Don't listen to the negative reviews

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

War movies about submarines are always tremendously exciting, and this one is perhaps the best of all.Everything is perfect in this film, the actors, the music by Franz Waxman which never dominates but accompanies perfectly the action the whole way, the story constantly inviting for another surprise, the very qualified direction keeping up a high tempo of suspense all the way, and above all the technical filming, actually realizing hair-rising naval battles with submarines in Japanese waters. The Bungo straits actually exist and offer a hazardous passage between two major Japanese isles and is an important transport route especially during the war for convoys.Clark Gable is a veteran submarine captain who gets his last command and a very vital and competent Burt Lancaster for his exec, who gets involved in the mutiny mood on board the submarine. The Bungo straits are notorious as a graveyard for u-boats, no one wants to go there voluntarily, but that's where the action is, so Clark Gable has to go there and bring everyone along with him on board, which of course leads to reactions; but the crew is in for a hell of surprises on the way.The plot is ingenious and typical of Robert Wise, he enjoyed great plots and twisted them around in his own way just to get them more efficient, as he did in such extremely different films as "The Haunting", "West Side Story", "Helen of Troy", "The Sand Pebbles", "The Day the Earth Stood Still", "The Andromeda Strain" just to mention a few examples. He even made "The Sound of Music".So it's actually no use saying anything about this film. The names ensure a perfect up-lifting experience even if it is of the very cruelest and hardest sides of the worst of wars...

Good entertainment and realistic scenes with action of a sub at sea and at war during world war 2. Strong lead actors and a good supporting cast make us believe the story no problem. For its time, this was premium entertainment worth the price of admission. Objectively speaking, the subject matter is a shocking one. While we root for our side to prevail, there is also a sense of the other side wanting the same making us consider that war is a futile and cruel gesture yet we still depend on it as a final word in some instances. All this is understandable but sobering. So we root for our side and let it go at that. I like snacking while movie watching. This one is not bad for a decent meal with a tasty drink. Remember that this movie is several decades old making us appreciate the realism that went into the making of this. When seeing it for the first time, we don't have the luxury of a contrast or a close-up so we can notice the miniatures etc. Great scene of a man almost being washed out to sea by accident. Quite an idea for its time. Please enjoy and dive! dive!

In 1942, submarine commander P.J. Richardson (Clark Gable) loses his boat in the Bungo Straits to Japanese destroyer Akikaze. Richardson survives and a year later, he's on desk duty in Pearl Harbor. Meanwhile, the Akikaze has gained a fearsome reputation after sinking three more American subs. Jim Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster) is about to be the captain of a sub but Richardson is able to steal the position from him. Bledsoe is forced to remain as the ship's XO. Richardson is obsessed about drilling the crew in a dangerous bow shot maneuver. They are going back to the area but they are ordered not to enter the Bungo Straits.The start is a bit of a missed opportunity. I get the need to get to Burt Lancaster but the first sub going down could have been a great sequence. Also it needs to explain a little bit how the crew got out. Most submarines go under with the crew on board. The special effects are nicely done with a mix of mostly miniatures as well as a real submarine. The action is terrific and thrilling. The two leading men are the best of their eras. It's one of the best early submarine movies.

Recently I saw the submarine movie, 'Phantom' and I liked it. This inspired me to look for more submarine movies and I stumbled on to this. This is a brilliant movie. The story line is simple enough. Clark Gable plays captain Rchardson, a submarine commander demoted to a desk job following the sinking of his vessel by the Japanese. He gets another chance to captain a sub. In defiance of orders, he goes after the Japanese destroyer that had sunk his original sub. He has to fight not only the Japanese but also his own lieutenant and a reluctant crew. He eventually triumphs. However, it is a costly victory. Captain dies of the wounds sustained during an action and is buried at sea before the vessel can reach the port. This film reminded me of Captain Ahab and his pursuit of Mobydick. That this old black and white film made more than half a century ago could keep me entranced is proof that this is a great film. After all only classics transcend limits of time and geography. I rate this film as a classic movie.