a newspaper article. Tom is right about the suspects, but Commander Taylor initially does not believe it. Ultimately, Tom is able to convince Taylor to retrieve the stolen jewels, and ensure that the jewel thieves are arrested. THe film ends when the boat is about to get into a collision with the abandoned sub like craft, which would have capsized the boat. Cast Robert Morse as Ensign Garland Stefanie Powers as Kate Phil Silvers as Harry Simmons Norman Fell as Max Mickey Shaughnessy as Charlie Wally Cox as Jason Don Ameche as Commander Taylor Joey Forman as Lt. Jordan Vito Scotti as Pepe Galindo Tom Lowell as Wagner Robert Hastings as Chief Walsh Sammy Jackson as Garlotti Joe E. Ross as Nutty Sailor Judith Jordan as Tina Al Lewis as Bert Midori as Chiyoko Kuni Kelly Thordsen as Motorcycle Cop Gil Lamb as Mr. Mitchell Release The Boatniks was released on July 1, 1970 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. It was re-released theatrically on June 10, 1977. Home media It was released twice on VHS in November 1983 and March 18, 1997, DVD on August 2, 2005, and Blu-ray on June 21, 2016 in a Disney Movie Club exclusive, 45th Anniversary Edition. Reception In 1970, the film earned an estimated $5 million in North American rentals. By 1976 this figure was up to $6.6 million. Roger Greenspun of The New York Times wrote that the film "isn't a good movie about boating, and it doesn't really try to be. It isn't good situation comedy either, though it does try to be." Variety stated, "There's nothing that isn't familiar about the comedy in this Disney summer release, but it's so well handled that even anticipated gags come through with honors." Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "a better than usual Disney comedy. It wisely involves a lot of very good people in a series of mishaps of which they make the absolute most." Writing in The Washington Post, Judith Martin thought the film was "better than most," but she expressed concern about the "humor based on national and sexual stereotypes," including "[t]wo separate instances of the old Mexican-American caricature done in a way that no one would dare do about blacks these days." The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "Characteristically wholesome Disney comedy, quite enjoyable on its own unsophisticated level though not in the same class