The Bedford Incident (1965)

An American destroyer Captain is determined to confront a Soviet submarine caught violating territorial waters. Perhaps too determined.

Director:

James B. Harris

Writers:

Mark Rascovich (novel), James Poe (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, James MacArthur

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Widmark	...	Capt. Eric Finlander U.S.N.
Sidney Poitier	...	Ben Munceford
James MacArthur	...	Ens. Ralston (as James Macarthur)
Martin Balsam	...	Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N.
Wally Cox	...	Seaman Merlin Queffle
Eric Portman	...	Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke - Deutsche Marine
Michael Kane	...	Cmdr. 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
Mike Lennox	...	Lt. Krindlemeyer U.S.N. - Bridge (as Michael Graham)
Bill Edwards	...	Lieutenant Hazelwood U.S.N. - Bridge
Stephen Schreiber	...	Seaman 2nd Class - Bridge (as Stephen Von Schreiber)

Storyline

Richard Widmark plays a hardened cold-warrior and captain of the American destroyer USS Bedford. Sidney Poitier is a reporter given permission to interview the captain during a routine patrol. Poitier gets more than he bargained for when the Bedford discovers a Soviet sub in the depths and the captain begins a relentless pursuit, pushing his crew to the breaking point. This one's grim tension to the end.

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Plot Keywords:

cold war | submarine | reporter | ship's crew | atlantic ocean | 

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Taglines:

"Hunt her down...until she comes up!"

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier) and Lt. Cmdr. Potter (Martin Balsam) are flying out to the destroyer, they are aboard an H-19 helicopter, which was called the Whirlwind by the British. The ship they fly by and eventually land on is a Type 15 frigate. The ship's pennant number F159 can be seen. F159 was the H.M.S. Wakeful.

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Goofs

While at General Quarters (battle stations) some officers of the USS Bedford are shown wearing dress blue uniforms. In the mid-60's both officers and chiefs wore khaki uniforms while at sea.

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Quotes

Captain Finlander: He didn't surface during the night, he couldn't, we must've been directly over him. So he's out of breathing air. Staying down, he couldn't charge his batteries, so he can't run. And there he is. So you see, Commodore, we've accomplished the most important step. We've made him desperate.
Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine: He's certainly desperate. That is the danger. You are dealing with a desperate force.
Captain Finlander: And we're a determined force.
Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine: YOU are in the power here, Eric. It is not a force, it is just you.
Captain Finlander: Uh, you mean you're trying to ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Reportedly, there are two versions with different endings. One version ends with a missile being fired and a torpedo being released from the sub seconds before. In another version the sub is destroyed, and later that evening the German commodore is found aiming a .45 at the nose cone of a live missile. The captain asks why, the commodore gives some reply and pulls the trigger. Mr. Munceford is blown over the side, but survives.

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Connections

Referenced in Some Call It History (2015)

User Reviews

Excellent cold-war film

Richard Widmark is a determined naval ship captain in "The Bedford Incident," which also stars Sidney Poitier, Eric Portman, Martin Balsam, James Macarthur, and Wally Cox. This is quite a different meeting from the one Widmark and Poitier had in "No Way Out," where Widmark is a bigot who lashes out at Poitier. Poitier in this film plays a journalist, and there is never any mention of his color. This is not only remarkable but marvelous. Martin Balsam is the ship's new doctor. Poitier and Balsam board ship together and pick up almost immediately that there is a tension on board and that the men are intimidated by their cold, tough captain.

The Bedford's assignment is to patrol for Russian subs and ships.

When a submarine is detected in the area, the captain seems to want to take the matter too far. Portman, as a German adviser, disagrees with him.

The role of the captain, Finlander, is the type of role normally associated with Widmark, and he is excellent as an uncompromising man reminiscent of Captain Queeg. Poitier turns in a stellar performance, which really builds as he becomes more and more concerned about the captain and the potential international situation. Martin Balsam is very good, actually providing, along with Wally Cox, a little comic relief.

The scenes showing the gray sea and huge icebergs might be dated now, given what film technology is capable of, but they are no less evocative of the atmosphere. After the buildup of drama and tension, the last moments of the film are incredibly exciting - staggering even. And you'll do what I did - just sit and stare at the words "The End." A very good film.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

12 November 1965 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Bedford Incident

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Bedford Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1