Run Silent, Run Deep

While having breakfast this fine morning, I switched on the
flat screen and watched the last 20 minutes of
RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP (1958), one of the classic
B&W WWII war epics, and a terrific submarine flick.
The scene that got my motor running was when
Clark Gable is laid up in his rack, and Burt Lancaster
is alone in the coning tower, and their sub is atop,
bearing down bow to bow with a Japanese destroyer,
and as he lines up the torpedo shots, he
gives the order,
"Dive, dive, and fire those damned fish
with decks awash!"

Run Silent, Run Deep is a war film released in 1958 based on the 1955 novel by then-Commander Edward L. Beach, Jr.. The movie was directed by Robert Wise and it starred Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, and Jack Warden. It also featured the movie debut of Don Rickles. The film depicts the grim reality of WW II submarine warfare (the movie title refers to a submarine stealth tactic) as well as exploring the themes of vengeance, endurance, courage, loyalty, and honor, and how these can be tested in time of war. It is considered one of the great war action films of its genre.

Cast

Clark Gable as Cmdr. 'Rich' Richardson
Burt Lancaster as Lt. Jim Bledsoe
Jack Warden as Yeoman 1st Class Mueller
Brad Dexter as Ens. Gerald Cartwright
Don Rickles as Quartermaster 1st Class Ruby
Nick Cravat as Russo
Joe Maross as Chief Kohler
Mary LaRoche as Laura Richardson
Eddie Foy III as Larto
Rudy Bond as Sonarman 1st Class Cullen

The USS Redfish was used for many of the exterior shots. Captain Rob Roy McGregor, who had commanded two fleet boats (Grouper and Sea Cat) during World War II, acted as technical advisor.

Don Rickles made his movie debut in a small role and in his 2007 memoirs he recalled that during filming Gable would sometimes frustrate the moviemakers (including Lancaster, who was a financial investor in the movie) by adhering to a strict 9-to-5 approach to the workday - he would reportedly stop working in the middle of key scenes. Some of the more dramatic sequences in the film come when Bledsoe angrily confronts Richardson over his collusion. Lancaster's anger was possibly made all the more realistic by his being exasperated with Gable off camera. Later in his life, Lancaster publicly had nothing but praise and admiration for Gable, whom he described as the consummate pro.

The USS Redfish was used for many of the exterior shots. Captain Rob Roy McGregor, who had commanded two fleet boats (Grouper and Sea Cat) during World War II, acted as technical advisor.

Don Rickles made his movie debut in a small role and in his 2007 memoirs he recalled that during filming Gable would sometimes frustrate the moviemakers (including Lancaster, who was a financial investor in the movie) by adhering to a strict 9-to-5 approach to the workday - he would reportedly stop working in the middle of key scenes. Some of the more dramatic sequences in the film come when Bledsoe angrily confronts Richardson over his collusion. Lancaster's anger was possibly made all the more realistic by his being exasperated with Gable off camera. Later in his life, Lancaster publicly had nothing but praise and admiration for Gable, whom he described as the consummate pro.