Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest movies ever made... IMHO ;-), June 1, 1998
By A Customer
A suspensful, action packed drama, this film is one of my all time favorites. Performances by both Lancaster and Gable are right on the mark, they (especially Gable) had me believing they were actual naval officers. The scene where Lancaster relieves Gable of command is powerful, here we see two great actors at the peak of their skills. Gable's contempt towards Lancaster for the act is truly inspired (He virtually spits out his disgust here: "A fleet ship of the US Navy, with her fighting power intact, and your first command is to order a retreat", every time I watch this scene it gets better and better!). Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman recreate this scene in "Crimson Tide", but it doesn't match the intensity created by Lancaster and Gable in the scene from RSRD. One neat byproduct of this movie is that after watching it, you will have a pretty detailed understanding of what a WWII Balao class sub looks like, how the chain of command works, and what happens on a typical patrol - you will be educated and entertained at the same time, what a bargain! Nice supporting role by Don Rickles. A great, classic movie for sure, you won't be disappointed! END
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
- Don't say we didn't have a Captain! -, April 16, 2004
Commander Richardson (Clark Gable) survived his last assignment as a Captain on a submarine, which was sunk in the Pacific Ocean. A year later Commander Richardson works at a desk, in Pearl Harbor, but this is not what he is meant to do as he wants to be a Submarine Captain again. He sends in a request to return to Area 7, where he once was sunk, as the area has been deemed too cursed since four other subs have been sunk there throughout the last twelve months. Commander Richardson is assigned to a new submarine, however, it was supposed to be Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe's (Burt Lancaster) assignment as he has been on the sub for two years. Despite Lieutenant Bledsoe's dislike of the navy's decision he continues to work hard for Commander Richardson, who is running diving exercises repeatedly without telling anyone why. This causes apprehension among the men on the sub as they are to enter the most feared waters of the Pacific Ocean. Run Silent, Run Deep is an interesting war film that depicts the daily frictions between Captains and the rest of the men onboard subs during the World War II. Wise creates an authentic atmosphere onboard the submarine, despite some underwater shots that obviously were shot in a swimming pool. In the end, Run Silent, Run Deep offers a suspenseful and intriguing cinematic experience.
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30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Run Silent, Run Deep, January 14, 2005
With a straight-ahead, no-nonsense approach by Robert Wise, strong performances by Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, and a satisfying number of battle sequences, RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP is a very good, if not great, war movie.
Lancaster plays the newly appointed captain of the submarine, Gable plays a desk bound officer who'd had his ship shot out from under him a year earlier and wrangles a command on Lancaster's sub.
Any movie starring Lancaster and Gable (which gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the United States Navy) is going to take a potentially explosive chain-of-command conflict less seriously than will its audience. Something has to keep us glued to our seats between the "Dive! Dive!" and "Fire torpedo two" scenes. Where would we be without a grumbling crew - Is the new captain a hero? What's up with all these diving drills? - and a covey of junior officers muttering mutiny?
Without its plot contrivances there'd be a whole lot of placid cooperation where a movie's supposed to be. Besides, Lancaster needs a chance to prove (or disprove) that loyalty and devotion to duty beats a stronger tattoo in a seaman's heart than does the rank call of personal ambition (the assistance of the US Navy in leading us to this insight is gratefully acknowledged.)
Considering this movie's reputation, and the resume of its major contributions, I was a little surprised that the plot was so predictable and the ending so abrupt and seemingly tacked on. The scale-models subs and ships seen in battle scenes are acceptable, quite good for the time, actually, even though they probably won't convince many modern viewers.
Although flawed and dated, RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP remains a very good war movie, and is quite enjoyable.
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