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Don’t Go Near the Water (1957) movie poster

Timeline

Don’t Go Near the Water (1957) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1957 · 107 mins · English
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Directed by
Charles Walters
Starring
Mickey Shaughnessy, Russ Tamblyn, Jack Albertson, Anne Francis, Earl Holliman, Gia Scala

THE LAUGH OF YOUR LIFE-TIME! Madison Avenue-trained Navy men handle public relations on a South Pacific island during World War II.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Don’t Go Near the Water
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Don’t Go Near the Water Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Don’t Go Near the Water (1957) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. PR unit deployed on island

    Lieutenant Siegel and a public relations unit are stationed far from the fighting. Commander Nash refuses to allow transfers, keeping Siegel in place. Siegel spends days entertaining war correspondents and meeting with Congressmen around the island to shape public perception of the war.

    When
    early in the war
    Where
    Navy base on the island
  2. Siegel meets Melora Alba

    Siegel spots Melora Alba, a local schoolteacher, and the two begin a romance against the odds. Their bond grows stronger as they share conversations and moments amid the island’s tensions. The relationship becomes a central emotional thread for Siegel.

    When
    early to mid-war
    Where
    Melora Alba's school, island
  3. Romance reaches a crossroads

    Siegel and Melora fall in love, but their future is uncertain. He wants to move to New York City to advance his career, while she believes she is needed on the island. They eventually break up over this difference in priorities.

    When
    mid to late war
    Where
    island
  4. Garrett and Alice's forbidden romance

    Adam Garrett, Siegel's yeoman, falls for Navy nurse Alice Tomlen, who is an officer. This breach of Navy regulations leads Siegel to help by pretending to date Alice so Garrett can spend time with her. The ruse tests loyalty and complicates unit dynamics.

    When
    mid-war
    Where
    Navy base/hospital area
  5. Nash uncovers the affair

    Nash discovers the Garrett–Tomlen romance and realizes it violates regulations. Siegel suggests a fitting punishment: transferring Garrett to a fighting unit, a move Garrett actually desires to advance his career.

    When
    mid-war
    Where
    island base
  6. Morale-boosting tour conceived

    With Army headlines hogging attention, Nash devises a morale-boosting tour featuring an ordinary sailor. He selects Farragut Jones for the assignment, hoping to lift national spirits. The plan hinges on a relatable, everyday hero.

    When
    late war
    Where
    island base
  7. Jones's rough edges surface

    Farragut Jones turns out to be foul-mouthed and heavily tattooed, not the type Nash expected. Siegel is tasked with smoothing out Jones’s rough edges and keeping the tour on message. The attempt runs with limited success.

    When
    late war
    Where
    on tour routes and bases
  8. Deborah Aldrich joins the voyage

    Siegel is assigned to escort war correspondent Deborah Aldrich who finagles her way aboard a heavy cruiser bound for a combat operation. The arrangement draws stern disapproval from Admiral Junius Boatwright. The situation strains naval protocol and press access.

    When
    pre-combat operation
    Where
    heavy cruiser en route to combat
  9. Boatwright’s disapproval highlighted

    Admiral Boatwright voices strong disapproval of Deborah Aldrich’s presence on the mission and questions the navy’s handling of press access. The conflict underscores the tension between journalism and military operations. Siegel navigates the controversy while keeping the mission on track.

    When
    pre-combat operation
    Where
    heavy cruiser
  10. War ends; Siegel reassesses love

    As the fighting ends, Siegel realizes he cannot live without Melora and resolves to stay on the island. The end of the war intensifies his decision, shifting his priorities toward personal happiness over career advancement. The island becomes home in his mind.

    When
    end of war
    Where
    island
  11. Siegel faces a personal crossroads

    Siegel wrestles with whether to pursue a New York career or stay with Melora on the island. The choice reflects a shift from ambition to commitment to personal life. The decision seals his new path after the war.

    When
    post-war
    Where
    island
  12. Final decision: stay on the island

    Ultimately, Siegel remains on the island with Melora, embracing a life rooted in relationships and community rather than rapid career ascent. The film closes on a hopeful note about quieter, personal victories. The morale and press-hype world recedes as love takes center stage.

    When
    post-war
    Where
    island

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:26

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Timeline questions answered

Don’t Go Near the Water Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Don’t Go Near the Water (1957): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Siegel break up with Melora Alba?

Siegel and Melora fall in love, but they ultimately part ways because of fundamentally different dreams. Siegel aspires to advance his career in New York City after the war, while Melora feels her purpose is on the island as a schoolteacher helping her community. Their conflicting priorities create an irreconcilable divide, leading them to separate despite their genuine feelings for each other.

  • siegel
  • melora
  • romance
  • breakup
  • career
  • island
  • new york
Q2

Why does Commander Nash refuse to let anyone transfer out?

Nash maintains tight control over his PR detachment because the Navy desperately needs to maintain appearances on the home front. As a civilian-turned-stockbroker-turned-officer, he understands the political importance of his unit's image and refuses to allow any transfers that would disrupt his carefully managed public relations operation on the island.

  • nash
  • transfers
  • commander
  • pr-unit
  • control
Q3

Why does Siegel create a fake relationship with Alice Tomlen?

Siegel fabricates a pretend romance with nurse Alice Tomlen to help his subordinate, yeoman Adam Garrett, get around Navy regulations. Since Garrett is enlisted and Tomlen is an officer, their relationship violates military rules. By pretending to date Alice himself, Siegel gives Garrett legitimate opportunities to be near her without raising suspicion.

