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In 1960 the great Steve McQueen starred in one of the greatest films of all time in The Magnificent Seven . Just a year later he made one of of his rare comedy movies in The Honeymoon Machine . Both films couldn't be more different but actually this isn't half as bad as I was expecting.

This is the story of a navy lieutenant , and his civilian friend use a classified computer from a ship to help them break the bank at a Venetian casino.

The reason I wasn't expecting too much from this is , despite McQueen being one of the greatest actors that ever lived he wasn't great a comedy . Or being kinder He wasn't a natural in the genre but this film just goes to show that he did have it in him , thanks mainly to a good cast alongside him and a funny script.

This was first a stage play and you can tell it is but that isn't a bad thing . It has that back and forth , stage farce feel about it and it works quite well on screen .

The persistent joke about Pam not being able to see without her glasses gets about tiresome but that's the only obvious criticism I can think of .

Good performances from Brigid Bazlen , who I've surprisingly not seen in any movie before and Dean Jagger who plays her father , contribute to what was a pleasant ninety minutes .

Staying home during the Coronavirus and enjoying this lite comedy with a lot of recognizable actors. The time went by fast. Take a trip back 60 years when all you worried about was the "Cold War".

An amusing and charming comedy about two American sailors : Steve McQueen , Jack Mullaney and a computer generator scam . The crew aboard the USS Elmira warship is testing the Magnetic Analyzer Computing Synchotron called Max . As navy lieutenant McQueen and Mullaney hook up with computer expertise: Jim Hutton to use his ship's computer to beat the gambling odds at a Venetian Casino . The principal issue of the movie is that the hi-tech computer on board the ship can predict the winning numbers on an Italian roulete wheel based on knowledge of the former winning numbers . But their commander : Dean Jagger, misinterprets the signals and thinks the warship is being attacked . Meanwhile , the Admiral's daughter : Brigid Bazlen falls in love for Steve MacQueen and Jim Hutton finds his old flame : Paula Prentiss about to marry her new boastful boyfriend . First either sex ...and makes nothing but laughter !

Entertaining , attractive , bemusing and agreeable comedy , it is an enjoyable film , fast-paced and the computer was new territory in 1961 . Based on the play The Golden Fleecing written by Lorenzo Semple Jr and script by George Welles . It contains the ordinary premise , a peculiar hold-up , but the novelty this time by winning a fortune using an electronic brain. The main and support cast are pretty good . Steve McQueen again boasts his certain hilarious skills -like he did in The Reivers- what a dab hand could be at comedy genre . However , Steve McQueen hated this film that he considered to be one of his worst . Steve McQueen and Jim Hutton are nice , while their gorgeous partenaires , the young Brigid Bazlen and the treacle-voiced Paula Prentiss are gorgeous . Sympathetic support cast with plenty of notorious secondaries as Dean Jagger in a strange comedy film character , Jack Mullaney, and the usually comical Jack Weston adds immeasurably to the fun , here stealing the show as a drunk sailor.

This zany romp motion picture was professionally directed by Richard Thorpe , though it has some flaws and some very silly comical situations, being a mild hit at the box office, getting profit enough . This filmmaker Richard Thorpe was a veteran Hollywood craftsman who directed a lot of films of all kinds of genres , drama, musical , Western , adventure , Historical, Comedy , such as : "Huckleberry Finn, Night must fall, Above suspicion, Black Hand , Malaya or East of the Rising sun, Vengeance Valley, Prisoner of Zenda, Ivanhoe, Knights of the Round Table, Quentin Durward , Jailhouse Rock, Killers of Kilimanjaro, The Last Challenge" , among others . The filick will appeal to Steve McQueen fans . Rating : 6/10. Passable and acceptable .

It's obviously based on a stage play as all the scenes take place in just a few rooms. But, bearing in mind it was made in the early sixties, its got some good gags and one-liners in. This was Steve McQueen's only real attempt at comic farce and its enjoyable to see him in the role, even if he is a little over the top on occasions. Originally his reviews were good, but he himself disliked his performance in the film. This film has never been released on video in the UK and is only very rarely shown on satellite TV. Catch it if you can - then see the posters for the film at THE STEVE McQUEEN FILM POSTER SITE

This is a different sort of role for Steve McQueen. While he did a bit of light comedy, he's mostly known for very serious films such as "The Great Escape", "The Magnificent Seven" and "Papillon". And perhaps this is the best reason to see the film--to see him in something different.

