Men Without Women (1930)

Navy divers clear the torpedo tube of a sunken submarine.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

John Ford (story), James Kevin McGuinness (story),

Stars:

Kenneth MacKenna, Frank Albertson, J. Farrell MacDonald

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kenneth MacKenna	...	Chief Torpedoman Burke
Frank Albertson	...	Ensign Albert Edward Price
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Costello (as Farrell Macdonald)
Warren Hymer	...	Kaufman
Paul Page	...	Handsome
Walter McGrail	...	Joe Cobb
Stuart Erwin	...	Radioman Jenkins
George LeGuere	...	Curly Pollock
Charles K. Gerrard	...	Cmdr. Weymouth (as Charles Gerrard)
Ben Hendricks Jr.	...	Murphy
Harry Tenbrook	...	Dutch Winkler
Warner Richmond	...	Lt. Cmdr. Briddwell

Storyline

Aboard the U.S. submarine S13 in the China seas, Chief Torpedoman Burke goes about his duties. In actuality, he is Quartermaine, the infamous former commander of the British ship Royal Scot, which was sunk by Germans with a Field Marshal aboard. Quartermaine had told his sweetheart that the Field Marshal would be aboard, not knowing that she was an informant for the enemy. When the S13 sinks, Burke takes charge when the commander, Ensign Price, is unable to command. Burke must keep his mates alive long enough on the bottom of the sea for rescuers to arrive.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | ship | china sea | courage | sailor | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Untergang der U.S. 13

Filming Locations:

Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only extant sound version is actually from a work print for the International version. It's held by the Museum of Modern Art.

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Soundtracks

"Taps"
(1862) (uncredited)
Written by Daniel Butterfield
Played by a bugler at the end

User Reviews

Early talkie curiosity: uneven but entertaining.

A sailors-trapped-in-a-sinking-submarine drama: Will they drown? Will the oxygen run out? Will they suffocate from chlorine gas? Will divers get to them in time? And what about that religious fanatic on board? John Ford skillfully ratchets up the tension, but some shaky special effects, unlikely characterizations and broad acting give an uneven effect, compared to later and slicker entertainments like RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP. However, this production has genuine historical value because it shows the difficulties in changing over from silent to sound,: sometimes it's a silent film with sound effects and [tinny] music. Other scenes have dialogue with one character actually speaking while another answers in silent intertitles. Most oddly, sometimes a character starts speaking, then an intertitle shows noticeably different lines, then the character finishes speaking. Not many movies have such a variety of expression.