Seas Beneath
Directed by John Ford
Written by Dudley Nichols from a story by James Parker Jr.
1931/US
Fox Film Corporation
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime rental
Everyone’s got to make one submarine drama in their life. — Kevin Macdonald
John Ford had to make several submarine dramas. This is a pretty good one.
The story takes place toward the end of WWI. Cmdr. Robert Kingsley (George O’Brien) captains a “mystery ship” – a battleship disguised as a schooner in order to lure German U-boats into range of the US submarine traveling alongside and the ship’s hidden big guns. The Germans are known to lurk in the seas around the Canary Islands so the commander heads there.
Unfortunately, he grants his crew liberty in town under strict orders not to drink hard liquor or fraternize with women. These rules are very soon broken by the entire crew including Cmdr. Bob, who begins a flirtation with pretty Anna Marie (Marion Lessing). Anna Marie is the sister of the captain of the U-boat unbeknownst to him. One of the other officers succumbs to the charms of a Spanish Mata Hari. Will the ship’s mission be thwarted? With John Loden as a German officer.
This film has plenty of manly banter and a fair amount of singing, trademarks of Ford. It also reflects his love for the navy and sailors which would be expressed throughout his career.
