“The Admiral Was a Lady” is a 1950 comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Edmond O’Brien, Wanda Hendrix, and Rudy Vallee.
The story follows a group of World War II veterans who decide to start their own airline company. However, they are struggling to make ends meet and are in danger of going bankrupt. One of the veterans, now a civilian, is a former Navy admiral named Matt Halliday (played by Edmond O’Brien). To help the struggling airline, Matt poses as a woman and takes a job as a flight attendant. He adopts the persona of “Admiral”, a tough and no-nonsense woman who quickly becomes popular with the passengers.
The plot thickens when Matt’s former Navy buddy, Commander Menard (played by Rudy Vallee), shows up and threatens to expose Matt’s secret. Meanwhile, Matt finds himself falling in love with his fellow flight attendant, Julie Morgan (played by Wanda Hendrix).
As the airline’s financial troubles escalate, Matt must use all his wit and charm to save the company and win Julie’s heart. The film is a light-hearted romantic comedy that touches on themes of gender roles and the challenges of post-war readjustment.
“The Admiral Was a Lady” is notable for its strong performances, particularly from O’Brien, who delivers a hilarious and convincing portrayal of a man pretending to be a woman. The film also features a delightful musical score and some breathtaking shots of the American Southwest. Overall, it is an enjoyable and entertaining film that is sure to please fans of classic Hollywood comedies.
Directors:
Albert S. Rogell
Writer:
John O’Dea, Sidney Salkow
Stars:
Edmond O’Brien, Wanda Hendrix, Rudy Vallee
