This was one of a series of military flicks offered by TCM in the wake of Memorial Day and the D-Day anniversary and I put it on while I did my work-out. It proved to be a very watchable, if not historically accurate WWII yarn about the crew of submarine assigned to keep track of the Japanese fleet to see what their next move is. It turns out it's toward Port Moresby to threaten Australia, (although I think the petroleum sources in Indonesia were probably or greater interest). Unfortunately they get captured and are made POWs at a rather mild prison camp until their captain, played by Cliff Robertson, in a role that might have been what JFK saw when he recommended Cliff to play him in 'PT 109', four years later, leads an improbable break-out.
This is at least as good a film as that one and can also be favorably compared to 1962's 'No Man is an Island' in at least one respect: the resulting battle is not one-sided. In NMIAI, the Japanese are just mowed down like it was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. In this film, both sides have substantial casualties until three men and two women get a boat and manage not only to escape but to make contact with US forces so they can describe the Japanese fleet and where they are going so they can get defeated at the titular battle in the last five minutes, (authentic WWII footage and stock footage from previous films representing the battle). I have a feeling the allied navies had other sources of information to prepare them for this battle besides escaping POWS.
Still, it was a reasonably entertaining 86 minutes with good performances and action. One aspect that interested me is the character of the intelligence officer in charge of the prisoners, (Teru Shimada), who is presented in a sympathetic light, something that would not have happened if this film had been made 15 years before. But it was 1959 and the Japanese were our friends and allies now. Things can sure change quickly in this world.
A double sad note: there are two female characters in this, an Australian POW and the daughter of a plantation owner whose island was taken over by the Japanese and who has remained neutral - until she falls for Robertson's character. They both escape with the three remaining POWS. Both actresses, Patricia Cutts and Gia Scala, died from barbiturate poisoning some years later. Cutt's death was ruled a suicide. Scala's an accident - but there had been previous suicide attempts. Beauty and talent isn't enough. You need happiness, too.
This is at least as good a film as that one and can also be favorably compared to 1962's 'No Man is an Island' in at least one respect: the resulting battle is not one-sided. In NMIAI, the Japanese are just mowed down like it was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. In this film, both sides have substantial casualties until three men and two women get a boat and manage not only to escape but to make contact with US forces so they can describe the Japanese fleet and where they are going so they can get defeated at the titular battle in the last five minutes, (authentic WWII footage and stock footage from previous films representing the battle). I have a feeling the allied navies had other sources of information to prepare them for this battle besides escaping POWS.
Still, it was a reasonably entertaining 86 minutes with good performances and action. One aspect that interested me is the character of the intelligence officer in charge of the prisoners, (Teru Shimada), who is presented in a sympathetic light, something that would not have happened if this film had been made 15 years before. But it was 1959 and the Japanese were our friends and allies now. Things can sure change quickly in this world.
A double sad note: there are two female characters in this, an Australian POW and the daughter of a plantation owner whose island was taken over by the Japanese and who has remained neutral - until she falls for Robertson's character. They both escape with the three remaining POWS. Both actresses, Patricia Cutts and Gia Scala, died from barbiturate poisoning some years later. Cutt's death was ruled a suicide. Scala's an accident - but there had been previous suicide attempts. Beauty and talent isn't enough. You need happiness, too.