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The Enemy Below (1957)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
8 January 1958 (Japan)
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Plot:
During World War II, an American destroyer meets a German U-Boat. Both captains are good ones, and the engagement lasts for a considerable time. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 3 wins
&
1 nomination
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User Comments:
Two men, caught in the conflict of WWII, engage in a hunt-and-seek situation that has only one final outcome.
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Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Robert Mitchum | ... | Capt. Murrell |
 | Curd Jürgens | ... | Von Stolberg (as Curt Jurgens) |
 | David Hedison | ... | Lt. Ware (Executive Officer [XO]) (as Al Hedison) |
 | Theodore Bikel | ... | 'Heinie' Schwaffer |
| Russell Collins | ... | Doctor |
| Kurt Kreuger | ... | Von Holem |
| Frank Albertson | ... | Lt. (j.g.) Crain |
| Biff Elliot | ... | Quartermaster |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
98 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Netherlands:12 |
USA:Approved (certificate #18627) |
Canada:G (video rating) |
West Germany:12 (f) |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:15 |
UK:PG |
Australia:PG
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Two endings were shot: In one, both commanders die; in the other, a third vessel rescues them. The final ending was determined by preview results. The USS Haynes was portrayed by the USS Whitehurst, captained by Walter R. Smith, who received a "technical advisor" credit and can be seen portraying the ship's chief engineer. Eva Novak can be seen in a photo as the wife of Von Stolberg.
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Goofs:
Miscellaneous: In the U-boat, the 24-hour clock has the name "Timex" on it.
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Quotes:
Doctor:
Well, in time we'll all get back to our own stuff again. The war will get swallowed up, and seem like it never happened.
Captain Murrell: Yes, but it won't be the same as it was. We won't have that feeling of permanency that we had before. We've learned a hard truth.
Doctor: How do you mean?
Captain Murrell: That there's no end to misery and destruction. You cut the head off a snake, and it grows another one. You cut that one off, and you find another. You can't kill it, because it's something within ourselves. You can call it the enemy if you want to, but it's part of us; we're all men.
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Captain Murrell: Yes, but it won't be the same as it was. We won't have that feeling of permanency that we had before. We've learned a hard truth.
Doctor: How do you mean?
Captain Murrell: That there's no end to misery and destruction. You cut the head off a snake, and it grows another one. You cut that one off, and you find another. You can't kill it, because it's something within ourselves. You can call it the enemy if you want to, but it's part of us; we're all men.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
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Soundtrack:
So leben wir alle Tage
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FAQ
Was Das Boot a remake of The Enemy Below?more
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"The Enemy Below" released in 1957, was one of those films directed by Dick Powell, and starring Robert Mitchum, that sparked with genuine realism and utmost attention to detail. This film also showed the harsh realities in war, and the dedication that men on both sides of the conflict can give to the task appointed. Mitchum plays the commander of a US Naval vessel that has the task of seeking out and destroying enemy submarines; having just recently lost one command, he is going to make sure such doesn't happen twice. The renowned German actor, Curt Jurgens, portrays the submarine commander whose presence has been detected by Mitchum's destroyer, and the chase is on.
Both commanders, Mitchum and Jurgens, in their characters, reveal that each was firm in their beliefs toward their respective countries. While Jurgens is not a gung-ho Nazi, he does have a firm dedication to his fatherland, and what it was before the war. Mitchum has the same firm devotion to his country, and what he is doing is the right course to bring a successful ending to the war, ultimately. There is a lot of verbal discussion during the course of the film, who is right, why are we engaged in this action, etc., but both commanders are desperately trying to out think and outmaneuver the other.
There were several good movies made during the 50s, this film, "The Enemy Below",and "Run Silent, Run Deep" come to mind, and are certainly worth a view. This film does give a look at both sides involved in the type of chase done here. An 8/10