|
|
Rating:  - SALT WATER TOUGHIES
A very good motion picture, beautifully filmed in Cinemascope color, lest we forget.After 50 years, the movie holds up very welll, as do many well made films about World War 2. In this one, Robert Mitchum and Curd Jurgens wage a 96 minute psychological battle in the Pacific. The production begins rather slowly, with the American crew wondering whether their new captain is qualified for his new command, after serving in the Merchant Marines for years. Mitchum quickly allays all fears; he's as smooth and precise in command that one would think he was born at the helm. Below sea level, Jurgens is his German equal in many ways; not allowing his fiery disposition to cloud his judgment of his potential slayer above.The film builds in intensity as this naval chess game finallly reaches an apt but somewhat surprising conclusion. This story was copied almost directly by "The Bedford Incident" circa 1965, with even better results,in this reviewer's opinion. Nevertheless, "The Enemy Below" is top shelf material, not to be missed.
Rating: - WWII submarine movie
Another must watch movie. Excellently done film. Classic. Robert Mitchum and Chud Jurgens were great in their roles.
Rating: - Absorbing WW2 maritime drama
"The Enemy Below " depicts a battle of wits ,strategy and cunning between two antogonists in the South Atlantic during World War 2. One man is US Navy Captain ,Murrell (Robert Mitchum)and his opponent is Captain Von Stolbery (Curt Jurgens)a world weary U-Boat skipper .Both men have lost loved ones in the conflict -Murrell his wife and Stolberg his son ,also a serving member of a U-Boat crew.Von Stolberg is vehemently anti-Nazi and crosses swords constantly with the "political officer"imposed on such vessels by diktat of the Nazi party.I suspect this was inserted as a sop to audiences of the time who might struggle so soon after the war to accept a German in a heroic light .
The clash arises when Murrell's vessel ,the USS Haines picks up a signal from the U-Boat .Stolberg is seeking to meet up with the main body of the German "wolf pack"-he has a key British code book in his possession .
Despite his world weariness and heart sickness at the war and the fate of his nation under Hitler ,Von Stolberg will not tamely surrender.Maneuvers and counter maneuvres .the two skippers -equally adroit and skilled -battle each other to a resolution .We witness the reactions of the two crews especially those of the U-Boat crew as the vessel is forced to wait it out on the bottom of the ocean and come under heavy assault from depth charges .
The acting is outstanding .Mitchum underplays beautifully bringing a stoical quality to the role that wholly suits the character and Jurgens ,in his first major English speaking role is brillaint as a man torn between love of his country and service but hatred of the nation's leaders .They meet only in the final moments of the picture.
Theodore Bikel impresses as Jurgen's second in command and look out for an early Doug McClure role.
Full marks to the expert direction of Dick Powell who builds suspense brilliantly but does neglect character at the expense of the mechanics of war .Technicolor photography of rare skill by Harold Rosen and a literate and intelligent Wendell Mayes script odd futher qualities to an exceptional ,even -handed war movie
Unmissable
Rating:  - Killer Sub vs. Sub-Killer
This movie classic is one of the best action packed dramas of World War II dealing with an American Destroyer and a German U-boat. Robert Mitchum plays the American destroyer commander and Curt Jurgens plays the U-boat commander. Their sea craft cross paths in the South Atlantic Ocean and engage in a deadly cat and mouse game that can only end in the death of one of them. This duel of two very experience naval officers covers thousands of miles and is action packed. Over all the models are realistic enough that you can just sit back and be engrossed in the hunt. This movie not only shows us the mandatory hunting of the enemy in a deadly chess game where one mistake means defeat and death. But it also shows us that en in war there can be hope and one can show his humanity.
Rating: - Great Movie!, SOO COOL to find it on DVD
If you like the cat and mouse drama as well as the authenticity and originality of WW2 flicks YOU WILL like this movie! DVD features like scene selection, subtitles, etc is a cool thing though a special features with deleted scenes and perhaps a commentary would make it worth twice the price!
This is a really great movie with very little bore that is well worth the price.
Great Story!, Great Plot!, Great Setting!, What more could you want?
|
|