LT. Duke Sub movies up to recent times are one way or another seeking to borrow the formula Delmer Davies conceived for this timeless war picture. First, careful attention was paid to technical accuracy. So consistent was the movie to the procedures of WW2 subs, it was shown as part of the instructional program at the Groton Sub School. Second,the picture is punctuated by great action sequences quickly followed by personal profiles of the crew or the officers--but especially the crew. Alan Hale is memorable as Cookie. John Garfield nails it as the more-talk-than-action with the dames "Wolf." Dane Clark hits a homer as a transfer from the surface navy to the special world of the submariner. He gets dubbed "Tin Can" by Torpedo man and 1st Class Petty Officer Mike (Tom Tully) who is the older guy that rookie Robert Hutton ("Slim") gains guts and spiritual sustenance from on his first patrol. Of course Cary Grant is his magnetic self as the skipper of the USS Copperfin. A young Tony Curtis saw this movie and enlisted in the Navy during the war in hopes of becoming a submariner too (he didn't but years later he played one in Operation Petticoat along with his idol Cary Grant). Third, the movie respects the heck out of the sailors for what they do and their loved ones for the allegiance they bear them. Those three factors make the formula that--if adhered to--will invariably produce a submissible addition to the genre. Now, the movie is not without its flaws. The chronology is anti-historical. We are told that it is Christmas 1942 and the guys are about to assist in executing Doolittle's Raid. Problem is the raid went off 8 months earlier in April. The physical environment of the sub is too big, too comfy, and too dry. But these and other nit picks aside, check it out. I watch it 3 or 4 times a year--especially at Christmas time. I got the colorized version a few years before they went off the market. Contrary to the naysayers and purists, I am a fan of colorizing.When you watch it, try to put yourself in the desperate days just after Pearl Harbor when the nation was aching for some scrap of good news. From December '41 through March of '42, it was a succession of gloom, doom, and defeat in the Pacific. These guys are off to give the nation something to cheer about. Go along with that ride. Suspend disbelief. Acquire the climate of opinion that prevailed at that time. If you can do it: you will be transfixed.

Uriah43 Even though it's Christmas Eve a submarine called the U.S.S. Copperfin sails out of San Francisco in 1943 on a top secret assignment which cannot be revealed until another 24 hours at sea. The commander of this vessel is a man named "Captain Cassidy" (Cary Grant) and like many of the men who have served with him has 5 successful patrols to his credit. However, this specific assignment is far more dangerous than anything any of them could have ever realized and it will also have an immediate impact on the war against Japan. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that as far as "submarine movies" are concerned this film certainly ranks as one of the better ones out there. Be advised though that it was made during World War 2 and because of that there are some elements of propaganda here and there. Likewise, even though the plot is based on a true event it is also quite evident that there are some typical Hollywood exaggerations here as well. But even so this is still a pretty good film and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

canthovet When watching this movie people MUST keep in mind the times it is set in. We have to remember the attacks on all of the the U. S. Territories, drawing us into WW II. That statement would not be necessary if the younger generations had not been fed the revisionist history of the last 40 years. As far as goofs, they start almost from the beginning. 1. The escorts for the Commander taking the message to the "Coding Room", the guard on the Commander's left is out of step. Big no-no. 2. At the entrance to the "Code Room" there is a .45 pistol in holster on a Web belt hanging on the coat tree. There is an armed guard in the room, but would a military person leave a weapon there? I don't think so. 3. When the sub's C.O. is writing his letter to his wife, he tells her they are leaving, on an important mission. I'm not sure this would pass the censors. 4. All through the formation Tin Can is chewing gum. Not in formation he isn't. 5. One of the crew members is wearing a leather jacket with the collar up during the formation. 6. When the executive officer enters the Captain's quarters, he has both hands in his pockets. Not happening. 7. When the kid asks Mike why the Captain doesn't wear his decorations, Mike responds that he doesn't have to. Any awards or medals are part of his uniform, once they are issued and placed in his records. 8. It looks sort of stupid having the side of the kid's locker left off, the camera would have framed his face much better without the distraction caused by leaving the side off. 9. Whenever the sub dives, it only takes 2 full rotations of the latch to properly close the hatch. After the shore personnel are gone and the sub begins it's dive, the latch is turned 4 full rotations. I don't know the proper number of rotations it truly takes, but they should have kept it consistent. 10. When they are attacked by the 2 Japanese aircraft, the boat's Captain tells the men to pick up the surviving pilot. Why? What are they going to do with him after they question him? They can't interrupt their mission to drop him off, and they wouldn't take him along on the mission. Any number of thing could happen with him on board up to and including sinking the sub. I don't think there would have been any qualms about shooting him, or leaving him floating, especially since the Japanese pilots during their attack on Pearl Harbor were strafing the sailors that were in the water or in lifeboats. There were more goofs, but this is enough. Still a good movie.

grantss Decent WW2 submarine drama. Decent plot, not based on a true story itself but based around an actual historic event, the Doolittle Raid. The structure, commands and regimens of a submarine crew seem quite authentic and sometimes give it a documentary feel.Can be a bit far-fetched at times though. Some episodes seem included just for glamour purposes, and, considering the movie was released in 1943, propaganda purposes.Decent action sequences.In keeping with the above point regarding propaganda, dialogue can also be overly bellicose and speech-like at times. Anything for a few war bonds...Solid performance by Cary Grant in the lead role. Good support all round.