"Victory at Sea" (1952) TV series 1952-1953

Director:

M. Clay Adams

Writers:

Richard Hanser (writer)
Henry Salomon (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

26 October 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Plot:

Twenty-six episode series about naval combat during World War Two. Famous for its music score, eloquent narration and combat footage.

Plot Keywords:

Ship Sinking | Submarine | Navy | United States Navy | Naval Battle

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Leonard Graves

...

Narrator (26 episodes, 1952-1953)

Runtime:

30 min (26 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Although this series had only 26 episodes that ran from 1952 to 1953, the score by Richard Rodgers (with Robert Russell Bennett conducting the NBC Orchestra) was such a hit that soundtrack recordings have been almost continually available. Over a half century after the original broadcast, the soundtrack score is available digitally remastered on compact discs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frost/Nixon (2008)

Soundtrack:

Song of the High Seas

This series prompted me to join the Navy.

I first watched this film series at the age of 13 and to say the least I was enchanted. Richard Rogers Music was a huge boost to a documentary that was unequaled then and since. The stark black and white film and the real footage went a long way in providing the realism. I found the Narration excellent along with the haunting refrains of Rogers' score in the background. I have watched the film all 26 episodes time and time again and of course have the original records including the one with sound effects. I strongly recommend the series to anyone interested in the History of World War 11 as it pertained to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp.