Posted on 05/21/2014 5:16:11 AM PDT by lowbridge
Here's a WWII Navy trifecta ... Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer plays the comic relief in this Official US Navy training film. The "Flight Chief" you see instructing him and the men about the parachute is Don Rickles, who had never acted before. The star is Robert Taylor, who directed and wrote the film.
Taylor was an actual Flight Instructor, but mostly grounded in order to produce these films--about ten in all.
Carl was also in the regular Navy, but in the Special Services in order to make films like this. But Rickles was Navy 100% and had not acted at all until this.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
I think that is Murray Alper, not Don Rickles. Alper was a contract player for Warner Bros.
You may be right, or not; sure looks/sounds like Rickles to me!
Don Rickles served in the Navy in WWII, but he was only 19 years old in 1945.
Look up Don Rickles in “Get Smart” on youtube. Hilarious!
I don`t think this was your usual play movie, looks to me like it was put on for the purpose of actual training.
I think that is Murray Alper, not Don Rickles. Alper was a contract player for Warner Bros.
It must be Rickles.
Rickles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II on the USS Cyrene (AGP-13) as a seaman first class. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
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