The Enemy Below is a World War II drama set completely at sea, it details the battle of wits between Captain Murrell aboard his U.S. Destroyer, and Capt Von Stolberg down in his German Submarine.
The Enemy Below is a fine picture, it has been harshly treated by some critics over the years because it falls into a number of sub-genre war films that proudly proclaim that we should respect the enemy. The 50s was a decade that saw many a war film surface {pardon the submarine pun} that rid itself of Gung-Ho fervour, and put a more humane slant on the opposition forces in movies. With that in mind one can reasonably understand any frustrations viewers have with this one, if? They have seen far too many films of its ilk? But to me, outside of the standard bearers like The Bridge On The River Kwai, this picture looks fabulous and engrosses from first reel to last.
Robert Mitchum {Murrell} and Curd Jürgens {Von Stolbeg}, in truth, have done better work in their respective sleep, but I personally get a real kick out of the performances of the two men here. Respect and admiration for each Captain is perfectly portrayed. In amongst the explosions and the tick-tock nature of the piece, we have two fine soldiers who are weary and wise to the folly of war, with both Mitchum and Jürgens holding this particular viewer in the palms of their hands. Winning the Academy Award for best special effects {no stage stuff here, it's all out off the coast of Oahu}, featuring the beast like Whitehurst ship, and of course two actors who knew that restraint is sometimes a valuable commodity, it's a real well put together production in my eyes. There is a school of thought that says all war films are anti war films, and that may well be the case, but some shine brighter than others, and this be one such picture. 8/10
The Enemy Below is a fine picture, it has been harshly treated by some critics over the years because it falls into a number of sub-genre war films that proudly proclaim that we should respect the enemy. The 50s was a decade that saw many a war film surface {pardon the submarine pun} that rid itself of Gung-Ho fervour, and put a more humane slant on the opposition forces in movies. With that in mind one can reasonably understand any frustrations viewers have with this one, if? They have seen far too many films of its ilk? But to me, outside of the standard bearers like The Bridge On The River Kwai, this picture looks fabulous and engrosses from first reel to last.
Robert Mitchum {Murrell} and Curd Jürgens {Von Stolbeg}, in truth, have done better work in their respective sleep, but I personally get a real kick out of the performances of the two men here. Respect and admiration for each Captain is perfectly portrayed. In amongst the explosions and the tick-tock nature of the piece, we have two fine soldiers who are weary and wise to the folly of war, with both Mitchum and Jürgens holding this particular viewer in the palms of their hands. Winning the Academy Award for best special effects {no stage stuff here, it's all out off the coast of Oahu}, featuring the beast like Whitehurst ship, and of course two actors who knew that restraint is sometimes a valuable commodity, it's a real well put together production in my eyes. There is a school of thought that says all war films are anti war films, and that may well be the case, but some shine brighter than others, and this be one such picture. 8/10