McQueen is a lieutenant on a naval ship who comes up with a plan--to use the ship's computer to try to crack the secret to a roulette table. In other words, using the computer to predict which slots on the wheel are most likely to hit and when. While this does not seem possible (sure a few spaces MIGHT be more likely--but probably not enough to make it profitable), you just need to accept this and go with the plot. On hand to help is the computer geek (Jim Hutton) and a few others--including the Admiral's very unusual daughter.

The film is not bad and has a few moderately funny scenes. However, none of the laughs are hilarious and the film is not especially memorable--making it a fine time-passer but not much more. It's just a turn off your brain and enjoy sort of light comedy.

Anything with Jack Weston is going to be fun! converted from play to film, Fergie, Eldridge, and Beau (Steve McQueen, Jim Hutton, and Jack Mullaney) are in the navy, which is testing a missile system in Venice. they figure they can use the computer to rig the casino on land, and send the signals from ship to shore. or in this case, ship to casino. things get even more complicated when they bump into the admiral's daughter (a VERY young Brigid Bazlen). and Eldredge's ex girlfriend ( Paula Prentiss ) is in town with HER fiance. the guys get distracted with the girls, and now they aren't sure which mission is more important. it's pretty good. fun premise. mix-ups. shenanigans. the whole works. and Jack Weston always zings up a film. fun. Directed by Richard Thorpe. McQueen, Hutton and Mullaney all died so young! jinxed cast. even Brigid Bazlen died at 44.

A comedy made during cold war era, when USA and URSS are running for the Moon, this picture exploits this issue with brainy plot around the newest advanced high computer on board of a US's Navy vessel around Venice waiting for a capsule from space where the computer Macks traced the exactly point on landing on the sea, thus the greedy Lt. Ferguson (Steve McQueen) a compulsive gambler asking for the engineer Jason Eldrich (Jim Hutton) who in fact developed the Macks' system to use the computer on roulette gambling on Venice's cassino, upon civilian clothes in order to circumvent the US Navy rules to make a fortune.

The matter is overcame many happenings at hotel where the group get together to carry out all operation, there are the stiff Admiral Fitch (Jean Jagger) and his beauty daughter Julie (Brigid Bazlen) also Jason's former girlfriend the cross-eye Pam (Paula Prentiss) soon they start the plan transmitting from the vessel to hotel through code morse light signals, such thing is noticed by the Navy's crew at hotel and they aware Admiral Fitch that demand a sweeping in the hotel in charge of signalman Taylor (Jack Weston) then it raise some hell on there also involving the Soviets.

A light comedy driven for McQueen's vehicle to get enough muscling into stardom that is approaching faster, however the highlights going to Jack Weston stunning performance as dyed-in-the-wool boozy, also the outlying actors as Jean Jagger in dire straits and Jack Mullaney as faltering guy as supporting casting, without forget Tim Hutton very convincing as brainy scientist as well, the low point certainly the opposite of McQueen played by Brigid Brazlen that wasn't enough stature for McQueen quite sure, overall a fine entertainment!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1983 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD-Youtube / Rating: 7.5.

Perhaps in the hands of someone like Tony Curtis, more skilled in the comedic arts a flop play like Golden Fleecing on Broadway might have become a better film. But Steve McQueen himself was most dissatisfied with this film. He did much better with comedy in The Reivers.

McQueen is a Navy Lieutenant assigned to a destroyer with a Univac like brain and he thinks that this super thinking machine should not be limited to the mundane tasks that the Navy has for it. With the ship putting into the port of Venice of NATO ally Italy with casino gambling, he figures that the brain could be put to use breaking one of the casinos at the roulette table. In this he's aided and abetted by civilian computer tech Jim Hutton, fellow officer Jack Mullaney, and signalman Norman Grabowski.

McQueen and Hutton's women Brigid Bazlen and Paula Prentiss respectively get in on the scheme, a bit conflicting for Bazlen as she's Admiral Dean Jagger's daughter. Note in the film how comedy comes so much easier to Hutton and Prentiss than to the leads. Also there's a nice performance by Jack Weston as a sailor they get smashed after he's on their trail.

On Broadway Golden Fleecing ran for 84 performances and had Tom Poston, Suzanne Pleshette and Constance Ford in the cast. I can see the whimsical Poston playing this far different than action hero Steve McQueen. Also according to the Citadel Film series book on The Films Of Steve McQueen it was at one time suggested that Cary Grant be cast in the role of the admiral. Grant at the time this was out was out in Operation Petticoat a much better film.

If Steve McQueen's fans want to see him in something funny that suits him, check out The Reivers.

