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

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

26 October 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Action | 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:

World War Two | Naval | Aircraft Carrier | Violence | Death

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Leonard Graves

...

Narrator (26 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Directed by
M. Clay Adams		(12 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Writing credits
Richard Hanser		(13 episodes, 1952-1953)
Henry Salomon		(13 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Produced by
Henry Salomon	....	producer (13 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Original Music by
Richard Rodgers		(12 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Film Editing by
Isaac Kleinerman		(11 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Sound Department
Ray Griswold	....	sound re-recording mixer (26 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Mohn	....	camera operator (20 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Music Department
Robert Russell Bennett	....	conductor and arranger / arranger and conductor / ... (24 episodes, 1952-1953)
NBC Symphony Orchestra	....	orchestra (24 episodes, 1952-1953)

Series Other crew
Walter Karig	....	technical advisor (11 episodes, 1952-1953)
Robert W. Sarnoff	....	coordinator (10 episodes, 1952-1953)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• United States Navy, The

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1952) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Worldvision Enterprises (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• A&E Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• History Channel Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• MediaOutlet.com (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• NBC Film
• New Line Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Television (????) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Studio 1 Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• NBC Symphony Orchestra  score performed by
• United States Navy, The  assisted nbc in its production of the series

Also Known As:

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 Symphony Orchestra) was such a hit that recordings of it have been almost continually available. Over a half century after the original broadcast, the score is available in a modern stereo recording digitally remastered on compact discs. However, on the album the orchestra is the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Project XX: Victory at Sea" (1960)

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.