Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

kfo9494 William Holden did a nice job in this patriotic movie but for the most part this film seemed be the same plot from so many war-time movies. A commander had to make some hard decisions by letting people die in order to save the ship. Of course, at least a few of the people disagree with the decision- and there we have the rub of the story. The only difference in this tale than others. is the fact that most of the mental conflict about the decision comes at the close of the war instead of playing out during the war. So this seemed like a reused plot with names being changed for the audience approval.Do not get me wrong, the movie has some gifted actors that gave nice performances. Along with Holden, William Bendix and Nancy Olson did a nice job keeping the story interesting and the viewer involved in the story. Even when the writing (at the end) was rushed and forgiveness came like a flash, the actors made the transition flawlessly. Perhaps a bit more time should have been planned for the ending instead of feeling rushed to an conclusion. But since this was not to be, we are left with a film that is at least entertaining and we can enjoy the talent of the actors. Nice watch.

Robert J. Maxwell Handsome young Navy Commander William Holden boards the submarine Tigershark, just out of mothballs, ready for war in Korea. In films these boats are always named after aggressive fishes. No submarine is named Flounder or Guppy. Alone on the empty boat he reminisces about his experience as Executive Officer in World War II. His narration carries us through the flashback. "Yes. You might as well get used to it again. It's HIS boat. It will always be his boat. Funny how things work out." It's the kind of thought that people have in movies but rarely in real life.No matter. This isn't designed to be a poetic masterpiece. It's functional and familiar and exciting, rather like a submarine chasing a convoy.In World War II, we witness the familiar scene of the captain being wounded by a strafing Japanese airplane and Holden, next in command, having to order the boat to dive -- under the fierce protestations of Chief William Bendix. By the time they are able to make a search, the skipper's body is long gone. But Holden has earned Bendix's eternal enmity. Moreover, he loathes himself.He marries his girl friend, Patricia Olsen, but he's haunted during the post-war years, is mean to friends, excoriates his wife until she decides to leave him. Then, the Korean War. The Tigershark is taken out of mothballs and Holden is the skipper again. Guess who the Chief Torpedoman is. So the troubled Holden is once again helming the Tigershark, this time towards wintry Korean waters.The mission is to help evacuate troops surrounded by the enemy. Holden succeeds courageously, brilliantly, and earns back Bendix's respect and his own. Furthermore, Nancy Olsen appears willing to resume their marriage.These submarine movies are usually fun, and this one lacks most of the familiar incidents, the extended depth charges, taking her below the design limits, the popping rivets, the shattered chronometer, the panicky crew member. In real life, it must have been a very cozy existence with everyone living on top of everyone else in a steel tube, the wardroom the size of a walk-in closet.An enjoyable and stylish genre movie.

Robert W. Anderson I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer who credits this as Mr. Bendix's best roll. He was good in most of the rolls he took on with the possible exception of The Babe Ruth story. I have three best William Bendix films: Life Boat, Wake Island, and Kill the Umpire. In this film he's play the chief torpedo-man on the Tiger Shark a boat and crew haunted by the loss of their captain on the last day of the war. Bendix's character blames the man who took command during the emergency that resulted in the loss of the captain. After the war William Holden's character has to come to grips with the memory of that day and the loss of his friend. The piece time navy and his conscience put to much pressure on his marriage and he finds himself redeployed aboard the Tiger Shark with many of the old crew for a new war in Korea. The sub is used to assist in the rescue of some commando's stranded ashore in Korea. During this mission the captain finds he has to use tactics he wouldn't have used before.

bkoganbing The problem that Submarine Command had from the start is that it came out in the same year as Operation Pacific which had similar plot situations. It might be better known today if that were not the case. As it is it's not a bad action adventure film and no disgrace to its star William Holden or any of the supporting cast.When I reviewed Operation Pacific I said that I like submarine films, but inevitably the same situations and clichés follow into each film. In this case William Holden was a newly assigned Executive Officer to the USS Tiger Shark and he was a recent Annapolis graduate who had just done a few shakedown cruises and had never seen any real combat. And it's the summer of 1945.In action Holden like John Wayne in Operation Pacific is forced to leave his wounded captain, John Gregson on top and dive the submarine and take command. This gains the enmity of CPO William Bendix who was devoted to captain Gregson. Wouldn't you know it, the day this happens, Holden's only experience under fire during World War II is the day the Japanese surrender and news of it comes when the Japanese suddenly break off an engagement with the Tiger Shark.Unlike the Duke who got an opportunity in this war to redeem himself in a few eyes, Holden had to wait until Korea for his chance. In the meantime he marries Nancy Olson. Submarine Command was their fourth and final film together, the two had been teamed for Sunset Boulevard, Union Station, Force Of Arms, and now Submarine Command. Three good films and one classic isn't a bad record. Olson seemed to be Paramount's answer to MGM's June Allyson in those good girl next door roles. She and Holden clicked very well on screen.Of course the incomparable William Bendix is here as well. That man never gave a bad performance in anything he was in. He and Holden worked together at Paramount in Blaze At Noon and Streets Of Laredo. They would not be teamed again as well.Although I liked Operation Pacific better, Submarine Command is a fine film on its own that just suffered from bad timing. Fans of William Holden will like it.