Pardon My Sarong (1942) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

In the bustling streets of Chicago, two distinctly hapless bus drivers, Algernon 'Algy' Shaw and Wellington Pflug, find themselves in a predicament far beyond their usual routes. When a wealthy bachelor, Tommy Layton, charters their bus for a cross-country journey to enter a yacht race, a series of misunderstandings prompts a warrant for the drivers' arrest. Desperate to evade the authorities, the duo takes a chaotic leap into a new adventure, trading the confines of public transit for the open sea under Layton’s employ.

The transition from city life to maritime escapade proves turbulent, as the crew is not only unprepared for the ocean but also entangled in a rivalry with Joan Marshall. As the yacht races toward its destination, a typhoon throws the voyage severely off course, stranding the group on an uncharted tropical island. What begins as a leisurely pursuit of sport quickly morphs into a struggle for survival in a lush, unpredictable environment where the rules of civilization no longer apply.

This remote island, however, offers little respite. A cunning jewel thief plots a dangerous scheme against the unsuspecting travelers, while the native inhabitants present their own set of challenges and mystifying traditions. Caught between the island's ancient customs and the looming threat of criminal intent, the group must navigate a world where danger and absurdity collide, leaving their fate hanging in the balance.