The USS Elmira is doing missile tests under the code named Operation Honeymoon using a supercomputer called Magnetic Analyzer Computing Synchrotron (MACS). Nerdy civilian scientist Jason Eldridge and Lt. Ferguson Howard (Steve McQueen) go ashore in Venice. Howard has an alternate scheme in the casino for the computer. Admiral's daughter Julie Fitch stumbles into the wrong hotel room.

I love Steve McQueen. That's what this movie has going for it. Brigid Bazlen is a teenager and she looks like one dressed up to sneak into a bar. He has over a decade on her and it feels like it. They would be better to go with the older chick even if she is nothing more than a model trying to act. The romantic chemistry has trouble heating up. It's all McQueen and a few of the other guys like Jack Weston who had some fun with the material. The plot is silly enough for the limited screwball comedy. It's not great but the McQueen charm keeps it from faltering.

This is the only comedy Steve McQueen did and i can see why. There was nothing funny at all in this movie and all the so-called jokes were pretty lame. It stars out with Steve Mcqueen playing craps on a navy boat and he finds out about a supercomputer on board. He talks its owner into using the computer for gambling purposes in Italy. When they get to Italy, Mcqueen meets a girl who happens to be the daughter of Admiral Fitch, and their staying on the floor below them. As soon as they start their plan, Admiral Fitch sees them signaling to the ship and wonders what is going on. The Admiral thinks something bad is going to happen and Mcqueen has no idea about the Admiral. Don't waste your time on this pathetic comedy and watch a better Steve Mcqueen movie instead.

Lorenzo Semple's more deftly titled comedy, THE GOLDEN FLEECING, was missing something on Broadway. Even with master comedy director Abe Burrows at the helm and TV "name" Tom Poston in the lead (am I the only one who finds him dull?), it couldn't manage a better booking than the intimate Henry Miller's Theatre nor a run of more than 84 performances (Oct. 15 - Dec. 26, 1959) - ultimately bumped for the hit run of a serious Civil War drama, THE ANDERSONVILLE TRIAL which started 4 days later.

The Broadway run DID get a movie sale for Semple however, and hallelujah! Hollywood knew just how to handle the property. They polished the script, filled the roles with top drawer dramatic and farce players, changed the title to something sort of stupid, but which innocently implied sex (THE HONEYMOON MACHINE) and gave it a "Grade A" CinemaScope production.

Great farces MUST be played absolutely straight or they fall flat, and Dean Jagger's Admiral Fitch is a perfect example: he wraps up all the loose ends in a deadpan final confrontation even funnier than the "Hello, Daddy" court room scene in Streisand's hilarious WHAT'S UP DOC. The perfectly executed physical comedy of Jack Weston's drunken ballet on a hotel ledge is still funny (if possibly non-PC with the passing years), but probably the least funny part of this carefully scripted comedy caper film.

Steve McQueen, exuding more sex appeal than is normally on display in this sort of boulevard comedy, is a triumph his only unalloyed comedy role, showing a masterful gift for comic timing and farce delivery that makes it tragic he didn't find the genre to his taste despite the good notices he deserved and got. He's matched every step of the way by his fellow conspirators - especially Jim Hutton as the computer genius in a scam to use a Navy computer (the "machine" of the title) to perfect a "system" to break the bank at the Venice casino.

Naturally, romance (Paula Prentiss is a standout as a diplomat's straying fiancé - blind without her glasses) and other complications (like Cold War paranoia) ensue, and the result is one of those irresistible feel-good films which only gets better with repeated viewing.

There are those who just don't get the "well made" comedy, and since Hollywood rarely makes them anymore (they were a staple in the 1960's), we're not educating the palate for them these days. That's a pity, but for those who still DO enjoy them, this is one of the best. Take a 90 minute vacation on the Mediterranian!

but for all intents and purposes this is a fake late 50's/early 60's sex comedy - a talky, contrived, stagebound, mostly unfunny B movie with a lower grade cast which comes to the A movie party in an expensive gown and diamonds.

Underwhelming. It has its moments but Steve McQueen should never have been put in this kind of film. Ever. I've always thought him over-rated as both an actor and an icon of 'cool' but he did do some watchable work in his career. He's watchable enough here, but it's like watching Bogart playing a Mexican gunslinger in an Errol Flynn Western (which really happened). McQueen gives it a decent shot but he's no Cary Grant or Rock Hudson in the sophisticated funny department.

The whole picture just lays there flat on the screen. The whole idea of it is pretty pointless. When you see the credits start you'll think you're in for an entertaining 60's romantic romp. But it all sinks pretty fast after that. Worth a look, but definitely not a must see.

