Mjeteconer Just perfect...

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

zn1-58-147766 this was billed as a C4 afternoon movie - a hard nosed cold war captain, now patrolling the oceans for Russians, with a crew that works to its captains every word, all working 100%, with no relapse something is going to go wrong, picked up by poitiers journalist and the doc, the journalist can see what is going to happen, the old German U boat captain with Eric portman doing his best to tell his friend to stop this game or will end in tragedy, this it does, and in a mistake by the weapons officer this game of chess is ultimately won....Its a superb film from shepperton studios, one of their many best, its one of them films that once you have watched it, you will want to see it again, a superb piece of work by the actors, and all the other people involved....I wont forget Finlanders face when he realises this game is over....

Spikeopath The Bedford Incident is directed by James B. Harris and is adapted by James Poe from the 1963 book by Mark Rascovich. It stars Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier, with Widmark co-producing. The cast also features James McArthur, Martin Balsam, Wally Cox and Eric Portman, as well as early appearances by Donald Sutherland and Ed Bishop.The story is set during the Cold War and focuses on the captain and crew of the USS Bedford as it patrols the North Atlantic waters for Russian submarine activities. Capt. Eric Findlander (Widmark) is a tough authoritarian figure who drives his crew hard and keeps them ever ready for any sort of incidents that may arise. They respond loyally to his ethics, this is a crew where nobody ever goes on sick call such is the hard approach instilled in them by their captain. Two newcomers have boarded the ship by helicopter: Ben Munceford (Poitier), a liberal newspaper journalist, assigned to write a story about the Bedford and its grizzled captain and a ship's doctor, Lieut. Comdr. Chester Potter (Balsam), a reserve officer who has volunteered for active duty. Both men are quickly disliked by Findlander, he sees their being there as intrusive and upsetting the tough equilibrium of his ship. When a Russian sub is spotted unlawfully in Greenland's territorial icy waters, Finlander stalks it ready to take action. But the top brass doesn't want a perilous situation arising between the two nuclear powered ships and orders Finlander to sit tight, something he is unable to comprehend and intends to do things his own way. With his hard driven crew at breaking point, this could turn into a catastrophic incident...Taut, tense and impeccably acted by the cast, The Bedford Incident is a superior psycho-drama that feeds off of the paranoia of the Cold War and cloaks it in military claustrophobia. It offers up the dangers of military aggression fuelled by some sense of patriotic duty, with an intriguing "hunt till we drop" iron fist ethic making for an engrossing narrative thread. The film of course is not alone in the "doomsday" scheme of things, even the previous year had seen the release of Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe and Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (a link here coming courtesy of James B. Harris having been Kubrick's producer for almost ten years), but Harris' movie is more than the equal of any other film with the same thematics. The box office returns for the film at the time didn't do it justice, but time has been kind to the movie. For now it can be viewed as a lesson in jangling the nerves, a reference point in how to script polar opposite characters; thriving on dialogue set in amongst murky military zeal and an unstable political environment. Now more than ever the film serves as a cautionary tale. Tho there's some differences from the book, the film follows the novel fairly closely. However, the big change comes with the ending. I don't consider it hyperbole to suggest that the ending to the film is stunning. A fitting closure to the piece and the ultimate release from the stifling grip that the makers had held the viewers in throughout the story. Shot in stark black and white by Gilbert Taylor and with Widmark at the top of his game, The Bedford Incident is a must see for the serious War movie fan. 8/10

jmdrake1 Unlike Cpt Kirk and Star Trek where everything almost always works out in the end in the tradition of Greek comedy the Bedford Incident is a Greek tragedy. It has a horrific and disappointing conclusion that is meant to teach a lesson about situations which can lead to disaster. From that standpoint it is a case study from which we can learn how to avoid similar circumstances and therefore reach a different outcome.The movie also contains elements of the classic "Moby Dick" in that the Captain is "obsessive" in his approach to his mission. Obsession and the inability to be flexible can leads to rigid actions and possible danger.3. The reporter, Munceford did not agree with Captain Finlander and although the Captain listened to his advisors, he did not always follow their advise. There are some great "lines" in the movie worth thinking about. Especially the mistake (miscommunication) that lead to the actual missile firing. Similar miscommunication between pilots and navigators or co-pilots have brought down aircraft and lead to other accidents.

ericolsen1953 Except for that last scene, I would have enjoyed serving under Finlander. Abrasive to goldbrickers, egotists, newcomers, outsiders and slouches, Finlander indeed had great affection and concern for his men; his actions and reactions always done for effect, deliberate 180-degree switches in attitude depending on whom he was addressing and what he felt he had to accomplish. Imperfect but decent, the Captain is a fascinating study in command and leadership. Reporter Ben Munceford recognizes this, and goes and gets his story, taking extreme chances and getting under the personality at last, gaining Finlander's respect. Eventually, we all watch helplessly as Finlander leads too much by example, becomes what he hates most, an egotist, and completely without knowing it. In the end, this turn of personality kills them all.