McHale, Movies and Merman

United Press International columnist Vernon Scott began a story in 1964 with the words: “Never, never take an actor’s words at face value.”

He should have taken his own advice.

That year, Scott wrote several columns about McHale’s Navy. Maybe the most fascinating interview was with the show’s star, Ernie Borgnine. Ostensibly, the column was about the series graduating to feature film status. But it took a detour to talk about what became a very uncomfortable subject—Borgnine’s pending marriage to Ethel Merman.

I suspect if you’re a reader of this blog, you’re up on show biz history enough to know the union was one of the biggest disasters in Hollywood. It lasted 38 days. Stories abound (we’ll skip the specifics) that leave you with the impression the marriage was doomed before it happened.

However, when Scott penned his column, that was all in the future. Everything was happiness and rainbows, at least if you want to believe Borgnine’s comments. The story appeared on March 28, 1964.

McHale Navy Sails Into Films
By VERNON SCOTT
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Out at Revue Studios they're so pleased with "McHale's Navy" a movie is being made starring the same raucus [sic] crew of the television series.
Ernie Borgnine, bungling skipper of the raffish PT boat swabbies, is as pleased as he is punchy.
"We could be the only outfit in history that makes a series of movies and television shows at the same time," he said, pushing his naval officer's cap to the back of his head.
"Yes sir, we could become a perennial like the 'Andy Hardy' movies were. I think we're the first ones to try it anyhow."
Jack Webb tried it once with “Dragnet" and fell right on his Sergeant Friday badge. But Borgnine's enthusiasm is catching.
"We're flattered they chose our little old half-hour comedy to be made into a picture," he said, sprawling out on the couch of his spacious dressing room on the Revue lot.
“We’ll have it working both ways for us. People who like the TV series will go to see the movies. And people who go to see the movie will want to tune in the series. How about that?"
The big fellow's optimism is understandable. He’s about to become a bridegroom for the third time and if that doesn't qualify him as an unreconstructed optimist, nothing will. He and actress Ethel Merman become Mr. and Mrs. June 27.
"This is going to be a wonderful marriage," he said. "Ethel's a terrific girl and were really in love."
Ernie is already looking ahead to the time when "McHale's Navy" is scuttled by the ratings, an unlikely event in the foreseeable future. But if and when it is deep-sixed, the Oscar- winning actor (Marty) would like to see Ethel and Ernie co-star in a series.
"We could be sort of a modern 'Min and Bill,’ you know, like Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery. Not that Ethel has anything in common with Marie Dressler. We could have a lot of fun with a show like that."
The movie version of "McHale's Navy" will take four-weeks to complete, compared to the three-day schedule for the video segments.
"We're getting the ‘A’ treatment now,” Borgnine grinned. "They're calling me Mr. Borgnine instead of Ernie and they brought the portable dressing room right on the stage for me. What's more they're paying me top regular movie salary, which runs into six figures.
"I think the public will flip for this picture. It's a great script and it's being shot in color. We even had a bigger PT boat built for the movie."
New and expensive sets have been constructed for the picture. They will be kept for future use in the series.
"It's a big boost financially and psychologically for everybody connected with the show," Ernie concluded, "even if it does mean I'll only have six weeks for a honeymoon instead of four months."

Honeymoon for six weeks!!? The marriage didn’t even last that long. (Columnist Earl Wilson revealed after the two separated he had received a card from a very happy Merman on her honeymoon. He learned he shouldn’t have taken that at face value, either).

The feature film contained an irony. Part of the plot involved Borgnine’s McHale trying to get out of a pending marriage.



1964 may have been the climax for McHale’s Navy. A female equivalent series (produced by McHale’s creator, Edward J. Montagne) called Broadside debuted that year. It had a fine cast, but survived only one season of 32 episodes. Another McHale movie came out the following year—but without McHale, as Borgnine was tied up on another film.

The series switched locations from the South Pacific to Italy for the final season, but that couldn’t save it from the ABC axe in 1966. In glancing through Scott’s columns that year, it doesn’t appear he got a follow-up from Ernest Borgnine. Or Ethel Merman.