kfo9494 William Holden did a nice job in this patriotic movie but for the most part this film seemed be the same plot from so many war-time movies. A commander had to make some hard decisions by letting people die in order to save the ship. Of course, at least a few of the people disagree with the decision- and there we have the rub of the story. The only difference in this tale than others. is the fact that most of the mental conflict about the decision comes at the close of the war instead of playing out during the war. So this seemed like a reused plot with names being changed for the audience approval.Do not get me wrong, the movie has some gifted actors that gave nice performances. Along with Holden, William Bendix and Nancy Olson did a nice job keeping the story interesting and the viewer involved in the story. Even when the writing (at the end) was rushed and forgiveness came like a flash, the actors made the transition flawlessly. Perhaps a bit more time should have been planned for the ending instead of feeling rushed to an conclusion. But since this was not to be, we are left with a film that is at least entertaining and we can enjoy the talent of the actors. Nice watch.

Robert W. Anderson I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer who credits this as Mr. Bendix's best roll. He was good in most of the rolls he took on with the possible exception of The Babe Ruth story. I have three best William Bendix films: Life Boat, Wake Island, and Kill the Umpire. In this film he's play the chief torpedo-man on the Tiger Shark a boat and crew haunted by the loss of their captain on the last day of the war. Bendix's character blames the man who took command during the emergency that resulted in the loss of the captain. After the war William Holden's character has to come to grips with the memory of that day and the loss of his friend. The piece time navy and his conscience put to much pressure on his marriage and he finds himself redeployed aboard the Tiger Shark with many of the old crew for a new war in Korea. The sub is used to assist in the rescue of some commando's stranded ashore in Korea. During this mission the captain finds he has to use tactics he wouldn't have used before.

moonspinner55 Another military drama via submarine, this time giving William Holden his turn underwater. He plays a Naval Commander aboard the Tiger Shark in the final days of WWII; as second-in-command to the captain, he makes a decision in the midst of battle which costs the captain his life. Haunted by this alleged failure (which the captain's own widow tells him was not his fault), Holden hopes to redeem himself during the Korean War. One-part military drama, another part soul-searching soaper. Holden gets surly as his self-confidence plummets, lashing out at his new bride (Nancy Olson, who gave up a $300-a-week advertising job just to play housewife!), while disgruntled Chief Petty Officer William Bendix gives Holden such a rough time--when nobody else does--that his personal motives come under question. The dialogue is so rote that only exceptionally talented actors could get by with it, with Holden doing double-duty, narrating in flashback (a device which fared better for Holden in "Sunset Blvd."). Still, that grave voice-over gives the movie its only dramatic thrust, as what we're seeing on the screen is rather dull and predictable. Film is curiously stifled emotionally, though it has solid cinematography by Lionel Lindon. ** from ****

telegonus Submarine Command is an excellent example of the type of good entertainment that Hollywood used to grind out regularly back in the fifties. The story isn't deep, but the writing (Jonathan Latimer) and direction (John Farrow) are very fine, and the actors, especially William Holden, in the leading role, are all in good form. William Bendix provides a kind of stubborn, moral center in the movie, and one can only hope that Holden can get into his good graces. Most of the technical military-professional side of the film is realistically or at least convincingly (to me) handled. The movie's otherwise ho-hum submarine stuff, with all the usual cliches, but so much life is breathed into the old material that it feels fresh and original, no small accomplishment in this kind of film.