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Excellent chess match with ships in the South Atlantic in 1943 WWII. The players are Lt. Cmdr. Murrell (Robert Mitchum), Captain of the American Buckley Class destroyer escort USS Haynes, and a German U-boat commanded by Kapitan von Stolberg (Curt Gurgens). Throughout their back and forth battle of stealth and wits, both men grow to respect the cunning and skills of the other. Murrell was a former officer in the merchant marine and is new on the Haynes. Most of his crew don't think much of him and he has also been referred to as a "feather merchant". That is before the submarine was detected. As the captain begins to stalk his prey, and the crew sees the precision and cunning with which he anticipates the subs next movements, a whole new appreciation of Murrell's skills begins to emerge. Kapitan von Stolberg is sailing a course to intercept his supply ship, and Murrell recognizes this because he keeps returning to his original course. Stolberg isn't any body's fool either. Both Murrell and Stolberg calculating each others movements fire torpedos blindly at each other narrowly missing. In the end, von Stolberg succeeds in torpedoing the destroyer. However, Murrell has one last trick up his sleeve. Ordering his men to abandon ship, he tells them to first set fires on the deck to make the ship look more damaged than it actually is. This, he hopes will cause the U-boat's captain to surface and sink the destroyer with the U-boat's deck gun instead of using another valuable torpedo. His trick works, and when the submarine surfaces, he orders full speed ahead and rams the submarine practically cutting it in two. Stolberg orders the submarine to be destroyed and sets the detonators. As Murrell is about to leave his ship he can see Stolberg on the conning tower of the submarine with his wounded executive officer. He salutes Von Stolberg, who returns his salute. Murrell then threw him a safety rope. When Stolberg refuses to leave his wounded behind, members of both crews scramble to rescue the wounded. Soon all are rescued by another American destroyer. The German executive officer, "Heini" Schwaffer, dies soon after rescue, and the surviving Germans bury his body at sea as members of both crews watch respectfully.Read full review
This is my favorite WWII movie and I have been looking for a dvd for a long time. It depicts the humanity of both sides of the war while showing the ugly side. Too many movies focus on the ugly side and neglect the human aspects of the people involved on both sides of the conflict. I wish human beings had progressed along with technology but that doesn't seem to be the case. We are still waging war and destruction.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
PLOT: AMERICAN DESTROYER is hot on the trail of a German Sub and the clever stalking by the destroyer is excellent~ IN this one we actually enjoy seeing the German side too~VERY ENTERTAINING~ Robert Mitchum is very good as a new captain to this VERY bored crew~ he spent a month in the hospital recovering from the sinking from his last ship~ the crew suspects he is a "feather merchant" (not very good captain) suddenly the blip on the radar screen has the crew ON edge (US too) as they find a sub they start to track~ suddenly we see the sub crew~ and we like them~ the Captain being Curt Jurgens NOT a die hard Nazi but a German Captain who was drug into the service but is disgusted with HIS die hard nazi crew~ suddenly this clever blend of BOTH sides. The Fun begins when the destroyer uses some clever ploys to get the sub to shoot with their BOW tubes. the CREW see how good Mitchum really IS~but the sub crew HAS some clever moves of their own~ the FUN part as soon as the Americans make a clever move the Germans make one equally clever! the stand off battle is EXCELLENT AND WELL WRITTEN. the end is very UPbeat and not expected~ DIRECTED BY DICK POWELL AND THIS MOVIE WON A SPECIAL EFFECTS OSCAR FOR 1957. more than a typical sink the sub movie~ I loved the ending~ I GIVE THIS 10 OUT OF 10~ IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~Read full review
A really great navy sea battle set during WWII. Two really good actors pitted against each other in really tense situations in the south Atlantic--A German U-boat and an American destroyer escort or frigate. The two while on opposite sides respect the fact that the other is very good at his job, in fact they are equals.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The enemy below DVD was well packaged sealed and what is expected from a local store bought DVD. The DVD was professionally transfered and not just copied to burned DVD+R media. The label was painted professionally. The transfer was above average not perfect with an old film as this one was. But its ok and worth the price. I would recommend it for all war sub loving movie buffs. One of the best movies showing a true cat and mouse nature of WWII sub warfare also showing the germans in a good light and not blood thristy idiots which most movies depict. You could honestly say you dont know which side the director and writer wanted to win, and thats why this movie is a classic it just tells the story with no political crap or message about how evil war is.
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