Torpedo Run (1958)

A submarine commander is forced to blow up a Japanese ship with prisoners.

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Richard Sale (screenplay), William Wister Haines (screenplay)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Diane Brewster

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Glenn Ford	...	Lt. Cmdr. Barney Doyle
Ernest Borgnine	...	Lt. Archer 'Archie' Sloan
Diane Brewster	...	Jane Doyle
Dean Jones	...	Lt. Jake 'Fuzz' Foley
L.Q. Jones	...	'Hash' Benson
Philip Ober	...	Adm. Samuel Setton
Richard Carlyle	...	Cmdr. Don Adams
Fredd Wayne	...	Orville 'Goldy' Goldstein
Don Keefer	...	Ens. Ron Milligan
Robert Hardy	...	Lt. Redley
Paul Picerni	...	Lt. Burt Fisher

Storyline

The commander of an American submarine during World War II sets out to destroy the Japanese Aircraft carrier which launched the attack on Pearl Harbour. His wife and child have been captured by the Japanese and they are using them and other prisoners of war as human shields for the carrier.

---

Plot Keywords:

underwater warfare | submarine combat | pacific ocean | submarine attack | male male relationship | 

---

Taglines:

The greatest submarine picture of them all !

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Nov. 1958, MGM distributed this film on a double bill with Fiend Without a Face as the second feature in some locations.

---

Goofs

In one scene which takes place at Pearl Harbor, the USS Marsh, DE-699, can be clearly seen in the background. The Marsh was commissioned in January of 1944, and could not have been at Pearl in 1942 when this movie takes place.

---

Quotes

Lt. Redley: Sir, may I say something?
Lt. Cmdr. Barney Doyle: If there's time.
Lt. Redley: One night in the Kattegat, German U-boats chased us into a mine field, and... we made them think they'd killed us by exploding one of their own mines.
Orville 'Goldy' Goldstein: With what, good wishes?
Lt. Redley: No, we were saving those. We used our stern tubes, sir.
[long pause]
Lt. Cmdr. Barney Doyle: Stern tubes, stand by.

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: SOUTH PACIFIC 1942

User Reviews

In the end it's okay

The Leonard Maltin movie guide describes this World War 2 movie as being "sluggish". To some degree I would have to agree. Despite the movie taking place on the ocean battlefield, there often seems to be some sort of spark missing, with an almost casual feeling taking place instead. While I'm not looking for Michael Bay speed and edits, more adrenaline should have been injected. The leisurely pace is not the only thing dated. While some of the Oscar-nominated special effects *are* good, there are a few special effects shots that may provoke giggles from modern day audiences. And the ending wraps things up a little suddenly, and may be unsatisfying to some viewers.

Fortunately, there is more good than negative stuff. Glenn Ford and Ernest Borgnine give solid and believable performances. (And there is fun seeing L.Q. Jones and Dean Jones among the supporting players.) And while the movie may be leisurely at times, it doesn't get to the point of being boring. If you are looking for a submarine warfare movie, you could do worse.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1959 (UK)

Also Known As:

Hell Below

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 95 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1