Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- energetic
- uneasy
- classic film night
- war comedy double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film energetic but undermined by broad acting, witless dialogue, tasteless pranks, and awkward attempts to turn dramatic situations into comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Captain Morton imposes rigid standards on an isolated cargo-ship crew far from combat, turning routine service into institutional comic conflict.
Ensign Pulver's prank against Captain Morton becomes the central act of resistance and triggers fatal consequences.
The film attempts to derive comedy from shipboard pranks and dramatic events, including the death of a serviceman's child.
The entire conflict unfolds aboard an old cargo ship in the Pacific, thousands of miles from the front.
Films like Ensign Pulver, and why
Mister Roberts
shared military workplace setting, broad comic conflict, and irreverent ensemble humor
The Caine Mutiny
shared wartime setting, rebellious servicemen, and comedy-drama tension aboard a military vessel
Kelly's Heroes
shared World War II ensemble comedy, institutional absurdity, and friction between enlisted personnel and authority
Movie Details
- Director
- Joshua Logan
- Release Date
- 1964-07-31
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (20)
Cast
- Robert Walker Jr.
- Burl Ives
- Walter Matthau
- Tommy Sands
- Millie Perkins
- Kay Medford
- Larry Hagman
- Peter Marshall
- Joseph Marr
- Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ensign Pulver about?
- An irreverent ensign challenges a domineering Pacific cargo-ship captain, turning a crew's simmering resentment into dangerously consequential comedy.
- What is Ensign Pulver like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ensign Pulver as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ensign Pulver violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Ensign Pulver as mild.
- What did critics think of Ensign Pulver?
- Critics broadly found the film energetic but undermined by broad acting, witless dialogue, tasteless pranks, and awkward attempts to turn dramatic situations into comedy.
- Which films are like Ensign Pulver?
- Films with a similar feel include Mister Roberts, The Caine Mutiny, and Kelly's Heroes.
- How long is Ensign Pulver?
- Ensign Pulver runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ensign Pulver?
- In United States, Ensign Pulver streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel.
