On December 13, 1941, mere days after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a young woman, a member of a daring 'Polar Bear' swim club, takes the exhilarating plunge into the ocean off a beach in northern California, unaware of the peril lurking beneath the surface. As she swims, her adventure takes a startling turn when a Japanese submarine rises from the depths, revealing the I-19 and its commanding officer, Akiro Mitamura, played by the legendary Toshiro Mifune. Accompanying him is a stern German naval captain, Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt, portrayed by Christopher Lee. Mitamura reveals to Von Kleinschmidt their audacious mission to eradicate a symbol of American pride along the West Coast, having evaded spotlight during the week of chaos the Japanese Navy created. The scene escalates as a Japanese crew member spots the girl clinging to the periscope, exclaiming: > "Hollywood! Hollywood!" This pivotal moment signals their intended target as the submarine dives back under the water, leaving the girl to swim to safety.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Los Angeles, the local dishwasher, Wally Stephens, played by Bobby Di Cicco, shares his risky ambition to enter a dance contest with his former love, Betty Douglas, much to the dismay of her strict father. This hopeful endeavor is humorously interrupted by the chaotic presence of Sgt. Frank Tree, exquisitely portrayed by Dan Aykroyd. Alongside his tank crew, including Corporal Sitarski played by Treat Williams, the camaraderie and tension culminate as Sitarski develops a strong animosity toward Wally due to Wally's shady past. In a fit of rage, the situation escalates into a scuffle fueled by misunderstandings linked to Wally's juvenile delinquent history.
Shifting our focus, we find Betty Douglas deep in training with her friend Maxine as taxi dancer trainees gearing up for a USO show amidst a flurry of military activity. Wally, on a shopping spree for the perfect zoot suit to impress Betty, devises an uproarious plan involving an air raid siren to make his escape from a department store, leading to a hilariously theatrical getaway. The farce continues as John Belushi's character, Captain Wild Bill Kelso, a reckless US Army Air Force officer, creates havoc after crash-landing his stolen P-40 to refuel, resulting in explosive consequences.
Back in Los Angeles, Major General Joseph Stilwell, portrayed by Robert Stack, attempts to maintain some semblance of order amid the unfolding chaos. His new secretary, Donna Stratten, played by Nancy Allen, finds herself ensnared in the absurdity when she is pursued by Captain Loomis Birkhead played by Tim Matheson. Birkhead's outlandish attempts to woo Donna are fraught with comedic mishaps, particularly in an airborne adventure gone wrong during a press conference, leading to a bomb dropping incident that sends everyone diving for cover.
Simultaneously, the Douglas family home falls victim to the spiral of madness as they confront the consequences of their past actions, including Wally's criminal misdeeds. The brewing tension reaches a climax as the all-too-determined Corporal Sitarski and the Tank crew attempt to keep peace in the escalating feuds of a community divided. As the ongoing madness ensues with collisions between soldiers and civilians, misunderstandings lead to a riot in which Wally tries to gain Betty's attention while getting embroiled in the chaos.
The night spirals into a whirlwind of ludicrous events with the Japanese submarine gripped in a whirlwind of their own, leading to a series of unforgettable confrontations that play out with the amusement park serving as the battle ground. Amidst the pandemonium, the confluence of characters leads to Wally commandeering a tank in a heroic and disastrous frenzy, aiming to rescue his love and reclaim some semblance of honor.
As morning dawns on December 14, the remnants of the previous night's uproar lay scattered across the coastline. General Stilwell gathers the beleaguered townsfolk to recount their harrowing experiences. The absurdity of the war, personal vendettas, and the community's determination to rise above owning their flaws gives way to a wild, comedic reckoning. Fittingly, Wally's impulsive nature leads to a misshapen decoration spiel underscoring the dark humor amidst a dire moment, illustrating that despite chaos, hope shines bright amid the calamity.
As General Stilwell observes, with fond exasperation, > "It's gonna be a long war," signifying the endless comedic potential that war and folly often unveil.
