The Silent Service

In response to the poster who asked what major studio owned the show, I am guessing it would be NBC, as California National Productions was run out of the West Coast division of NBC. That said, many California National shows are starting to fall into public domain use; such as many episodes of the William Bendix version of "Life of Riley", "Adventures of Hiram Holliday", and others. I would suspect, based on that, that the "major studio" who is trying to get their hands on the films would be a DVD distributor who wants to release the show. I say more power to them. "The Silent Service" was a great show, I used to stay up very late during the summertime when I was in grade school in the 60s to watch reruns of the show on a local independent station.

This series (which I found on YouTube) was well-done with its weaving of real WW2 action footage with scenes filmed onboard the loaner submarine they used. It makes you appreciate the valor of those who chose the silent service: cramped, dank, hot quarters; enduring unrelenting depth charge attacks; going without decent air and electricity; and paying the ultimate price of going down with all hands (over 50 boats did so in WW2). To think that men clamoured to be part of this elite service, knowing the dangers involved is a testimony to the backbone that once was present in our men and our culture. Having been done in the 50s, this series shows a military in which ladies provide a supporting role and men provide the combat presence. How refreshing to look back on a time when our society and military were more in sync with the Creators order.

Being a child of the 50s and a son of a WW2 combat veteran, I am proud to see what our military once stood for. Well done and a tribute to better times and a stronger nation.

Each episode of the series is about the heroism of the USN, USA (Army), Australians, British, Filipinos, Indonesians, and other Allies.

When I lookup (DDG/Google/Bing) information about the submarines mentioned/detailed in the episodes, I get the same basic information that is in each pertinent episode... I consider this to be a high compliment to the facts presented in each episode. Of course, there are probably some inaccuracies.

This series doesn't attempt to instill more drama than actually existed ... which must have been significant ... it decreased the drama and let us, the viewers, decide for ourselves.

Anyone that has actually been within a WWII submarine nowadays (such as the USS Torsk, SSN-423, now in Baltimore, MD, near the National Aquarium, USS Constellation, and USCG Cutter 37) would have additional awareness of what the USN submarine crews had to deal even when not in action. The subs are quite small, not much space, except for the racks of torpedos which took a lot of room.

The series even touched on the sensitive subject of the significant issues with the Mark 14 torpedo, which had major multiple problems, all covered-up by one person in the USN.

The number of future stars in the series is phenomenal: Carl Betz, Deforest Kelley, Russell Johnson, Joe Flynn, Leonard Nimoy, Kurt Kreuger, Simon Oakland, Dennis Weaver, Richard Crenna, Chuck Connors, Mike Connors ... too many to mention. Amazing cast.

Great series.

The thing that everyone remembers about the show was the opening credits with a film of the USS Pickerel, a late WWII diesel-electric boat, doing an emergency surface from 250 feet. How many of us young boys used to mimic that action at the City Park swimming pool! I wonder how many future submariners were inspired by this TV show, which was partially funded by the taxpayers (by virtue of the loaner submarine and crew provided by the Navy for some filming). I've spoken with a few veterans of the U.S. submarine service in WWII about sub movies and TV. Of all, they pick this TV series as head and shoulders above all others.

This series, plus Whirlybirds, Sea Hunt, Science Fiction Theater, and Range Rider were the prime time TV shows I couldn't miss. Add Saturday morning Mr. Wizard, Fury, and Sky King, and that is my entire recollection of TV from the 50's.

Clear the bridge. Dive, dive!

Thank goodness for YouTube. I am watching episode after episode on my 82" Smart TV. Great anthology of the Silent Service.