Were the Eisenhower years so super uptight that this passed for entertainment in 1957? The squareness of this service comedy is straight out of 1943. Maybe recruitment was down after Korea and Uncle Sam was having trouble fooling Iowa farmboys into signing up for the meat grinder. "Look boys, put on a uniform, have some laughs, meet some dames."
In any event, there are a few recognizable male actors who do their best with fairly low-brow material. But the real appeal in 1957, I'm guessing, would have been the attractive women. That doesn't amount to much when you're watching in 2021.
Structurally, OK, there's a passing resemblance to MASH. But come on now, MASH is an absurdist treasure crafted by one of film-making's all-time masters. Operation Mad Ball is a warmed-over stage play hauled out of the script pile 15 past its freshness date.
In any event, there are a few recognizable male actors who do their best with fairly low-brow material. But the real appeal in 1957, I'm guessing, would have been the attractive women. That doesn't amount to much when you're watching in 2021.
Structurally, OK, there's a passing resemblance to MASH. But come on now, MASH is an absurdist treasure crafted by one of film-making's all-time masters. Operation Mad Ball is a warmed-over stage play hauled out of the script pile 15 past its freshness date.