An American tanker is sunk by a German U-boat, and the survivors spend 11 days at sea on a raft. Their next assignment - bound for Murmansk through the sub-stalked N. Atlantic.An American tanker is sunk by a German U-boat, and the survivors spend 11 days at sea on a raft. Their next assignment - bound for Murmansk through the sub-stalked N. Atlantic.An American tanker is sunk by a German U-boat, and the survivors spend 11 days at sea on a raft. Their next assignment - bound for Murmansk through the sub-stalked N. Atlantic.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
- Pebbles
- (scenes deleted)
- Aherne
- (scenes deleted)
- German Ensign
- (uncredited)
- Jenny O'Hara
- (uncredited)
- German
- (uncredited)
- Brazilian Gun Captain
- (uncredited)
- Bearded Lieutenant Commander
- (uncredited)
- Ahearn
- (uncredited)
- Submarine Commander
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Lloyd Bacon
- Byron Haskin(uncredited)
- Raoul Walsh(uncredited)
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaVery few early World War II films featured African-Americans in the US military. Humphrey Bogart was quoted in "The Pittsburgh Courier" on 26 September 1942 as saying that he wanted to have a black Merchant Marine captain in this film. He said, "In the world of the theatre or any other phase of American life, the color of a man's skin should have nothing to do with his rights in a land built upon the self-evident fact that all men are created equal."
- GoofsThe 'Northern Star' really is a doomed ship as the crew's quarters the portholes are not blacked out. The only better way to have your number called would be to light up the transmitter and send a signal "here we are".
- Quotes
Lt. Joe Rossi: Now, that's the word of God. And it's good. But I don't think He'd mind if I put my oar in. These are eight men we knew and liked, guys like us. Guys we ate with and slept with and fought with. Well, we were just a little luckier than they were. We'll miss them. All of them.
- Alternate versionsThe colorized version and many b&w TV prints are edited to fit a two-hour time slot. Most of the cuts involve the interactions of the crew (notably Alan Hale) in the rec room and virtually all of Raymond Massey's domestic scenes with Ruth Gordon with the exception of his actual arrival home. Also omitted are most of the scenes of the cook, extended scenes of the destruction of Massey's ship early on, as well as several interstitial and transitional scenes.
- ConnectionsEdited into Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
The realism is startling considering that special effects then included no computer engineering. The script is basically the story of U.S. Merchant Marine survivors of a battle determined to sink the ship that ruthlessly cut into their lifeboat. The climax has them getting their revenge on the Germans after a fierce battle that concludes with the Americans and their farewell ceremonies to shipmates killed during battle. Bogart is given some flag-waving lines to read and the film concludes with a commentary using FDR's voice to salute the Merchant Marines and their contribution to the war effort.
Lloyd Bacon directs with a firm, vigorous treatment of all the battle scenes and only occasionally does the film slow down when dealing with the domestic front. Julie Bishop does a nice job as Bogart's girlfriend and later wife, while Raymond Massey shares his domestic homecoming with Ruth Gordon as his wife. But the film's merits are chiefly due to the action sequences, which are by far among the best ever featured in a Bogart film.
Action is what you get here...but don't expect anything deep. Bogart fans won't be disappointed. Dane Clark plays his usual hothead role with gusto and Alan Hale is a welcome addition to the supporting cast.
- Doylenf
- Jul 2, 2005
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,600,000
- Runtime2 hours 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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