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.

bertojame The nightclub pictured in Submarine Command was the Club Royal located at 3rd and C street in downtown San Diego. The wallpaper was black with chartreuse horses pictured, the booths were red. Walter Fuller was the band leader and played trumpet. This nightclub was owned at the time by Albert Bertolino who appears briefly in the bar scene. His wife,Una was the attractive blond seated at the bar. William Holden and Nancy Olsen were on the set at the time and were kind enough to visit with me and my family during the filming of this scene at a restaurant next door to the club. Third street at that time consisted of one bar after another. These clubs were razed in the latter part of the 20th century.

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.

PWNYCNY This movie has to be William Bendix's finest role. Noted for his portrayal of comic characters, such as Chester A. Riley in "The Life of Riley," in this movie Bendix is a moody, brooding sailor harboring a deep-seeded resentment toward the commander of a submarine, played by William Holden. The other characters in the movie are quite forgettable and the storyline itself, although interesting, is nothing particularly special and as a post-World War Two movie, it lacks the intensity of movies made during the war. But William Bendix's portrayal makes this movie worth watching and makes this movie, if not a classic, at least a work of art that merits consideration and an honorable mention.