Sure it's a little formulaic, but not deserving of the excoriation which precedes this mini-review. McQueen is just fine in the role, not so much a pure comic character as the fast-talking con-man Lieutenant, rather the sort of the role Tony Curtis used to play. And to keep the record straight, McQueen did other comedies, such as _Soldier in the Rain_, and the semi-comedic _Reivers_.

McQueen comes up with the idea of using a high-speed electronic computer to beat the roulette wheel and enlists Hutton and another sailor into the scheme.

Hutton, as the computer scientist doesn't have much to do, since he can't also play the fast-talking con-man. (And besides, he's a computer scientist!) But he does get to woo Prentiss, who amuses as the beautiful near-sighted heiress who talks to statues.

Weston up on the ledge with the blinker makes for a quite funny interlude as the others have noted.

But McQueen does not deserve the invective heaped upon him by the other reviewers of this film.

One thing you can say about Steve McQueen is that he learned from his mistakes. He wasn't happy with his performance in this lacklustre farce and never made another comedy, which, on the evidence of this display, is something we can all be thankful for. The story has navy man McQueen and scientist Jim Hutton combining forces to break a Venetian casino with the aid of a super-computer called Mac. Perhaps if they had some compelling reason other than greed and the desire for personal gain we would be able to get a little more involved in their escapades, but they're only in it for the money and, after half-an-hour or so, we end up wondering why we're still in it.

The movie quickly descends into farce, with the situation growing increasingly silly. McQueen hooks up with Julie Fitch (starlet Brigid Bazlen) daughter of an admiral (Dean Jagger) who is staying in the hotel room upstairs and who, spying the signals bouncing back and forth between McQueen and the ship on which Mac is located, mistakenly believes he has stumbled upon an imminent revolutionary uprising. Jagger plays it straight, which makes his one of the film's better performances. Jack Weston's signalman is an annoying character, but Weston manages to wring a few laughs out of his antics. The biggest laughs, however, come from the lovely Paula Prentiss as Hutton's short-sighted heiress girlfriend – and from McQueen's sly, blink-and-you-miss-it scope of Bazlen's rear when they first meet.

McQueen is one of the most over rated actors in film. But what studio idiot ever thought he could do comedy? He couldn't. This movie has nothing going for it.

Now add that with the large part of the cast of "Where the Boys Are", and you have what could be used to get the truth from inmates at Camp X-Ray.

I turned this on in the middle or perhaps toward the end of the movie, not knowing what I was watching. I was immediately struck by Jack Weston's hilarious performance. He is priceless as a staunch obey-the-orders Naval grunt sent out on a mission that turns into a stunt worthy of Harold Lloyd. I really think he deserved an Academy Award just for the way he poured and downed glasses of bourbon, let alone his arabesque on the hotel lech -- I mean ledge (that's an inside joke -- watch the movie). Dean Jagger is admirable as always and the role of Admiral suits him to a T, er, an A; Steve McQueen is cool as the wisest smart Aleck in movie history; there's near-sighted Paula Prentiss and Jim Hutton along for the laughs. The scintillating dialog, tinged with Cold War obsessions, the breakneck pace reminiscent of Preston Sturges at his maddest -- gee, I wonder if the WHOLE movie is this good or I just lucked out and caught it at its best! But from the moment Weston attempts to search McQueen's hotel suite to the wacky end, it's a hoot.

This film works -- at least this vastly entertaining segment -- for me. And I'm a tough customer to please. Based on a play by Lorenz Semple, Jr. and he's no slouch!

I tuned this in because I like McQueen movies. I really wanted to like this one. But I just couldn't. McQueen plays for laughs a conniving cheat who manipulates his friends into taking risks to help him. He's supposed to be the hero, but he steals with abandon and humiliates his friends. His behavior is that of a sociopath. I don't know why his friends didn't just push him overboard. I hoped his character would wind up in the brig for 30 years.

McQueen wasn't King of Cool in this movie, he was King of Jerks. I'm not surprised he didn't like his performance in it - the worst of his career.

Paula Prentiss was fun to watch, though.

In an era when the portrayal of the stumbling drunk hadn't become tragic and offensive, this movie has Jack Weston working his versatile magic with just such a role. He creates some moments of real humor.

McQueen gives it a hard try at being comedic and succeeds much of the time with his own style. Dean Jagger is a great foil for all the madcap goings on. For hot rod T-bucket fans there's Norm Grabowski, so called 'father of the T-bucket', working the on-board blinker.

A lightweight, silly comedy not to be viewed as anything else.

