Operation Petticoat (1959) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A damaged submarine survives war, scarcity, mistaken identity, and comic improvisation through Sherman's command and Holden's ingenuity.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Submarine Left Behind

Sherman boards the obsolete Sea Tiger and revisits the disaster that sank her in the Philippines. The crew is reduced and Holden is unexpectedly assigned to the damaged submarine.

Key Events

• Sherman Boards Sea Tiger — Rear Admiral Sherman boards the obsolete submarine before its planned trip to the scrapyard. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman Location: U.S. Navy submarine yard
• The Wartime Log Begins — Sherman reads his wartime logbook, beginning the flashback. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman Location: Sea Tiger
• Air Raid Sinks Sea Tiger — A Japanese air raid sinks Sea Tiger while she is docked in the Philippines. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman Location: Cavite Navy Yard
• Crew Transfers Begin — The commodore transfers most of Sherman's crew to other boats. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman Location: Cavite Navy Yard
• Holden Joins the Crew — Untrained Lieutenant Holden is reassigned to the damaged submarine. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden Location: Cavite Navy Yard

Repairing the Impossible

Holden becomes a supply officer and works with Gillardo to obtain materials by unconventional means. Their efforts restore Sea Tiger enough for Sherman to risk putting to sea.

Key Events

• Holden Becomes Supply Officer — Sherman assigns Holden to solve the submarine's supply problems. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden Location: Sea Tiger
• Gillardo Joins the Scavenging — Holden and Gillardo obtain scarce materials through improvisation and theft. Characters: Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Sergeant Ramon Gillardo Location: Cavite Navy Yard
• Sea Tiger Becomes Seaworthy — The damaged submarine is restored to barely seaworthy condition. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Chief Molumphry, Sergeant Ramon Gillardo Location: Cavite Navy Yard
• The Protection Spell — A native witch doctor casts a protection spell before the submarine departs. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman Location: Cavite harbor

Nurses and Narrow Escapes

Sea Tiger evacuates stranded Army nurses while Holden notices Duran and Crandall becomes involved in an accidental torpedo launch. The failed landing at Cebu leaves the submarine trapped with its passengers.

Key Events

• Nurses Evacuated — Sherman reluctantly agrees to evacuate five stranded Army nurses. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: Marinduque
• Holden Notices Duran — Holden becomes attracted to Duran during the evacuation voyage. Characters: Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: Sea Tiger
• Crandall Fires Early — Crandall accidentally fires a torpedo before Sherman's attack is ready. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall Location: Near an enemy-held pier
• The Torpedo Hits a Truck — The missed torpedo sinks a truck ashore instead of the enemy oiler. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall Location: Enemy-held pier
• Cebu Landing Fails — Sherman cannot put the nurses ashore because Japanese forces are closing in. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: Cebu

The Pink Escape

Holden's casino obtains supplies, but incomplete painting leaves Sea Tiger pink. An air raid forces the submarine to depart before its intended gray coat is applied.

Key Events

• Holden Opens a Casino — Holden establishes a casino to acquire supplies from troops. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Chief Molumphry Location: Cebu
• The Hull Turns Pink — The available red and white primer are mixed, leaving the submarine pale pink. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Chief Molumphry Location: Cebu harbor
• The Pink Submarine Departs — An air raid forces Sea Tiger to depart before gray paint can be applied. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Chief Molumphry, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: Cebu harbor

Lingerie Against Depth Charges

An American destroyer attacks the strangely colored submarine, believing it to be a Japanese deception. Holden and Sherman use the nurses' lingerie to prove Sea Tiger is American and reach Darwin.

Key Events

• American Destroyer Attacks — An American destroyer mistakes pink Sea Tiger for a Japanese deception and attacks. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: At sea near Darwin
• Lingerie Stops the Attack — Holden's suggestion leads Sherman to eject lingerie, convincing the destroyer captain to cease fire. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: At sea near Darwin
• Sea Tiger Reaches Darwin — The battered, listing submarine reaches Darwin under her own power. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, Chief Molumphry, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: Darwin
• The Command Legacy Continues — Holden arrives with his family, while Sherman reveals his future command promise. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden, 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall, 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran Location: U.S. Navy base
• The Final Comic Departure — Crandall's car is dragged by a Navy bus as Holden takes Sea Tiger on its final voyage. Characters: Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman, Lieutenant Nicholas Holden Location: Navy base main gate

Story Breakdown

• Framing Flashback — The older Sherman opens his wartime log and returns to Sea Tiger's desperate past.
  • Scrapyard Submarine — Sherman boards the obsolete Sea Tiger before its planned disposal.
  • Wartime Logbook — Reading the logbook begins the story of the submarine's wartime survival.
• Cavite Disaster — A Japanese air raid sinks the submarine and leaves Sherman with a severely reduced crew.
  • Air Raid Damage — Sea Tiger is sunk while docked at Cavite Navy Yard.
  • Crew Transfers — Most of Sherman's crew is transferred to other submarines.
• Improvised Repairs — Holden and Gillardo gather scarce materials so Sea Tiger can leave the Philippines.
  • Holden Takes Supplies — Sherman makes Holden the supply officer and Holden begins scrounging.
  • Barely Seaworthy — The damaged submarine is repaired enough to put to sea.
• Evacuation Mission — Sea Tiger takes aboard stranded Army nurses while facing operational mistakes and advancing enemy forces.
  • Marinduque Nurses — Sherman agrees to evacuate five stranded Army nurses.
  • Premature Torpedo — Crandall accidentally fires early and hits a truck instead of the enemy oiler.
• The Pink Submarine — Supply shortages and an air raid leave Sea Tiger with an unmistakable pink primer coat.
  • Casino Supplies — Holden uses a casino to acquire materials from troops.
  • Mixed Lead Paint — Red and white primer are mixed because there is not enough paint for the hull.
• Darwin Survival — The pink submarine survives friendly fire through a comic deception and completes its journey.
  • Destroyer Attack — An American destroyer fires on Sea Tiger and launches depth charges.
  • Lingerie Signal — Ejected lingerie convinces the destroyer that the submarine is American.
  • Command Continuation — Sherman promises Holden a future Sea Tiger command before Holden departs.

Directed by

Blake Edwards

Key Cast

• Cary Grant — Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman
• Tony Curtis — Lieutenant Nicholas Holden
• Joan O'Brien — 2nd Lieutenant Dolores Crandall
• Dina Merrill — 2nd Lieutenant Barbara Duran
• Gene Evans — Chief Molumphry