Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) Review

Run Silent, Run Deep (1958)

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My Review

“Run Silent, Run Deep” is an exciting World War II action movie starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. The story has Gable as the commander of a U. S. submarine who is obsessed with a Japanese destroyer which has sunk three American subs. The film has shades of Captain Ahab of “Moby Dick” and hints of “Mutiny on the Bounty” as much of the crew is dissatisfied with Gable’s decisions.

This is probably among the best performances of Gable’s long career, which began in 1924 when he was an extra in silent movies. “Run Silent, Run Deep” was the fifth to last picture he appeared in. (Gable’s final film was 1961’s “The Misfits.”) Burt Lancaster was also his usual believable self as Gable’s lieutenant. Co-stars include Jack Warden, Brad Dexter, Eddie Foy III, Nick Cravat, Mary LaRoche, Joe Maross, Rudy Bond, John Gibson, and Don Rickles as Quartermaster First Class Ruby. This was Rickles’ movie debut at the age of 32, a rare dramatic role for him as he was later primarily known as an insult comedian.

Director Robert Wise did an outstanding job at the helm of this movie, which was mostly filmed in the close quarters of a submarine. It is an informative look into submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. The refined screenplay was written by John Gay, adapted from the 1955 novel of the same name by Edward L. Beach Jr., who was himself a retired WWII submarine officer. Filmed in black and white, “Run Silent, Run Deep” was successful in theatrical release for producer Harold Hecht, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, Jeffrey Productions, and United Artists.

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