Crash Dive (1943)

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Movie
Original title Crash dive
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1943
length 105 minutes
Rod
Director Archie Mayo
script Original Jo Swerling Story
:
William Riley Burnett
production Milton Sperling for
20th Century Fox Film Corp.
music David Buttolph
Emil Newman (Music Director)
camera Leon Shamroy
cut Walter Thompson
Ray Curtiss
occupation

Crash Dive is an American feature film directed by Archie Mayo . The main roles in this love triangle are cast with Tyrone Power , Anne Baxter and Dana Andrews .

action

Lt. Ward Stewart enjoys serving on his patrol torpedo boat because he loves its agility and speed. When his uncle, Admiral Bob Stewart, asks him to join the Submarine Division of the Navy , he is not very pleased but then realizes that it is his duty to serve where he is most needed. Before he goes on board the "Corsair" as chief officer, whose captain is Dewey Connors, he asks for a weekend vacation. While he's on the train to Washington, he meets the teacher Jean Hewlitt. He immediately feels attracted to the young woman, who is slightly irritated by his brisk demeanor. Still, he can persuade her to go to a party with him. However, she does not accept an invitation to dinner the following evening. Undeterred, Stewart is pleased that Jean teaches at Bromley Girls' School in New London , Connecticut , which is also where the Naval Submarine Base is located. What he doesn't know is that Jean is the girlfriend of his future boss Dewey Connors. As soon as he gets his promotion, Connors wants to ask Jean to become his wife.

During one of their trips, Connors deceives the Germans, who assume that they have sunk the "Corsair". His strategy pays off and he gets the promotion he has longed for. Meanwhile, Stewart introduces Jean to his feisty grandmother and his recruiting has consequences. The young woman falls in love with him. But when Stewart learns how Connors feels about Jean, he doesn't want them to see each other anymore. However, Jean assures him that he is the one she loves. Connors unintentionally overhears the conversation.

Before the situation can be resolved, the men are sent on a mission and are supposed to locate a secret German naval base. Stewart tries to speak to Connors, but he lets him go cold. When it is discovered that the “Corsair” is suffering from a dangerous lack of fuel, the result is that the ship and its crew find themselves in a life-threatening situation. When the ship's periscope is also damaged, Connors feels compelled to stay on deck. He was wounded while driving through the mines and during the bombing. It is Stewart who brings him down just before the "Corsair" dives. The men make their peace with each other and Stewart and Jean get married on his return to New London.

Production and Background

Filming began in July 1942 and lasted until mid-November 1942. Additional scenes were shot on December 18, 1942. Executive producers were Darryl F. Zanuck and William Goetz . Fred Sersen and Roger Heman senior were responsible for the photographic special effects . The film had its world premiere on April 28, 1943 in New York . On May 14, 1943 it was then generally shown in cinemas.

Working titles for the film were SS 11 and Submarine School . After choosing the title Crash Dive , 20th Century Fox considered renaming it again for fear that the title might be associated with a story about an airplane. After the opening credits in the film it says: "The cooperation and support of the officers and soldiers of the US Navy submarine base, New London, Connecticut, is gratefully recognized." On September 12, 1942, the Pittsburgh Courier read, that the character played by Ben Carter Oliver Cromwell Jones has similarities with the seaman Dorie Miller, an African-American messman, who had received the Navy Cross for his exploits aboard the "USS Arizona" during the attack on Pearl Harbor .

According to the industry magazine Hollywood Reporter , John Payne and Randolph Scott were originally slated for roles in the film. Originally intended as producer, William Perlberg was replaced by Milton Sperling, who left the studio on September 10, 1942 to join the Marine Corps. Lee Marcus then acted as producer. For Tyrone Power, it was his last film before he also joined the Marine Corps. He made his next film again in 1946. The US Naval Submarine Base in New London provided background material for the film and also helped with the equipment and access to the submarines and soldiers.

criticism

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times asked the provocative question whether Hollywood knew that it was at war. The film contained a sequence or two of interest, otherwise the scriptwriters let their unbridled fantasies with special effects in a story about two officers and their lengthy portrayal of love for the same girl.

Variety praised the overwhelming suspense of the film as the ship maneuvers through narrow canals to escape an abundance of mines. The excellent Technicolor quality is also praised.

Dennis Schwartz thought the film was known more for its Oscar-winning special effects than for its romantic war story. He spoke of a propaganda film (which should, however, be taken into account that it was shot during the war) that lacks a sense of reality, although it was well made.

Awards

Fred Sersen and Roger Heman senior were awarded an Oscar in the "Best Visual Effects" category at the 1944 Academy Awards.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Crash Dive (1943) - Notes. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Bosley Crowther : Crash Dive (1943) a Romance and Thriller About Submarine Men, With Tyrone Power and Dana Andrews In: The New York Times, April 29, 1943. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  3. ^ 'Crash Dive' is 20th-Fox's salute to the submarine crews of the US Navy. It packs terrific wallop In: Variety, December 31, 1942. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ Dennis Schwartz: Crash Dive. In: Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews. March 9, 2004, accessed May 15, 2020 .