A screwball comedy from 1961 starring Steve McQueen & Jim Hutton (Timothy's dad). Hutton plays a navy engineer who comes up a new algorithm program when he's approached by McQueen to use it on a roulette scheme he's setting up in Italy while he's on leave. When they start using a portable signalling device to send information from their warship to the hotel room they're staying at, the top brass, led by Dean Jagger, think it's an issue of espionage. To make matters more zany, Hutton runs into an old flame & McQueen meets Jagger's daughter as well. Feeling like a stage bound farce (as evidenced by the lack of sets used in the film), this film feels it should've been one or the other, the casino romp or the love affair between the 4 main parties but being this may've been a logical stepping stone in McQueen's ascendancy as the star of his time (& to some extent Hutton) makes sense but I wish a more focused screenplay would've been implemented. Look for Jack Weston as a drunk sailor (he would work w/McQueen again in the Thomas Crown Affair in 1968).

This is the first movie I have ever seen that starred Steve McQueen(and it looks like it won't be the last). I loved this movie because it has that innocent but silly comedy that movies nowadays lack. I have looked for it in all the video stores but can't seem to find it. It is one of those movies that can cheer you up if you feel down. So, I will recommend watching it.

Okay, it didn't win any awards, but it IS funny! Jack Weston is a hoot. Do yourself a favor and watch this. It is just brainless fun!

Basic plot: A couple navy guys figure out a way to use the government's newest super-computer to predict numbers on a roulette wheel at a Venice casino. To do so, they must send signals to and from the computer on a ship in the harbor. The signals are intercepted by an Admiral who misinterprets their meaning. He believes the city of Venice is at risk of falling into enemy hands. Hilarity ensues.

I haven't agreed with a lot of ratings on IMDb recently, but usually, I'm rating films lower than the IMDb average. It's the opposite here. I seem to have enjoyed The Honeymoon Machine (what an unfortunate title) more than most. For me, the comedy worked almost flawlessly. I found myself entertained throughout and actually laughing out loud on several occasions. Comedy is highly subjective, so I realize that what works for me may not work for someone else and vice versa. The comedy here works for me because I found the writing witty and smart and the direction snappy. The movie has a good flow and never for a moment gets dull. It's a fun little movie.

But the real highlight is the acting. If I'm not mistaken, this was Steve McQueen's only comedy. I wish he had done more. He shows outstanding comedic timing. He's joined by a very capable cast that included Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, and Brigid Bazlen. I can't say I was familiar with Bazlen, but she really impressed. I'm shocked to see that her filmography is so short. The cast also includes memorable performances from Jack Weston and Dean Jagger. As usual, Weston steals every scene in which he appears. His drunk act may be un-PC today, bit I found it hysterical. As for Jagger, is there anyone who could play an Admiral or a General with the kind of command he exhibited? Really nice performances all away around.

This is a true comedy with all the necessary components: good humor, great actors, well thought out jokes, excellent scenography and gorgeous actresses.

The dialog is witty and entertaining, as well as the delivery. Steve McQueen does a great job acting out his character (contrary to popular opinion on this board). The form of the movie is well balanced and brings about a swift, dramatic and overall satisfying conclusion along with a small "coda" as a part of a series of comic relief moments ongoing through the entire movie.

As others have said on this review board - Do waste your time with this one - it will be a time filled with laughter and good humor and you'll be happier for it.

This is a fine film well produced at MGM and essentially a star vehicle for Steve McQueen.

MGM had a group of contract stars in 1960: Richard Chamberlain, George Peppard, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton and two very able likable stars in Jim Hutton and Paula Prentiss. Prentiss and Hutton became stars in Where The Boys Are, and co starred in Bob Hope-Lana Turner film Bachelor In Paradise, and my favorite Hutton Prentiss movie The Horizontal Lieutenant. MGM wanted to star them in a comedy And Now To Bed but Hutton declined. MGM cast him in this film version of a Tennessee Williams play Period Of Adjustment which is about newlyweds adjusting to marriage. Hutton does a good job co starring with Jane Fonda.

Jim Hutton continued to refuse MGM offers and went on a year long long suspension before gaining his release however Hutton had to do MGM 's Looking For Love (with a cameo by Paula Prentiss) before gaining his release. After MGM Hutton worked with John Wayne,, Cary Grant, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Connie Stevens, Paul Ford, but but his movie career fizzled.

Jim Hutton died just after his 45th Birthday. Father of Tim Hutton who won the Oscar for Ordinary People and brought many to tears when he wished "My Father was here"