Operation Pacific (1951)

Director:

George Waggner

Writer:

George Waggner (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Navy | Nurse | Fighter Pilot | Mourning One's Friend

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
Louis Mosconi	...	Radarman Mosconi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Baer	...	Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
Robert Carson	...	Torpedo Officer (uncredited)
Gail Davis	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Chris Drake	...	Sparks - Radioman (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Mick - SP Commander (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Dance Floor Extra (uncredited)
Ray Hyke	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Gayle Kellogg	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Al Kikume	...	Hawaiian (uncredited)
Brett King	...	Lt. Ernie Stark (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Quartermaster (uncredited)
Keith Larsen	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Harry Lauter	...	Freddie - Officer on Submarine Corvena) (uncredited)
Richard Loo	...	Japanese Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
Lou Marcelle	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Nash	...	Quartermaster (uncredited)
Carl Saxe	...	Shore Patrolman (uncredited)
William Self	...	Helmsman (uncredited)
Michael St. Angel	...	Lt. Jorgenson (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Naval Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
Milburn Stone	...	Ground Control Officer (uncredited)
Harlan Warde	...	Dick - Admiral's Aide (uncredited)
Steve Wayne	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Mack Williams	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Carleton Young	...	Pilot Briefing Officers on Carrier (uncredited)

Directed by
George Waggner

Writing credits
George Waggner		(written by)

Produced by
Louis F. Edelman	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Bert Glennon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alan Crosland Jr.

Art Direction by
Leo K. Kuter

Set Decoration by
John Gilbert Kissel

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Francis J. Scheid	....	sound

Special Effects by
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)
William C. McGann	....	special effects director (as William McGann)

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Charles A. Lockwood	....	technical adviser (as Vice-Admiral Charles Lockwood U.S.N. {Rtd.})

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (A Warner Bros.- First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• AFEX (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• United States Navy, The  to, for its aid and cooperation in making this picture possible, our grateful thanks (as the United States Navy)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

111 min | West Germany:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U | West Germany:12 (nf) | USA:Approved certificate #14874 | UK:U (video rating) (1995)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

John Wayne and Patricia Neal did not get along during filming. She was particularly annoyed by his treatment of a gay publicity man. Nearly fourteen years later, however, they worked together on In Harm's Way (1965) where she noted that he had mellowed a lot, possibly because he was seriously ill with lung cancer at the time.

Goofs:

Continuity: Inside the submarine, Duke talks with Pop while Pop smokes a cigar. In the following shot, when Duke stands up and leaves, Pop is holding the coffee cup with both hands, with no cigar at all. But next shot he is holding the cup with one hand and the cigar with the other.

Quotes:

'Pop' Perry:Take her down!

Movie Connections:

References George Washington Slept Here (1942)

Soundtrack:

Don't Give Up the Ship

Up periscope

The Duke playing Lt. Duke Gifford (Wayne), a naval officer assigned to a dangerous mission in the Pacific where his submarine is attacked by a Japanese warship after its lured to the surface by a white flag. His pal and commander (Bond) is killed in the ensuing battle, and Wayne must defend his actions to the younger brother of his slain friend (Carey) who is in love with Wayne's ex-wife (Neal). Neal and Wayne still share a mutual affection for one another, much to Carey's chagrin (who regards Wayne as a show-pony), but Bond's death and Wayne's loyalty to his crew threatens to push Neal into Carey's arms.

Melodramatic love triangle set against a WWII backdrop with a likable cast that also contains Kathryn Givney as Neal's officious commanding officer, as well as a youthful looking Martin Milner as a submarine officer and durable actor-stuntman Paul Picerni as one of Wayne's rabble-rousing crewman. Battle scenes are done on the cheap here, director Waggner opting for copious stock footage and miniatures.

If you worship Wayne, or enjoy a uniformed soap-opera, then "Operation Pacific" should suffice.