As someone who grew up with "My Three Sons", it is amusing to see Fred McMurray in this movie. But McMurray was actually a good actor and I thought that he was very effective in this film, even next to the likes of Bogie, Johnson, and Ferrer.
I kept expecting to see William Demarest (Uncle Charlie) as the ship's cook!!
I grew up with My Three Sons and The Absent Minded Professor and Son of Flubber. To see his best performance you need to watch Double Indemnity. They show it on TCM often. You won't be disappointed.
shareI'm not used to seeing MacMurray playing such a cynical character, that just proves what range he has. All of the performances were very good, from Bogart, (whom, this was the only film role that I've enjoyed him in), Ferrer, steller, and even the hammy, Van Johnson, played it down a bit. This is the only version that I've seen, but, it was well done.
shareTo the OP, I can understand why you would be amused and surprised seeing Fred play this character after watching him for so many years only as "Steve Douglas".
But probably our previous generation(s) who saw him play Steve Douglas were also surprised to see him in that role as a TV Dad. Because for them, Fred MacMurray was indeed a major movie star throughout his entire career dating back to the 1930s. In fact, there was one year where he was the highest paid movie star in the country!
If you also want to see him in another offbeat role, check out the 1960 classic The Apartment.