Cristi_Ciopron A numb comedy with Edmond O'Brien; Hillary Brooke has a bit role, as a cool divorcée.There is some slapstick; the camera-work has gusto, but occasionally, as in the theater scene (the thrown bottle), and when cars show up. The dialogs aren't very witty, and the movie seems to have been written as a sentimental comedy, perhaps it even acquires some warmth; the storyline, suitably episodic, has even a boxing match (as another occasion for slapstick, perhaps a bit rancid), the crew spends a couple of days with the admiral, so there result a few vignettes (on sea, at the theater, at the boxing match). O'Brien exhaled hopelessness and disheartening, and the role behaves him; he looks creepy and disappointed, but his role requires this, and the movie is essentially a vehicle for him, as the other male players are either bland or unlikable (Vallee). His crew, though, isn't very appealing.The comedy is unusual (and a bit joyless, a bit gloomy, though it wasn't meant as such; but, to be just, this joylessness can't be attributed solely to mediocrity, as the plot reveals the dramatic situations of the crew: only that it does it not gradually, from the beginning, the gleam of dread shows already in the lead's style, and also, though unintentionally, in the vapid cast): a sentimental plot reminding of the '30s, and slapstick gags, and surprising ideas, like the boxing scene. The directing is mediocre, the script: unusual, the cast: variegated and inexpert; the crew should of been colorful, but comes across as indifferent, and almost creepy and untrustworthy, for a girl to team up with them spontaneously, trustingly: for scoundrels and blunderers, the crew is bland, and for bruised guys, they are underplayed. Deeply, O'Brien isn't a comedy actor.To a certain degree, it builds, despite the numbness; it grows on you. By the end, there is an impression of thoughtful plot.Wanda Hendrix was A. Murphy's wife.Here at least, she seems a mediocre actress.

gridoon2018 "The Admiral Was A Lady" is a comedy that I've been meaning to watch for a long time now, mainly because I like that title. However, the film itself is tamer than I expected. It's pleasant, with some nice tips on making (or saving) a little money out of nothing, but the script wanders a little too much. Edmond O'Brien is not exactly the most endearing romantic comedy lead, but Wanda Hendrix is - as some of the old posters of the film call her - Wandafull! What she lacks in height she makes up for in beauty (she has a couple of stunning close-ups) and talent: she's game in comedy and sincere in drama. Although the film treats the WWII veterans' readjustment problems in a mostly comedic manner, it does have some dramatic moments, which are surprisingly strong. ** out of 4.

bkoganbing The Admiral Was A Lady casts Wanda Hendrix as a recently discharged WAVE who by a curious chain of circumstances gets herself mixed up with four veterans all from a discharged bomber crew. If it were not for the fact that these four who are played by Edmond O'Brien, Richard Erdman, Steve Brodie, and Johnny Sands were combat veterans from the recent war, they'd be seen as deadbeats. In fact they're flirting with the status right now.O'Brien and his pals have made a positive genius of not working and stretching their unemployment benefits to the maximum. They get caught at it, but by private detectives who are working for millionaire Rudy Vallee. Wanda's fiancé is involved with Vallee's ex-wife Hillary Brooke and Vallee wants Hillary back. Best way to do it is get Wanda and the never seen 'Henry' together.The way Wanda talks about Henry he's quite the paragon of virtue. One thing is for sure though, he's not as much fun as the deadbeat quartet as exasperating as they can be. The only question is which one she will marry.The title refers to the fact that the men start referring to Hendrix as 'the Admiral'. The Admiral Was A Lady is a film that deserves to be better known and might have been if it wasn't an independent released from United Artists, but came from a major studio instead.

wes-connors Following service in World War II, four pals - former employment agent Edmond O'Brien (as James "Jimmy" Stevens), boxer Steve Brodie (as Mike O'Halloran), interior decorator Johnny Sands (as Eddie Hoff), and cab driver Richard Erdman (as Oliver "Ollie" Bonelli) - return to civilian life. But, the four men don't want work to interfere with collecting veterans benefits. On the unemployment line, they meet pretty WAVE Wanda Hendrix (as Jean "The Admiral" Madison), and romance ensues. The curiously mismatched cast start out at a disadvantage, and only make up for the incongruence in a couple of supporting roles.**** The Admiral Was a Lady (8/4/50) Albert S. Rogell ~ Edmond O'Brien, Wanda Hendrix, Johnny Sands, Steve Brodie