Product Details

• Actors: Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison, Theodore Bikel, Russell Collins
• Directors: Dick Powell
• Writers: D.A. Rayner, Wendell Mayes
• Producers: Dick Powell
• Format: Black & White, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: June 2, 1998
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301662954
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,303 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In The Enemy Below Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens are respectively captains of a U.S. destroyer and a German U-boat whose vessels come into conflict in the South Atlantic. Both are good men with a job to do, the script noting Jurgens' distaste for Hitler and the Nazis and engaging our sympathy with the German sailors almost as much as the Americans. Made at the height of the cold war of the 1950s, the film delivers a liberal message of co-operation wrapped inside some spectacular action scenes and a story which builds to a tense and exciting, moving finale. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Cat and Mouse Submarine Movie, June 21, 2001

By 

gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enemy Below [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of the best duel-of-wits on the high seas between submarine and destroyer ever filmed. Robert Mitchum as the captain of an American destroyer and Curt Jurgens as the captain of a German submarine try to out maneuver each other in a battle of nerves, instincts, intelligence, seamanship and raw courage. The multi-talented Dick Powell directed this taught drama, which remains one of the most memorable and benchmark films of this genre. The interior of the German submarine does not have the realistic or claustrophobic look as seen in DAS BOOT but that's not the point. Powell's focus is on the two captains and how they act and react. This film does not lose sight of the mentality of that era and the psychological makeup of the men at sea above and below. This is classic filmmaking and should not be overshadowed by the recent resurgence of certain World War II films that seem to have lost sight of the reason men fought and died. This film also has an impressive cast featuring David Hedison, Theodore Bikel, Kurt Kreuger and Doug McClure. Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens portrayed true men of honor each dedicated to their duty that they were called upon.

104 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great cat and mouse game by two great actors!, July 17, 2004

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Enemy Below (DVD)

This is not the average sub-film that centers on the crews of the sub and the sub-chaser. This is a two-man cat and mouse film, marvelously done with style and incisive insight.

Robert Mitchum is the man who rises to do what is needed. Not a superhero, but a very human man who goes into war and does what is required. He is the Captain of a U.S. destroyer sent out to track U-boats. Curt Jurgens is his mirror reflection - below - a Captain of the U-Boat that becomes the target of Mitchum's search. He is not a product of the Nazi war-machine, but again, a very likable man just defending his country. This is demonstrated with deft humor when Jurgens very deliberately hangs his jacket over the plaque of Hitler's propaganda.

The script eschews the stereotypical "Nazi monsters", and portrays a German crew with very real - and universal - emotions. They, too, were just men doing their job and what is required. Instead of having us root for the Americans to blow up the evil Germans, you are put in the position of caring equally for both sides. You comprehend that they are men, offering their lives for their command, not in a political way, but in a time-honoured fashion of a man going to war. You understand both sides REALLY do not want to be here, to kill or be killed; they would rather home. No rousing stereotypical propaganda. In the end, they will kill each other if they must, but given the choice, they would rather not. Very different for that period of war films.

A little dated appearance on the boat scenes by today's standards. It's obvious toy models when the boats crash, but easily overlooked and dismissed when balanced with the very impressive lack of finger-pointing and flag-waving for either nationality. Both Mitchum and Jurgens are dead-bang on target in their lead roles, with David Hedison, Theodore Bickel and Doug McClure round out a super cast

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Better Submarine Movies, May 22, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enemy Below [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie was made in the late 1950's and is based on the book by the same name. Here Robert Mitchum plays the new captain of an American destroyer in the South Pacific. On the voyage, the destroyer encounters a German U-boat (captained by Curt Jurgens) which is en route to a rendezvous with other German vessels. The bulk of this film is a classic "Killer Sub vs. Sub Killer" (as mentioned in the trailer before the film).

The strength of this movie is not the cat-and-mouse battle. The power of this film lies in the portrayal of both sides of the battle. War is hell, and everyone merely wants to go home.

This is "Das Boot" many years before it was made. You will even see "Hunt for Red October" scenes here. This film is well worth the viewing. This is Mitchum and Jurgens playing roles made for them. I highly recommend it.