Submarino D-1

Given the fact that every sub in this movie ends up at the bottom of the ocean floor during sea trials I would venture to guess that Admiral Karl Dönitz saw this and figured, "Acht Di leiber! Our U-Boats vill annnnnhiliate zose Americahns!" This would lull anyone into thinking our sub fleet was sub par. But technically, this isn't a bad movie... it's just it's so predictable. George Brent's acting is as bland as the Navy's powdered eggs and lovable lug Wayne Morris is a near-idiot that somehow makes Chief (the Navy sure must've been different than when I was in it--- no board and no initiation!). Frank McHugh does a swell job of playing Lucky, a symbiotic twin of the character Droopy he played 3 years earlier in HERE COMES THE NAVY. Nice stock shots of the Panama Canal and much better than the usual Warner Bros. middling level special effects. All in all, I hope that this was planned as a cunning piece of disinformation rather than a testimonial to the skills of the U.S. Navy in the mid-1930's. I wonder if Swede Monson ever saw this?

Good film. Black and white movie regulars george brent, frank mchugh, pat o'brien. Here, in this pre world war two film, they are all navy men on a sub, trying to get from the east coast to san diego. Along the way, they have all kinds of adventures. A training session on the bends, and how to avoid them. Some interesting footage of what might be the panama canal. War games with other ships. The female lead, doris weston, only made nine films, and died young at forty two. Keep an eye out for dennie moore as arabella... she was "olga" in a hilarious role in "the women" from 1939. This could be used as a training film, although i'm sure a lot of the equipment and info are outdated. The side plots are a bit hokey, but it probably would have been boring without them. Co-star wayne morris really was a war hero, but also died young at age forty five. Directed by lloyd bacon. He also made forty second street and wonder bar.

This is a tough movie to rate, mostly because it's from a period when Warner Brothers was struggling to produce new, distinctive movies that didn't star Errol Flynn. This flick about the men aboard a submarine as it travels from a surprisingly mountainous Long Island to Long Beach, then to the bottom of the ocean contains all the standard tropes of the military movie of the era and submarines in particular. Pals at work, fighting about dames? Check. Young hothead who straightens up and becomes a part of the outfit? Check. Calm, all-wise commander who shows up at odd moments to issue fiats and, and whose unflustered command during the crisis keeps things from falling apart? Check. Submarine trapped at the bottom of the ocean while everyone rallies around to save the crew? Check.

It's all performed well by the typical large, competent Warner Brothers cast under the direction of workhorse director Lloyd Bacon. As a result it's an eminently watchable example of the genre. Where it is of most interest is in the technology of rescue, the telephone that floats to the surface with its provenance written in large letters; the suited diver who heads down to attach a cable to the trapped boat. It's interesting to see the evolution of these, and associated techniques from Capra's SUBMARINE (1928) to this one.

The genre would evolve rapidly in the war years, with the emphasis on battle tactics and suspense. For the moment, this was the model in use.

"Submarine D-1" is a typical but terrific Warner Brothers, pre-WW2 movie on the glory of the U.S. Navy and in particular the submarine service. It has a great cast lead by Pat O'Brien, George Brent, Wayne Morris, and Frank McHugh but does not have Broderick Crawford among its players.

"Submarine D-1" contains great performances by Pat O'Brien as the Chief Petty Officer, Wayne Morris as the cocky sailor who finally matures into a first-rate CPO, and George Brent as the dedicated and somewhat fatherly submarine captain. Frank McHugh is also on hand as Warner Brothers' guaranteed laugh-getter for sure-fire comic relief. Henry O'Neil is well-cast as the wise-old admiral.

"Submarine D-1" is loaded with action, thrills, and comedy but contrary to many film sources Broderick Crawford is not in the film. I watched the entire film from beginning to end and can absolutely verify that he does not appear in this otherwise great old movie.

What a delightful surprise this movie was. It had all of the stereotypes of the Navy and sailors, although most of them are true. This movie had lots of submarines, ships, port calls, bar fights, women, military friendships, practical jokes, friendly rivalries, military training, deaths, and daring rescues.

My favorite part of this movie was the fun and powerful actors. Sock McGillis (Wayne Morris) stole the show for me as he progresses from an immature senior Petty Office First Class to becoming a professional and dedicated sailor that gets promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Throughout the movie Sock McGillis and Chief Petty Officer Butch Rogers (Pat O'Brien) are competing for the love of the wonderful Ann Sawyer (Doris Weston). The competition for the girl is dedicated, heartfelt and usually comical. Sock's best friend is Lucky (Frank McHugh) who is an unpolished junior sailor who progresses to a valuable sailor while providing laughs along the way. This movie is so much fun even before I mention on of my favorite actors George Brent, who plays the always calm Lt. Commander Matthews.

While this movie was made 80 years ago it is amazing how so much of the challenges and routines illustrated in this movie are still relevant to today's Navy. I am sure that one of the reasons that I enjoyed this more than the average IMDb viewer is because I spent over 20 years in the Navy. I really believe this is a must see for Old Salts such as myself.

Victor J. --- USN RETIRED 2009