The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962): cast, story & where to watch
1962 · Film · ★ 4.5
Released in 1962, The Horizontal Lieutenant is a comedy, war and romance film directed by Richard Thorpe, running about 90 minutes. “It's the funniest service comedy since the War of 1812!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A luckless army intelligence lieutenant finds himself stationed on a remote island army outpost during World War II, where all the action is between the sheets.
Who’s in it. The Horizontal Lieutenant stars Jim Hutton as Second Lt. Merle Wye, Paula Prentiss as Lt. Molly Blue, Jack Carter as Lt. Billy Monk and Jim Backus as Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.5/10, The Horizontal Lieutenant has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Horizontal Lieutenant page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Horizontal Lieutenant tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962)?
- In US, The Horizontal Lieutenant is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Horizontal Lieutenant worth watching?
- The Horizontal Lieutenant holds an audience score of 4.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, war and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Horizontal Lieutenant?
- The Horizontal Lieutenant stars Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Jack Carter, Jim Backus and Charles McGraw.