Além do Inferno

As I type these comments I'm watching a DVD of this movie that I just got from a mail-order dealer, and I'm finding that it holds up extremely well, with strong characterizations, believable situations, and well-staged action scenes.

It's been a good 45 years, maybe 50, since I saw HELL BELOW, but the one scene that made an extremely deep impression on me was Sterling Holloway's death scene, which several other commenters have mentioned here. I haven't gotten to that scene yet on this viewing, but I can vouch for what other comments have said: once you see Sterling Holloway's death scene in this movie, you will absolutely never, ever forget it. Judging from how strong the film so far is holding up, I fully expect that scene to live up to the memory of it -- as unquestionably one of the greatest death scenes in movie history. The movie's worth seeing for that moment alone, but even without it, it would be a first-rate early submarine drama.

Everyone jumps to the conclusion that since this is a World War I picture the enemy the Americans are fighting must be the Germans. However, since the setting of this movie is the Adriatic, the enemy is actually the Austrians (or to be more exact, the Austro-Hungarians). You can just make out the Austrian Naval Flag on the sterns of the enemy ships in several scenes. The climactic battle is an attack on Durazzo (Durres in Albania) which was a major Austro-Hungarian naval base in WWI and the site of two battles in that war, the second battle in 1918 being a major allied victory which undoubtedly served as the historical basis for the battle shown in this movie. Some may be thrown by the "Iron Cross" type markings on the attacking enemy airplanes, but these were in fact the markings used on WWI Austrian aircraft. I only gave this movie a 5 because frankly I found the part about the romance between Montgomery and Evans poorly written and overly melodramatic. But I was impressed by Walter Huston's performance, which gave dimension to a character who could have been played as only a martinet. The real standout of this film were the battle scenes. As some have noted, actual WW I footage was woven into some scene, though others were obviously done using models. The battle scenes were uniformly quite grim and therefore realistic, equal or better to similar scenes in WW II films. Others have mentioned the memorable scene with Sterling Holloway (I was afraid it would give me nightmares) but I also was struck by the cries for help from sailors diving into the sea in a panic from torpedoed and sinking ships. In this movie, the combatants were neither extraordinary heroes nor snide villains, but just ordinary men doing their jobs in a nasty, nasty business.

I say it's an action film rather than a war film because it has a little bit of everything - battle scenes, love scenes, and even some comedy thrown in here and there. It also does something unusual for an MGM film of the era - it doesn't get hammy and it doesn't come up with a contrived happy ending for all involved.

Lt. Thomas Knowlton (Robert Montgomery) and Lt. Brick Walters (Robert Young) are the best of friends and also officers aboard a submarine during WWI. At the beginning of the film they get a new commanding officer - Lt. Cmdr. T.J. Toler (Walter Huston). Toler is a strictly by the book commander and seems to rub Knowlton and Walters the wrong way just a bit, though more from his very formal nature than by any unfairness in his command. Knowlton falls in love with Toler's daughter Joan (Madge Evans). The complicating factor here is that Joan is married - she tells him so upfront. This doesn't seem to bother Knowton too much until he finds out exactly why Joan let her foot slip.

Conflict between Toler and Knowlton builds not only because of Knowlton's romance with Toler's married daughter, but because Knowlton is unfortunately an officer who thinks sentiment has a place on board a submarine in wartime.

Comic relief is provided by long-time MGM contract comedian Jimmy Durante and Eugene Palette as two enlisted men on board the submarine. Sterling Holloway plays what at first seems like comic relief to the comic relief but ends up the centerpiece of a very nightmarish and unforgettable scene that reminds everyone that war truly is hell.

Highly recommended as a good action film and one that plays to the strengths of the entire cast.

The classic story of falling in love with the boss's daughter gets a fresh take with Hell Below. Robert Montgomery, Eugene Pallette, Jimmy Durante, Robert Young, and Sterling Holloway are all sailors under the command of the stern Walter Huston. The first Robert falls in love with Walter's daughter, Madge Evans, but that's not enough of an obstacle; she's also married.

Spliced in between romantic scenes are some pretty intense battle scenes. If you liked Devil and the Deep, this movie will be right up your alley. Both are submarine dramas with a stern captain and a forbidden love. You can tell this movie is pre-Code, because while on leave, Eugene is trying to pick up a girl, who's started to cozy up to Jimmy. He says a suggestive remark about Jimmy's nose that could only be allowed passed the censors when there weren't any censors.

What I like about these movies is that in general, it's really easy to see the "bad guy's" side and even take it. When Walter tries to intervene and save his daughter from hurting her husband, Robert tries to insult him by saying, "I can't see you apologizing for anything, sir." Walter holds up a glass and makes the perfect comeback and toast: "I don't plan on doing things I'll be sorry for. Here's to discipline. There's nothing like it, and nothing without it." Isn't he great?

Hell Below gives a warning with the title. This is gritty, violent, dramatic, and raw. It's not for the faint of heart, but those who do rent it are in for a great forgotten treat.

It Seems that MGM was Determined to give Audiences Their Moneys Worth when They Bought a Depression Era Ticket to this WWI War Movie. If You Look for the Kitchen Sink in this don't be Surprised if You find it.

The Most Impressive Elements of this Mostly Exciting Entertainment are the Battle Sequences that Play Realistic and Pack Quite a Wallop. There are Air Raids that Almost Destroy a City, Submarine Peril, Machine Gun Battles with Bi-Planes, Destroyers being Destroyed, Death, Poison Gas, and some Undersea Suspense that has become the Staple of Every Submarine Movie to Follow.

The Comedy Bits, mostly with Jimmy Durante, are OK but Overdone. But it is the Romantic Subplot that Keeps this from becoming Great Cinema. The Lovers Speeches are Badly Written and Delivered by the Actors even Worse. The Triangle is so Melodramatically put in Place for who knows what Reason, is a Show Stopper and not in a Good Way.

The Cast of Walter Huston, Robert Montgomery, and Robert Young, Among Others, do Their Best Work away from the Awful Acting of the Female (Madge Evans) Central to the Overwritten Plot. The Movie is just too Full of too Many Things to be a Coherent Whole. But the Best Parts are Outstanding and Manage to Compensate for all of the Extra Ingredients.

Note...Some prints (like the one on TCM) are Re-Release versions and have some dialog clipping to satisfy Hays Code requirements that is abrupt and intrusive at times.