Details

Release year: 1951

Storyline

During WWII, a submarine's second in command inherits the problem of torpedoes that don't explode. When on shore, he is eager to win back his ex-wife.

Top credits

Directors

George Waggner

Writers

George Waggner

Cast

John Wayne — Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford
Patricia Neal — Lt. (j.g.) Mary Stuart
Ward Bond — Cmdr. John T. 'Pop' Perry
Scott Forbes — Lt. Larry

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Did you know

• The movie was filmed on a low budget. As a result most of the shots of the submarines, ships and the scenes were either taken from other films or stock footage from World War II.

• John Wayne was dissatisfied with the finished film, believing it to be overlong and containing too much romance. He was also opposed from the beginning to the casting of Patricia Neal, whom he felt was too young at 24 for the role of his ex-wife. By the time of their next film together ( In Harm's Way (1965) ) he felt that she had matured as an actress and the two got along very well.

• During filming Gary Cooper visited the set to persuade his mistress Patricia Neal to abort their unborn baby. Neal acquiesced to his demands and later expressed overwhelming regret at not giving birth. She became an anti-abortion activist in later years, and converted to Catholicism shortly before her death from lung cancer in 2010. Cooper punched Neal in the face after he saw Kirk Douglas attempt to seduce her, the only time he is known to have hit a woman.