Trivia
Reportedly Warner Bros. had originally intended to make only a two-reel documentary on the Merchant Marines, but as the war progressed, it was decided to make an entire feature film instead, the result of which was this film.
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Quotes
Johnnie Pulaski:
If a torpedo ever connected with this ship, we'd go up like a match connected to cellophane. You ain't got a chance!
Boats O'Hara:
[
Repeating]
You ain't got a chance.
Johnnie Pulaski:
And "Boom!" You're in the hero department!
Boats O'Hara:
Yeah.
Johnnie Pulaski:
Just like that and the next thing you know, you're pickin' a milky way outta your ears.
Whitey Lara:
Okay, okay, so what?
Johnnie Pulaski:
Whatta ya mean, "Okay?"
Chips Abrams:
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I think you got the wromg angle. The way I see it if your ship's number is up, you're gonna get it.
Whitey Lara:
Yeah, and suppose my number ain't ...
[...]
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Soundtracks
"Columbia, Gem of the Ocean"
(uncredited)
aka "The Red, White and Blue"
Played when the Seawitch heads out to sea
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"Action in the North Atlantic" contained all the stock clichés, including the well-integrated crew with each member delivering his own stereotyped ethnic exhortations, the traditional burial at sea of a prized compatriot, and a tough stand against the enemy
All the performers took a back seat to the special effects as two spectacularly staged shipboard explosions and fires dominated the film
As, respectively, the lieutenant and captain aboard a merchant-marine ship, Bogart and Massey had little real chance to show much more than pure determination in their roles, but both alternated effectively between moments of tenderness when on shore with their loved ones (Julie Bishop for Bogart, Ruth Gordon for Massey) and extreme courage on board ship
Both men uttered the usual wartime banalities as the enemy, consistently portrayed as vicious and inhuman, went about its business of machine-gunning men in lifeboats, maniacally smiling all the while
Firmly directed by Lloyd Bacon, "Action in the North Atlantic" still works as a war actioner