Tweekums This Second World War drama follows a US Navy Underwater Demolition Team as it takes part in preparations for the invasion of Japanese occupied islands and comes to terms with the replacement of a popular leader who was killed in action. Form the way they talk it is clear that there former CO was very much one of the men but his replacement, Lt. Cmdr. John Lawrence, is very much a by the book officer. The men's opinion of him gets even worse when he orders his boat back to the ship after their second boat is destroyed leaving the survivors to wait for the rescue boat; is reasoning may have been militarily correct but it was unpopular enough to have three men request a transfer. It isn't long before everyman in the team wants out. Luckily for him an opportunity arises for him to demonstrate his courage and win the respect of his men before he must lead them on a top secret mission to attack Japanese submarine pens.This is a solid film with decent action, a good cast and an interesting story to tell. It may be a fictional story but it nicely demonstrates the sort of work the Underwater Demolition Teams would have done without being gung-ho about it. The cast did a fin job; most notably Richard Widmark who put in a nicely understated performance as Lt. Cmdr. Lawrence; a character who wanted to do the right thing and respected his men even when he knew they didn't have such an opinion of him. The action looked believable; the underwater scenes especially so. The fact that it was filmed in black and white somehow gives it a more realistic feel... presumably because the vast majority of archive footage of the war was in black and white! The tension in the unit was there to add to the drama and it did so in a believable way; the men might not have liked Lawrence but they didn't do anything unrealistic about it; just griped a bit and got on with the job. We don't see much of the Japanese but when we do it was refreshing to see them depicted as ordinary soldiers sharing a cigarette rather than as 'the evil enemy'. If you enjoy films about the second World War I'd certainly recommend this as it shows the sort of operations not usually depicted in films in a fascinating way.

Michael O'Keefe Lloyd Bacon directs this World War II drama with Richard Widmark in the lead role as Lt. Commander John Lawrence, who must earn the respect of a group of underwater demolition divers. The strict hard nosed Lawrence is replacing a popular senior officer that was very close to his men. He does manage to tighten up the already tight, but independently brave underwater warriors.Exceptional photography with a well rounded cast to support Widmark. Also featured are veterans and fresh faces like: Gary Merrill, Jeffrey Hunter, Dana Andrews, JackWarden, Robert Wagner, James Gregory and Harvey Lembeck.

davida-mccarley My dad used to tell us stories about the film every time it came on - he was in UDT Platoon 2 on TDY from Korea and got to spend part of his rotation for R&R doing the film with his team. They did all the underwater work, the scenes with the landing craft picking up the team from the water, and they set the satchel charges for the shot when they blow up the beach obstacles prior to the landing.He also used to to tell stories about Dana Andrews and his drinking during the filming, but that is another story. It is a good movie and, from Dad's and the UDT's perspective, had some BS in it - but relatively accurate overall.In Korea, his team was assigned to swim in from off-shore and go inland to blow up installations, bridges, etc. overrun by the North Koreans/Chinese. They had to swim their stuff in from miles offshore, hump the explosives inland (armed with a knife and a pistol - Dad said he used a .38 because he couldn't hit much of anything over 30 yards away with a .45), blow up the objective then make it back out. Of course, things were even MORE primitive for the combat swimmers of WWII!

Poseidon-3 What was probably a rather revelatory naval film in 1951 is a bit ordinary by today's standards, though it is still worth a viewing, especially for fans of Widmark. Here he plays the newly-assigned commander of an underwater diving team during WWII who is charged with the demolition of a Pacific island's shore defenses. Widmark is not popular among his men because he's replacing a beloved, but now deceased, predecessor. He loses even more points when he neglects to take time to memorialize even more recently killed seamen. Andrews is his chief antagonist while Merrill is the even-keeled voice of reason, advising Widmark through the choppy waters of command. There are many shots filmed underwater in what was then quite a novelty. Today, this footage looks pretty murky, though it's not altogether terrible. A few tense situations unfold as Widmark and his (frog)men dive and plant explosives, etc... One neat aspect is the showing of how the UDT (now morphed into Navy Seals) disembark and reboard the boats that transport them. Split-second timing was required. Widmark (or more likely his stunt double) does have the unfortunate distinction of being pulled back onto the craft at high speed and having his white jock dart out from the underside of the black trunks he is wearing! Not a particularly dignified reentry, but at least he was saved. Widmark, always an intriguing screen presence, does a nice job in the film, balancing toughness with sensitivity. Andrews is less impressive, seemingly walking through the thing at times. Merrill is pretty inactive, always sitting, lying down or smoking an ever-present pipe, but he lends solid support. One real asset is the appealing and attractive Hunter, who is especially sympathetic during the climax when he is threatened with drowning or worse. The cast is filled with then-up-and-coming actors who would later gain somewhat greater fame. Stevens, Lembeck, Gregory and Warden all have at least one moment to register. Fans of sixth-billed Wagner, however, will be greatly, greatly disappointed. He's barely visible at all and has one line, "Aye aye, sir." The later "Creature From the Black Lagoon" would up the ante on underwater cinematography (in 3-D no less!) along with other subsequent films, but this one was one of the earliest.