  • siegel
  • garrett
  • alice
  • fake-relationship
  • navy-regulations
Q4

Why does Nash want to transfer Garrett to a frontline combat unit?

When Nash discovers that Garrett has been secretly dating Alice Tomlen in violation of Navy regulations, he considers a harsh punishment: transferring Garrett to a frontline fighting unit. This reflects the strict military hierarchy and the consequences of violating conduct rules, though Garrett actually welcomes the transfer as a chance to advance his career.

  • garrett
  • nash
  • transfer
  • punishment
  • combat-unit
Q5

Why does Nash choose Farragut Jones for the morale-boosting tour?

Nash devises a scheme to boost national morale by selecting an ordinary, relatable sailor for a heavily publicized tour. He specifically chooses Farragut Jones, expecting him to embody the everyday hero that civilians can identify with, far from the polished propaganda image the Navy usually presents.

  • jones
  • nash
  • morale-tour
  • propaganda
  • public-relations
Q6

Why does Farragut Jones cause problems for the PR mission?

Farragut Jones turns out to be nothing like the wholesome, relatable sailor Nash expected. He is loud, heavily tattooed, and foul-mouthed, the very opposite of the polished image needed for propaganda. Siegel is tasked with smoothing out Jones's rough edges and keeping him on message, but the reality of Jones's personality constantly threatens the carefully crafted narrative.

  • jones
  • tattooed
  • pr
  • tour
  • propaganda-fail
Q7

Why does Admiral Boatwright disapprove of Deborah Aldrich on the cruiser?

Admiral Boatwright strongly criticizes war correspondent Deborah Aldrich's presence aboard the heavy cruiser heading into combat. He views having a journalist on a combat-bound vessel as a security risk and improper use of military resources. The situation highlights the tension between military operations and press access during wartime.

  • boatwright
  • deborah
  • correspondent
  • cruiser
  • combat
  • disapproval
Q8

Why does Siegel choose to stay on the island instead of going to New York?

As the war ends, Siegel experiences a profound change of heart. He realizes that the island life he initially saw as a temporary assignment, the relationships he's built, and his love for Melora Alba are more meaningful than his career ambitions in New York City. Choosing love and personal fulfillment over professional advancement, he decides to remain on the island with Melora.

  • siegel
  • stay
  • island
  • melora
  • new york
  • career
  • love
  • decision
Q9

Why are officer-enlisted relationships forbidden in the Navy?

Navy regulations strictly prohibit romantic relationships between officers and enlisted personnel to maintain military discipline and hierarchy. The rule exists to prevent conflicts of interest and preserve the chain of command. When Garrett falls for nurse Alice Tomlen, their different ranks make their relationship a serious violation of military protocol.

  • officer
  • enlisted
  • relationship
  • regulations
  • navy
  • hierarchy
Q10

What causes Siegel to change his priorities at the end of the film?

The ending of the war forces Siegel to confront what truly matters to him. The distant guns falling silent make him realize that his ambitions in New York cannot compete with the genuine connections he's formed on the island, particularly his love for Melora. This moment of reflection leads him to choose a life of relationships and community over career advancement.

  • siegel
  • priorities
  • war-ends
  • self-reflection
  • love
  • island

Movie threads

More Movies Like Don’t Go Near the Water, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Don’t Go Near the Water tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Military Comedies of Mischief and Morale like Don’t Go Near the Water

Humorous tales of soldiers more focused on fun and public relations than combat. Discover movies like Don’t Go Near the Water that explore the humorous side of military service. If you enjoyed the witty take on public relations and island life in WWII, you'll love these similar comedies set in barracks, on bases, and far from the battlefield.

  • comical
  • witty
  • breezy
  • optimistic
  • gentle
  • nostalgic
  • Tone: light, comical, witty
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a unit or individual tasked with a non-combat mission—often PR, morale, or a bureaucratic farce—that leads to a series of comedic misadventures. The conflict typically arises from clashing personalities, bending regulations, and navigating romantic pursuits, all while maintaining a semblance of military order. The journey culminates in a successful scheme and a heartwarming resolution that affirms camaraderie.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on military life as a backdrop for comedy rather than drama. They share a light tone, a steady pace of amusing incidents, and a core theme of humanizing soldiers through their humorous attempts to cope with bureaucracy, isolation, or each other.

Tropical Island Romances and Escapades like Don’t Go Near the Water

Charming stories of love and adventure in idyllic, faraway island settings. Find movies similar to Don’t Go Near the Water that capture the magic of a tropical island romance. If you liked the breezy, nostalgic vibe and the cross-cultural love story set in a WWII paradise, explore these other films where the island setting fuels adventure and love.

  • romantic
  • breezy
  • nostalgic
  • optimistic
  • gentle
  • escapist
  • Tone: romantic, optimistic, breezy
  • Pacing: steady, gentle
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with an outsider's arrival on a remote island, upsetting the status quo. The central journey involves adapting to a slower pace of life, engaging in cross-cultural interactions, and navigating a burgeoning romance against a picturesque backdrop. The primary conflict is often between the temptation of a simple, authentic life on the island and the pull of duty or ambition from home, leading to a choice that affirms love and a new sense of belonging.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their enchanting island settings which directly influence the story's mood and plot. They share a gentle, optimistic tone, a steady pace suited to character-driven stories, and a core theme of finding love and purpose in an exotic paradise, creating a cohesive feel-good experience.

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Every angle

Don’t Go Near the Water (1957) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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