rushes.
Not even Dolores Hart and Carolyn Jones could get me past 37 minutes; I had to stop there. (I pulled the plug on LONELYHEARTS (1958), a horrible adaptation of Nathanael West's 1933 novel MISS LONELYHEARTS, in which Dolores Hart plays Justy Sargeant, 15 minutes in – and said, "NEVER AGAIN!" to that film, too.)
Robert Wagner is at his worst in this movie, playing a character just as rotten and repulsive as Jerry Denham in LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL (1951) and as Bud Corliss in A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956) – though I DO like that movie a lot! – and as Chris Teller in THE MOUNTAIN (1956) and as Tony Vincent in SAY ONE FOR ME (1959). (He is also absolutely AWFUL as Brick Pollitt in the BBC made-for-TV movie version of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (1976), as is Sir Laurence Olivier, who plays Big Daddy Pollitt.) Ernie Kovacs just phones it in in this movie; he probably did this one to put money in the bank to help pay his considerable back income-tax debt owed to the U.S. government. Frankie Avalon is completely miscast and misplaced in this movie. Frank Gorshin is in his own zone, and not funny or entertaining at all – as he had been in the poor movie version of BELLS ARE RINGING, in which he attempted to play Blake Barton. Jesse White? Harvey Lembeck? Sid Tomack? Guy Raymond? Buck Kartalian? Just thrown together and left to fend for themselves. (Jesse White is genuinely funny in KATIE DID IT (1951) – a movie well worth watching (and I think that it can still be found on YouTube).)
The only movie with Dolores Hart in the cast that I have not yet seen is WILD IS THE WIND (1957) – and that is because the DVD-ROM copy which I borrowed through inter-library loan (and which is apparently the ONLY copy of this movie to be found anywhere) froze completely at about mid-point and could not be coaxed any further along. I hope to find (and either borrow or purchase, as the case may be) that gem some day. Until then, if you like movies with Dolores Hart in the cast, I have seen and can STRONGLY recommend LOVING YOU (1957), KING CREOLE (1958), THE PLUNDERERS (1960), WHERE THE BOYS ARE (1960), THE INSPECTOR aka LISA (1962), and even COME FLY WITH ME (1963).
Was this disaster hard-wired into Nathaniel Benchley's 1960 novel – or did the director and the screenwriters butcher the novel for the screen? I don't know; I'd appreciate your input……
Robert Wagner was very good looking in his younger days.
Trivia Note: One of this film's co-writers, Bruce Geller went on to create Mission: Impossible.