Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Spikeopath Tricky. It's a decent film, lovely to look at with its scope photography and technicolor palettes, James Garner and Edmond O'Brien are holding court in the acting stakes, and of course this being a submarine war film it has the requisite claustrophobic feel. Yet it never really gels as a whole, submerging too far into the mundane to play out a whole bunch of sequences that test the patience of the viewer. There's also the not too small problem of being able to suspend disbelief with the final mission.Now this is Hollywood and a Warner Brothers film, in 1959, so we don't naturally expect realism in our story telling, in fact we often want incredulity to stir the blood, but this kinda takes the rise too far. Alan Hale Junior is on hand for comic relief, and this proves good foil for Garner's lovable charm, but Gordon Douglas directs at such a snails pace you get the feeling that the comedy is just a merciful release for all involved. In short there's both the good and bad of 1950s war film making on show here; production value is high - narrative thrust is tepid. 6/10

John T. Ryan BY THE YEAR of Anno Domini 1959, Television had take the upper hand in the struggle for supremacy of filmed stories. IOt was during this era that the small screen in our living rooms managed to dim the lights on so many, many of the old neighborhood movie houses that once populated our cities. It was by this time that the big Studios capitulated to the Networks; albeit in one, particular area.FOLLOWING YEARS of actively opposing any venturing into active participation in TV production; even to the point of forbidding their stars to do guest shots on television.* EVEN THESE Studio Moguls were compelled to rethink this position; opting that, "if we can't lick 'em, we might as well join 'em!" Before long, the Studios were in TV; enthusiastically supporting what they formerly held out against.STARTING OUT IN a manner that would seem to have been borrowed from Walt Disney's DISNEYLAND Show; MGM, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Brothers all had weekly hour long anthology series. In them, there would be some look at the history of movies, showcasing some of their old successes. They might interview a current Star and plug his/her current release. (Can you say, "Infomercial?" SO WAS THERE and then a sort of "cross pollination" between Actors on the Big and Small screens. Movie Stars did Guest Shots on TV and those starring in popular series would.............YES, THEY WOULD be featured in theatrical films. Our honoree of today, is just such an example.WITH THE PRODUCTION of UP PERISCOPE, the wheel had, indeed, the wheel had spun a full. The film starred James Garner (star of WB's hit series, MAVERICK) and also prominently featured Ed Byrnnes (popular as supporting character,"Kookie", on the same Studio's hot detective show, 77 SUNSERT STRIP.IN WHAT HAD echoes of Warner's DESTINATION TOKYO, the production team had assembled a great cast. Edmund O'Brien, Andra Martin, Alan Hale, Jr., footballer Frank Gifford and gruff, perennial Sgt. or Chief Petty Officer, Henry Kulky. Also look for a young Warren Oates as a seaman.THE STORY WAS somewhat similar to the previously mentioned DESTINATION TOKYO: but it had more of a "back home" subplot featuring Mr. Garner and his love life than the other film. There was a sort of modernization in the storyline; which was not made during the War, and hence lacked any element of propaganda.THE ACTION WAS good and it was filmed in Warnercolor; an advantage that the old, wartime productions lacked.WE DO RECOMMEND it, if you haven't viewed it, you may be pleasantly surprised. It's just too bad that they didn't make more movies like this in the 1950's. Maybe then there would be more Neighborhood Movie Houses still open today!NOTE:* This boycotting of television was a direct reversal of the Studios' policies about old time Radio; where they used it to their advantage at every possible instance. (Perhaps the Movies and Television were too similar, no?)

Paularoc The best part of watching this movie was later reading the reviews as the actual experience of watching it was pretty boring. As did others, I watched the movie because of the cast – O'Brien's "DOA" is on my list of favorite 100 movies, and I grew up watching Maverick, a show that is still fun to watch. The movie was disappointing; the early film romance (and the later revealed reason for it) was ridiculous and added nothing to the movie, Garner's mission to get the Japanese's radio code was not believable and the tension between Garner and the "by-the- book" captain O'Brien played was uninteresting. The humor provided by Alan Hale Jr. was welcome but not memorable. The set, however, was good as it did indeed give a sense of the claustrophobic atmosphere of a submarine. This movie was an okay way to spend an hour and a half plus on, but not good enough to actually seek out.

sailjz My name is Jim Zeller and I am trying to locate some information about my cousin who was stationed in New London where this movie was at least partially filmed. At that time he was the senior enlisted Chief on this submarine and was responsible under the Captain for all the ships activities. The producers, or whomever, decided that they would use " Ed Zeller " , Navy Chief in the film because he had a lot of tattoos and his persona really showed that of a real military person. "They" decided to use him in the film as a "torpedo loader" and an "extra" for this film since he identified with the picture that they were presenting. I would like to know where I can find this movie or any comments from people that may have known him. His name " Ed Zeller " , now deceased. Thank you Jim Zeller