Nice effects though.

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Well, written by a WWII, vet, I am sitting here watching it with a WWII, vet, 98 years old!First, nice to see a real submarine dive and surface. I would love to see the cutting room floor!And, nice models, and the interior, for example the TDC, Targeting Directing Computer, is real. Wow. Nickname, the fruit machine.Ok, I looked at the technical side, but I do have a question, who is the black actor. Would like to see what else he did. With Burt, and Clark, and ALL the acting is first class.

Director Robert Wise opted to create his sets using the actual dimensions of a real submarine, an idea that helped one visualize the close, claustrophobic quarters naval men were subjected to while living and working under water. Keeping that in mind, it seemed to me that some scenes might have diverted from that formula, but in general one gets an idea how cramped the quarters would have been on the USS Nerka.Virtually every submarine film one is liable to watch has elements that make the picture intense and exciting. The 1981 film "Das Boot" is probably the best of the genre, and you get a pretty good adrenaline rush with 1990's "The Hunt for Red October". This one has it's moments when Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster) goes up against Commander 'Rich' Richardson (Clark Gable); the senior officer received the assignment after spending a year at a desk job when an earlier sub he commanded was destroyed by a Japanese naval ship. So right off the bat there's a degree of tension between the two men, especially after the Nerka's crew fully expected Bledsoe to get the job.The thing that kept nagging me about the story was Richardson's willingness to directly defy the orders of naval superiors to avoid sailing into the Bungo Straits off the coast of Japan. I didn't think that plot element was effectively dealt with, although I don't know how one would recall a renegade submarine captain once he was out in the middle of the ocean. The ending of the story probably dealt with that issue well enough by having Richardson buried at sea.The most disturbing factor the story dealt with, and I wouldn't know if it ever happened for real, was when Commander Richardson ordered three dead sailors to be evacuated along with ship debris by means of the torpedo tubes. As inhumane as that sounds, it was an effective stratagem to convince the Japanese commander that the sub was destroyed. The business about repeated drills to attack the bow of an enemy ship at the beginning of the mission seemed credible enough until you get a look at how difficult that would actually have been. Not much margin for error there, which makes me question if even the most experienced submarine captain could pull it off.

Versatile Director Robert Wise is at the "Con" in this Highly Regarded Submarine Movie that was, Surprisingly, only a Moderate Box-Office Success.Starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster and a Solid Supporting Cast, the Movie is mostly Respected because of its Realistic Sub Setting and its Impressive Miniature Work.The Bungo Straits (Beavis and Butthead snicker) is a Submarine Graveyard and a Commander is forever wanting to Return for Revenge after He was on the Losing End in a Previous Confrontation with the Japs.Considered one of the Best in the War Movie Sub-Genre known as, well, Submarine Pictures. The Film looks Sleek and Glossy and the Lingo is Accurate, as is the Entire Production. Fans of this Type should be Impressed and as it was made in the Late Fifties, there is No Propaganda to Tolerate. Gable Looks Old and Sick, and He was, but gives a Powerful Performance as does Producer Lancaster who Restrains Himself Perfectly.The Music is the Only Thing that is Over-Done. The Story is Compelling if somewhat Condensed and Forced, but Nonetheless Intrigues and Entertains. A Must Watch for WWII Aficionados and Anyone with an Interest in Wartime after Wartime On Screen.

Robert Wise directed this compelling film starring Clark Gable as Commander Richardson, who has been desk-bound for a year after losing his previous command which was sunk by the Japanese in the Bongo Straits. He gets a second chance with a new submarine whose surviving Lt., Officer Jim Bledsoe(played by Burt Lancaster) is resentful that he was passed over for promotion, but dutifully obeys the order, though becomes concerned when Richardson is obsessed with tracking down the specific Japanese destroyer that sunk his previous command. Jack Warden plays Yeoman 1st. Class Mueller, and Don Rickles makes his film debut. Well-directed and acted film is both an exciting and insightful look at a submarine under pressure and the effect it has on its crew.