Il sottomarino

A sailors-trapped-in-a-sinking-submarine drama: Will they drown? Will the oxygen run out? Will they suffocate from chlorine gas? Will divers get to them in time? And what about that religious fanatic on board? John Ford skillfully ratchets up the tension, but some shaky special effects, unlikely characterizations and broad acting give an uneven effect, compared to later and slicker entertainments like RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP. However, this production has genuine historical value because it shows the difficulties in changing over from silent to sound,: sometimes it's a silent film with sound effects and [tinny] music. Other scenes have dialogue with one character actually speaking while another answers in silent intertitles. Most oddly, sometimes a character starts speaking, then an intertitle shows noticeably different lines, then the character finishes speaking. Not many movies have such a variety of expression.

The full sound version of this early talking John Ford film remains lost but thankfully this international work-print with inter-titles for dialogue and narration (and some sound) has survived and is preserved by the Museum of Modern Art. Up to now, this film was only available from VHS recordings of AMC's Film Preservation Festival from 1999.

After being called back to their ship during liberty in Shanghai, the sailors of the S-13 are struck by another passing vessel and sink to the bottom of the ocean. While waiting to be rescued and with oxygen levels dwindling, the men of the S-13 fight for their lives and sometimes each other in suspenseful anticipation to see who will make it out alive.

In addition to Ford's direction, the cast of characters makes the movie an enjoyable experience and makes you care for each of their fates. Kenneth McKenna as the Naval officer with a secret, young Frank Albertson as a rookie ensign who is unexpectedly thrust into being a leader for his men, Warren Hymer as a ruffian sailor hiding a heart of gold, young Stu Erwin as the S-13's radioman and Ford stock player J. Farrell McDonald as the old navy veteran. Be on the lookout towards the end of the film for young John Wayne as a radioman up on the surface.

The film has been restored for Fox's MOD DVD release and I've never seen it clearer and more beautiful. Kudos to everyone involved in getting this film restored and released because it's a true unsung gem in John Ford's very long directorial career.

An American submarine crashes in to a cargo ship off the coast of China and the surviving crew members await rescue

Yeah you've seen this type of movie a few times before . This one is slightly different because it's set in peace time , is directed by John Ford and comes from 1930 which was an era when talkies were making a breakthrough

Actually you have to take onboard as to what films were like in those days. THE JAZZZ SINGER was the first talky but films didn't explode in to full length talkies until a couple of years later and films in the last year of the 1920s often used sound and dialogue as an aural impact aesthetic. In this case MEN WITHOUT WOMEN is somewhat typical featuring a few spoken scenes , sound effects and caption cards featuring dialogue

For the story itself a bunch of men trapped in in a slowly flooding submarine is a movie cliché but to be fair it wouldn't have been in 1930. Narrative wise it also contradicts itself by having a song and dance number featuring a female of the species . As it stands this early John Ford remains interesting for a number of reason including having John Wayne in an uncredited cameo without being any type of masterpiece

Apparently, the full sound English language version of this movie no longer exists...but a hybrid version was just posted on The Criterion Channel..and this is the one I just saw. When I say hybrid, this is a film where music, some singing and sound effects were added...but the rest is essentially a silent film. This was the case with the supposed first full-length sound movie, "The Jazz Singer"...though it only had bits and pieces of sound within anotherwise silent film. It is odd to see a hybrid from 1930, as hybrid films mostly came out in 1927-29. By 1930 nearly all American productions had full sound. Perhaps Fox Studio held this one from release...and that would explain why Ford's first all-sound film actually came out a year before "Men Without Women".

There is a plot about a guy assuming a new identity following an accident in the navy. Well, this really isn't very important to the film. What is important is that the submarine he is on ends up colliding with another ship and sinking...and NOT in a normal or good way! What follows is a tense, harrowing and claustophobia-inducing portion of the film....exceptionally realistic and well made. In fact, I think this hybrid film is MUCH better than his earlier all sound movie, "The Black Watch". The best parts of the film are the direction and sets...they really are top notch.

By the way, if you do watch, keep a sharp eye out for John Wayne in a tiny role as a radio operator on the surface. Blink and you just might miss it!

John Ford was taking some hesitant steps in his feature films from 1928 to 1931 with the advent of the talking motion picture. In Men Without Women there are bits of dialog, a lot of sound effects, some singing, but it is still mostly a silent picture. It's also a pretty good one, despite the suggestive title. Men Without Women refers to the crew on a US submarine between the World Wars and in this case the sub is on duty in the China Seas.

An accident at sea sends the submarine to the bottom with the only survivors the slightly more than a dozen men who are in the forward area of the ship. Command is now in the hands of the only surviving officer, Ensign Frank Albertson who just reported for duty in Shanghai on his first assignment. He's green and not really experienced for the job.

The one who holds the crew together is Kenneth McKenna the chief torpedoman who has a past. During the first World War McKenna was a British submarine commander who in some pillow talk with his enemy agent girl friend divulged he was taking a British Field Marshal on a secret mission. The submarine sank, but he survived and he never reported back. In fact the commander of the rescue ship which is British thought he recognized McKenna. All that could be rescued are rescued, but some don't make it, a lot like the Poseidon Adventure.

This has to be the most claustrophobic film John Ford ever did. Most of the last 60% of the movie is in that submarine forward room and Ford does a great job with his ensemble cast. I find it ironic though because Ford is identified with photographing those wide open spaces in Monument Valley for his westerns. This shows he could handle a closed in environment. Those submarines back then didn't even have the capacity to submerge as long World War II vessels did let alone modern subs.

There are some fine scenes of the sea rescue and you can even catch a glimpse of John Wayne as the radio operator on the rescue vessel. The Duke had one fine head of hair in those salad days, but he's unmistakable.

All in all one of the best early sound films from John Ford.