IMDb > The Bedford Incident (1965)
The Bedford Incident
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The Bedford Incident (1965) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   1,690 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 32% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

James B. Harris

Writers:

James Poe (screenplay)
Mark Rascovich (novel)

Contact:

View company contact information for The Bedford Incident on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

January 1966 (Austria) more

Genre:

Drama | Thriller more

Tagline:

The cold war just got hotter. more

Plot:

An American destroyer captain is determined to confront a Soviet submarine caught violating territorial waters. Perhaps too determined. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. more

User Comments:

Brilliant Cold War thriller more (44 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Richard Widmark ... Captain Eric Finlander U.S.N.

Sidney Poitier ... Ben Munceford

James MacArthur ... Ensign Ralston (as James Macarthur)
Martin Balsam ... Lieut. Cmdr. Chester Potter, M.D., U.S.N.
Wally Cox ... Seaman Merlin Queffle
Eric Portman ... Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke Deutsche Marine
Michael Kane ... Commander Allison Executive Officer - Bridge
Colin Maitland ... Seaman Jones - Bridge
Paul Tamarin ... Seaman 2nd Class - Bridge
Frank Lieberman ... Seaman 1st Class - Bridge
James Caffrey ... Seaman 1st Class - Bridge
Burnell Tucker ... Seaman 1st Class - Bridge
Michael Graham ... Lieutenant Krindlemeyer U.S.N. - Bridge
Bill Edwards ... Lieutenant Hazelwood U.S.N. - Bridge
Stephen von Schreiber ... Seaman 2nd Class - Bridge (as Stephen Von Schreiber)
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Additional Details

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

Russian | English

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | West Germany:12 (f) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Finland:S | Norway:16 | Sweden:11 | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:G


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

First feature film of Burnell Tucker. more

Goofs:

Factual errors: The USS Bedford fires an ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) from their forward MK 16 Launcher. Almost immediately it's asked if they can abort it. First ASROCs are not fired from the Bridge. The Bridge only give the permission to fire via a key as turned by the Captain (his key and he holds it). Once fired, ASROCs can't be exploded as there are no communications from the ship to the missile. Shooting it down is virtually impossible because of the speed of the ASROC as well as the size (about 21" in diameter). more

Quotes:

Captain Finlander: Trouble with that kid, he can't forget what a big hero he was. Star quarterback... voted Most All-Around, Most Likely, Most Popular... that one he's still bucking for. The only way to cut him down to size is to keep on him.
Commander Allison: Yeah, if he survives.
Captain Finlander: Well, I hammer too hard, you let me know.
Commander Allison: I'll try.
Captain Finlander: Yeah, it's a lot of work being a mean bastard.
Commander Allison: Hmm. Sometimes I can't help admiring how effortlessly you do it, captain. Almost as if it came naturally.
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light" (2000) more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Brilliant Cold War thriller, 5 August 2002
9/10
Author: Arun Vajpey from Wootton Bassett, England

For me, this is one of the best movies of the cold war era, up there with the likes of "Fail Safe" and "On the Beach". Extremely well directed and acted, it should be on any collector's shelf as DVD when so released. The tension is maintained throughout and the climax is one of the best in a film that I have ever seen. Also significant is the fact that Sidney Poitier's colour is never an issue either verbally or by implication, something quite remarkable for a movie made over 35 years ago.

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more (44 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Bedford Incident (1965)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Submarine class of 'Big Red'? saginaw1
Best Widmark performance I've seen keljor-1
We are all lucky to be here considering... pullgees
Sidney Portier Led The Way randyparr1952
ending ... SPOILERS phil-loughborough
Commodore Schrepke sunkissed-1
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