Submarine (1928)

Overrated

Blistering performances.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

My copy of this film has a soundtrack which, apart from the last reel, is not original and not of particularly good quality; in the last few minutes the original music appears and the almost inevitable theme song "Pals, just pals" I found this, in some ways, a daring film, even for the pre-code era. The casual sexual behaviour of the lead characters and the off-hand way in which they accept their fate is, I think, surprising, especially in today's era with our awareness of the dangers of STDs and AIDS. Apart from that, this is a sturdy melodrama which presages "Dirigible", which features the same two male leads and has a similar storyline of male friendship,betrayal and rescue. Strange how some films of this period stray close to an almost homo-erotic portrayal of male friendship -see also "Wings","Robin Hood"-with much bodily contact and lingering looks and the odd chaste kiss-"Wings", Noahs's Ark" The story is strong, especially the scenes inside the submarine, though I wonder how effective the captain's proposed final solution would have been! and had they never heard of conserving their oxygen supply back then? In all, a film worth re-visiting.

Thoroughly enjoyable, slightly quirky late silent with good, solid performances from the leads and lots of old ships, deep sea diving suits, submarines and aeroplanes to look at (thanks to the full cooperation of the US Navy during production). I saw it on the big screen with live piano accompaniment, which added a lot to the experience, but I guess that'd depend on the skill of the musician. The two main themes: friendship, in the form of two nautical best friends constantly engaged in playful rough-housing - until a woman comes between them; and the submarine disaster that the film builds towards. The former is a comical, jocular affair that raised frequent laughter from the audience at the screening I attended, and the later is masterfully handled, drawn out, and full of tension (you may find yourself holding your breath). The film is a bit unbalanced structurally, with the sub stuff arriving rather late and the woman issue left somewhat unresolved at the end, but these things didn't impair my enjoyment. That's all you really need to know to assess the film for suitability - highly recommended if you like this sort of thing. PS watch out for spoilers in the review by 'thomsons'.

This early movie from the acclaimed director Frank Capra tells the story of two navy friends who fall in love with the same girl. The break up of their friendship over this girl is only saved by a sinking submarine. When the diver of the two saves the other from dying on the submarine they finish their argument and ditch the girl. The story is told with a lot of pace so for a silent film it's really dynamic. Capra also uses the medium in an innovative way, this is clearly visible when he shows us the wish of the girl to be back in the dancing where she used to hangout a lot. Capra shows this by letting a close up of the girls face fade in to a shot of the nightclub. This is an example of a detail which shows that Capra tried to explore new ways of using the film. I suspect that the navy financed this picture because there is a lot of navy display. The original score for this movie, i think, was written by Irving Berlin so if you have the change to catch this movie, dive into it!

I saw this film as part of Seattle's Paramount Theatre Silent Movie series (augmented by live Wurlitzer organ). Aspects of it (which you'll note if you can find it - I won't ruin it for you) were especially poignant in the light of the (at the time I saw it) Russian Kursk submarine tragedy. It lets you know exactly what the men of the Kursk were going through - no lie. Also notable were aspects of male/female relationships which have (publicly) changed greatly since this film was made (and come around again). If you can rent it, catch it on the telly, or see it in a theatre (best) - DO. Historically perspective drama at its finest.