Operation Pacific (1951)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

George Waggner

Writer:

George Waggner (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Submarine commander Duke Gifford feels guilty in the death of his former commanding officer, as well as about his failed marriage...

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | U Boat | Naval Battle

Cast

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

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During filming Gary Cooper visited the set to persuade his mistress Patricia Neal to abort his child. Neal later became a pro-life activist.

Goofs:

Continuity: Duke walks in the hospital corridor holding the cap in his right hand. In the subsequent shot he appears in front of the nursery, holding the cap with both hands.

Quotes:

Cmdr. Steele: [whispering to keep babies from crying] I heard every word you said. I've been trying to keep my nose out of your business, but I can't stand by and watch you make a fool of yourself any longer.
Lt. Mary Stuart: Commander Steele...
Cmdr. Steele: Be quiet and listen. Of course he comes to you when he wants to play, where do you want him to go? Some other woman? You married him for what he was and then tried to change him. Well, you couldn't, and you never will. You began to feel sorry for yourself, "You don't need me...
[...]

Movie Connections:

References George Washington Slept Here (1942)

Soundtrack:

How Many Hearts Have You Broken (With Those Great Big Beautiful Eyes)

"Take 'er down!" is a line from the movie and from a real life submarine commander in WWII.

I was stationed on the submarine tender, "U.S.S. Howard W. Gilmore" during the Viet Nam War. It was there that I learned about Cdr. Howard W. Gilmore and the "U.S.S. Growler." The "Growler," under the command of Cdr. Gilmore, was on patrol in early 1942 when she came under attack by a Japanese gunboat. Gilmore was mortally wounded and as he lay on the bridge of the sub gave the command to "Take 'er down!" just as "Pop" did in "Operation Pacific" and thus saved the crew further casualties. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his action. Also the "Growler" rammed the gunboat and bent the bow of the sub just as depicted in "Operation Pacific." I would be interested in knowing if the film used the Gilmore/"Growler" incident as its basis for the scene depicted with Ward Bond, and if there were other facts in the film based on real incidents.

Thank you,