Operation Pacific (1951)

During WWII, a submarine's second in command inherits the problem of torpedoes that don't explode. When on shore, he is eager to win back his ex-wife.

Director:

George Waggner

Writer:

George Waggner

Stars:

John Wayne, Patricia Neal, Ward Bond

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford
Patricia Neal	...	Lt. (j.g.) Mary Stuart
Ward Bond	...	Cmdr. John T. 'Pop' Perry
Scott Forbes	...	Lt. Larry
Philip Carey	...	Lt. (j.g.) Bob Perry
Paul Picerni	...	Jonesy
William Campbell	...	The Talker (as Bill Campbell)
Kathryn Givney	...	Cmdr. Steele
Martin Milner	...	Ens. Caldwell
Cliff Clark	...	Commander, SUBPAC
Jack Pennick	...	The Chief
Virginia Brissac	...	Sister Anna
Vincent Fotre	...	Soundman
Lewis Martin	...	Squad Commander
Sam Edwards	...	Junior

Storyline

Submarine commander Duke Gifford feels guilty in the death of his former commanding officer, as well as about his failed marriage. These issues pull at him during a hazardous mission against the Japanese in World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | navy | nurse | fighter pilot | mourning one's friend | 

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Taglines:

Up From The Floor Of The Sea To A High Mark In Excitement!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Unternehmen Seeadler

Filming Locations:

Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The problems with submarine torpedoes shown in the movie are accurate. A poorly designed and tested firing pin could malfunction on a good hit (that is, a torpedo striking within about 45 degrees of perpendicular to the side of the target). Poor hits (at a very sharp angle to the side of the ship) could often produce more reliable explosions. Finding the problem, while not performed by the submarine crews as shown, actually did occur in a similar manner.

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Goofs

When speaking with LCDR Gifford on the foredeck, the sailor from the south states that his "great grand pappy served on the Merrimack". Someone that proud of an ancestor would have known that the ship was named Virginia (the correct Confederate Navy name), not Merrimack (the name used in bad history texts for decades).

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Quotes

'Pop' Perry: Take her down!

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Crazy Credits

In keeping with the submarine theme of the film: at the very start, we see a submarine periscope break the surface of the sea, then we see an officer looking into the view-port of the periscope, then we see the opening credits appear, as if being viewed through a periscope.

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Connections

Features Destination Tokyo (1943)

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Soundtracks

"How Many Hearts Have You Broken (With Those Great Big Beautiful Eyes)"
Music by Al Kaufman
Played at the restaurant/club

User Reviews

Sub par Movie

This movie, which i revisited on German and English DVD yesterday is definitely more in the B Movie of the Sub Marine Genre. They could have learned from watching Destination Tokyo more closely, as this was with all its limitations still a fine movie and much less a strange flag waver whilst closer to the actual war time. Ward Bond and John Wayne still look like somebody stole their horses and don't know where to go, the submarine is spacious as an Ikea show room and the stress level when depth charged more like a tenant being annoyed with next door noise when watching Super Bowl. What did work quite good was the Wayne

• Neal relationship, which you will see much more developed and mature

in Harm's Way about 20 years later. Not urgent to watch.