There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on November 16, 2015
The seminal battle between the veteran warriors tired of a pointless war, you will see it's legacy in many "cat and mouse" dramas where the two protagonists are trying to out think (out guess?) each other. There is a homage (french for ripoff?) to the movie in a Star Trek episode involving Kirk and a Romulan commander in a shielded Warbird. An interesting aside is that one of the co-stars was a young David Hedison who found some fame later on TV as another submarine 1st officer in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". The interestingest piece of that is that he apparently went by Al Hedison in his early career. Great movie... enjoy!
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon November 3, 2014
My father introduced me to this movie in the early 80's when I was just an early teenager. This was one of his favorite movies, and it immediately became one of my favorite movies. Just last month I finally bought the book and read it, and it, too, was every bit as good. Having that as the source, it's no wonder they were able to make such a great movie.
Kurt (or Curt, depending on the source) Jurgens was phenomenal as the German submarine commander. He exuded that war weary captain angst perfectly. He looked the part, and every line he delivered was spot on. Robert Mitchum was equally excellent as the American destroyer commander. He had even broken his back during the filming and kept on filming.
The story of hunter and hunted is very well done. They keep switching from one aspect to another, from destroyer to sub, and you get to see the offensive and defensive moves from both, reacting to what the other is doing. Amazingly enough, they really kept to the original book quite a bit.
The cinematography is outstanding, especially considering what year this was made. And because of the year, it has an immediate, visceral feel to it because you know it's not all CGI and green screens. The Navy did a great job working with the filmmakers.
If you're at all a fan of naval warfare, or World War II, this movie should absolutely be in your collection.
Kurt (or Curt, depending on the source) Jurgens was phenomenal as the German submarine commander. He exuded that war weary captain angst perfectly. He looked the part, and every line he delivered was spot on. Robert Mitchum was equally excellent as the American destroyer commander. He had even broken his back during the filming and kept on filming.
The story of hunter and hunted is very well done. They keep switching from one aspect to another, from destroyer to sub, and you get to see the offensive and defensive moves from both, reacting to what the other is doing. Amazingly enough, they really kept to the original book quite a bit.
The cinematography is outstanding, especially considering what year this was made. And because of the year, it has an immediate, visceral feel to it because you know it's not all CGI and green screens. The Navy did a great job working with the filmmakers.
If you're at all a fan of naval warfare, or World War II, this movie should absolutely be in your collection.
on September 9, 2012
This is a fine but ultimately fanciful tale involving a U.S. Navy destroyer and a German U-boat during World War II. Robert Mitchum plays the new and seemingly untested captain of the destroyer, on patrol in the South Atlantic, where it encounters the submarine and proceeds to engage it in a game of cat and mouse, as Mitchum matches wits and daring with the U-boat commander (Curt Jurgens), and the story alternates between the two crews, until they meet in the final battle. If you've seen "Action in the North Atlantic," then you've seen several of the plot devices employed here by the opposing captains. But despite its derivative nature, the movie remains suspenseful and entertaining, with several unexpected twists. Shot aboard a real destroyer - though in the Pacific, not the Atlantic - the movie builds great suspense before it eventually disintegrates into a somewhat implausible climax. But it's entirely diverting until then. [Trivia note: You can watch this story line and several of the plot devices yet again, in one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek TV series: "A Balance of Terror."] Phil's Favorite 500: Loves of a Moviegoing Lifetime (2014 edition)
on May 14, 2015
***SPOILER ALERT***
Set in WWII, “The Enemy Below” is a suspenseful take of of submarine warfare between the Americans and the Germans,
Robert Mitchum plays Murrell, the captain of an American destroyer who, having lost his family in the war, decides to go into in combat.
Noted German actor Curt Jurgens plays Von Stolberg, the U-boat commander, who’s as decent and honorable gentleman as Mitchum’s Murrell
Despite the politics, the two men develop a peculiar mutual respect as they pursue one another throughout the North Atlantic.
Set in WWII, “The Enemy Below” is a suspenseful take of of submarine warfare between the Americans and the Germans,
Robert Mitchum plays Murrell, the captain of an American destroyer who, having lost his family in the war, decides to go into in combat.
Noted German actor Curt Jurgens plays Von Stolberg, the U-boat commander, who’s as decent and honorable gentleman as Mitchum’s Murrell
Despite the politics, the two men develop a peculiar mutual respect as they pursue one another throughout the North Atlantic.
on April 17, 2014
I cannot get enough of WW2 submarine flicks and "The Enemy Below" is one of the best ever! I'm a huge Robert Mitchum fan and he is great in these WW2 movies. Kurt Jergens is awesome as the German sub commander. It is one of the few made with TECHNICOLOR and in "CINEMASCOPE." Friends say...well why not watch The Hunt of Red October or Crimson Tide? I reply...those are NOT WW2 movies but cold war movies. Nothing really happens in those. Plus comparing subs is like comparing new vs old cars! Yes they are better today in terms of performance. But are they in terms of cool? WW2 Subs to me were way cooler because they were more manual control and not all computerized like todays massive monstrosities. Sorry but I'm more entertained watching a Balao class WW2 pink sub in "Operation Petticoat" than a drama like the cold war sub movies. Why? Because the subs in WW2 actually attacked and fired torpedoes. Das Boot is awesome.
on October 15, 2014
I enjoy the way "The Enemy Below" is put together. We are seeing a relatively young Robert Mitchum here and he plays the Captain very well. Curt Jurgens is his equal as the Germany U-Boat Captain. The story is well written, which always makes a big difference to me, and features an excellent supporting cast. Interesting note, the film score was composed by Leigh Harline who also wrote "When You Wish Upon A Star" for the Disney people. Here he produces a rousing military style soundtrack that fits the film very well. I am happy to have it in my DVD collection.
on March 6, 2017
My husband had this on an old VHS tape so I wanted to replace it with a DVD for his birthday. I like this movie too.
on September 26, 2016
It's a steady-handed portrait of a duel that neither can afford to lose, that neither particularly wants, knowing how the odds are stacked. One can better appreciate this film's place in naval battle cinema: it works on the level of incident rather than its level of realism.
on August 27, 2017
Having served on 2 submarines, these submarine movies are interesting and bring back memories.
