July 31 - Run Silent, Run Deep

Here is a film with a scene that happens today – July 31. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP

Early in World War II an American sub commanded by Commander "Rich" Richardson is surprised and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, the Akikaze in the Bungo Straits. A year later, when Richardson learns the captain of the Merka has been injured, he finagles his way into the job instead of Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe, the sub’s executive officer.  Bledsoe asks to be reassigned, but Richardson refuses. The crew wagers on their assigned area of operations and are dismayed when it is area 7, which includes the Bungo Straits, as four subs have been sunk there in the last year. The subs orders specifically require it to avoid the Bungo Straits. Richardson constantly drills the ship in diving and immediately firing a torpedo.  The crew questions Richardson’s nerves after he refuses to engage a Japanese sub. After an incident where a crewman almost drowns while throwing the trash overboard, Richardson doubles the drills. On July 31, 1943 [29:17 to 36:25] the U.S.S. Merka sinks a tanker and a Japanese destroyer, using the quick dive attack method. Richardson refuses to attack a convoy and heads for the Bungo Straits.  Once there they start to attack a convoy in order to draw in the  Akikaze. They are attacked by Japanese aircraft, almost get hit by a torpedo and depth charged by the Akikaze. Three men are killed in the attack and Richardson is severely injured. They jettison trash and the dead bodies and make the Japanese think they’ve been sunk. Bledsoe takes over command, citing Richardson’s earlier disobeying orders as justification.  When ‘Tokyo Rose’ announces the Merka’s sinking and names some of the officers, Bledsoe realizes the Japanese have been picking up some of their garbage.  Since the Japanese now really do think the Merka’s been sunk, Bledsoe takes the sub back to the Bungo Straits. While Richardson drifts in and out of consciousness as a result of his concussion, the Merka attacks the convoy as before to lure the Akikaze closer. They sink the Akikaze with a bow torpedo shot, but Richardson realizes that a mysterious radio transmission, also heard after the first Bungo Strait attack is from a Japanese sub. He orders a dive causing a Japanese torpedo to miss the Merka. By moving to continue the attack on the convoy, they force the Japanese sub to surface and then the Merka sinks it.  Richardson has achieved his revenge, but dies of his wound and is buried at sea.

One of the best sub movies ever made. Very realistic action sequences. The script creates real and believable character based conflict that helps drive the action.

Date given in the film at 36:39-41

Producer - Harold Hecht

Director - Robert Wise

Screenplay - John Gay 

Runtime – 1 hour 33 minutes

Released – March 27, 1958

Starring –

Clark Gable as Commander P.J. "Rich" Richardson

Burt Lancaster as Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe

Jack Warden as Yeoman 1st Class "Kraut" Mueller

Brad Dexter as Ensign Gerald Cartwright

Don Rickles as Quartermaster 1st Class Ruby

Nick Cravat as Russo

Joe Maross as Chief Petty Officer Kohler

Mary LaRoche as Laura Richardson

Eddie Foy III as Larto

Rudy Bond as Sonarman 1st Class Cullen