The Enemy Below

Joe Kent said:
This movie was one of my late Father's favorites. He was a plank owner on the Atherton DE-169 and his ship sank the last U-Boat of WW11 just off the coast by New Port ,RI. He was a First Class Signalman so was on the bridge thru out the battle, and is later pictured in the Whale Boat recovering debris from the sunken U-Boat. He recovered the German Kapitan's hat and gave it to his Capitan, Lt Commander Iselin of the Atherton. It along with other artifacts is on display at the DE Sailors museum at Albany New York on the USS Slater ,the finest restored DE in the naval museums available. I really enjoyed seeing it when I was there.
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Point of info to you. The Albany CG10 was supposed to go to its named for city but the dingbat mayor at the time did not want to spend the money and it got turned into razor blades. Later on a private organization got tied in with the Slater and we got that one. I served aboard the Albany for a short period in the 60s!

I knew a couple old timers that worked on the Slater. I was born and raised in Albany and still lived in Albany county when we got the Slater! To the best of my knowledge the Slater is the only DE afloat!
 
NYlakesider, as a matter of fact, the Atherton DE-169 is I believe the last DE in active service . After the war it was transferred to Japan and then to the Philippines where it is currently in service as the Rajah Humabon {not sure of the spelling} I believe it is the last of the DE's anywhere that are currently in use. My father considered it as both a lucky and good ship. He loved the Navy and was always proud of his service. He was at sea thru out WW11 , between WW11 and Korea was stationed full time on an LCI with the reserves here in town on the Mississippi, and then spent a year in Japan and a year at Inchon in Korea during the Korean War.
 
Old Sub Commander?

Excellent movie!

Most WWII sub commanders (both sides) were guys in their late 20s or early 30s. Jurgens looked at least 40. Still, a competent U-Boat commander who knows were he wants to go:

"Yah! Ve go beck to course 140°!"
 
The Bedford Incident is probably as good as The Enemy Below. Richard Widmark is another fine actor from the same era as Robert Mitchum. I don't recall Widmark being in any duds, though he might have done one or two over a very long career.
 
Great Movie...

There was a 'Star Trek' episode called 'Balance of Terror' that I believe was inspired/molded by "The Enemy Below", which by the interesting premise, made it an episode to be remembered. The episode pits Captain Kirk against a Romulan Commander, who is an equal with Kirk in strategy and nerve. It's told from both viewpoints with sympathy and screen time given to both sides as being 'justified' in what they are doing.
 
I watched The Enemy Below on you tube last night. Kinda funny to hear the actors speak in english with the Greek sub titles at the bottom of the screen. Haven't watched it in quite awhile. Great Movie. Frank
 
Joe Kent said:
NYlakesider, as a matter of fact, the Atherton DE-169 is I believe the last DE in active service . After the war it was transferred to Japan and then to the Philippines where it is currently in service as the Rajah Humabon {not sure of the spelling} I believe it is the last of the DE's anywhere that are currently in use. My father considered it as both a lucky and good ship. He loved the Navy and was always proud of his service. He was at sea thru out WW11 , between WW11 and Korea was stationed full time on an LCI with the reserves here in town on the Mississippi, and then spent a year in Japan and a year at Inchon in Korea during the Korean War.
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Interesting, Thank you. (That was why I said "to the best of my knowledge" :)
 
It had to be a GREAT MOVIE for me to still remember it at my age of 72 !!

I might have watched it a "Few" time, though..........:D

In the early days a lot of actors did the "War Game" thing, then moved to the Cops and robbers or the "Western" gig, in the 60's.
 
A former Navy officer I knew loved The Enemy Below but he mentioned that it sounded funny that after the two vessels collided a "rope" was thrown to Jurgens and not a "line."
 
I saw the movie in the theater when it first came out. Definitely one of the better war films from the fifties.
 
If anyone is interested in the book, it can be had on Amazon: The Enemy Below by D. A. Rayner (RN). The original story is between a RN Destroyer and the U-Boot.
 
The Line

UncleEd said:
A former Navy officer I knew loved The Enemy Below but he mentioned that it sounded funny that after the two vessels collided a "rope" was thrown to Jurgens and not a "line."
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When Mitchum threw Jurgens the line, Jurgens wrapped it loosely around a pipe but didn't cinch it. I yelled at the TV, "Hey, that's not going to secure the line, you dummy!"

Then I saw how Jurgens fed the line as Mitchum pulled Heinie to the destroyer. Well done, Capt. Jurgens!
 
Joe Kent said:
NYlakesider, as a matter of fact, the Atherton DE-169 is I believe the last DE in active service . After the war it was transferred to Japan and then to the Philippines where it is currently in service as the Rajah Humabon {not sure of the spelling} I believe it is the last of the DE's anywhere that are currently in use. My father considered it as both a lucky and good ship. He loved the Navy and was always proud of his service. He was at sea thru out WW11 , between WW11 and Korea was stationed full time on an LCI with the reserves here in town on the Mississippi, and then spent a year in Japan and a year at Inchon in Korea during the Korean War.
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My dad was on an LCI in 44 for the Guam invasion. Ship lost about half its crew and another LCI took them to Hawaii where he went aboard an AGC, the USS Appalachian (AGC-1). He finished the war on her lastly serving occupation duty of Japan until he got enough points to return stateside.

Later when I was in the Air Force I was stationed at Guam. Saw the beach they were supporting US landings when they got hit.
 
rockquarry said:
"Friends of Eddie Coyle", early '70s, was sub-standard for Robert Mitchum; a B movie at best. Couldn't finish watching that one. Seems he made a couple of others in that era that were comparable.

However, I don't think he was ever past his prime as he played some good roles far later than the '70s.
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I agree with you, and he did some fantastic stuff in the 80s. The Winds of War, War and Remembrance and: (Cant think of its name just yet) but he did a made for tv movie-where he was a hobo adopted by some kids whose parents died in a car wreck. Great movie - followed by a great but short-lived tv series of the same name. I THINK it was called: "A Family For Joe?"
 
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cmort666 said:
There was another show which used actual footage (and I believe music) from the movie.

Hint: It was also a science fiction show, but of an altogether lesser quality, albeit often entertaining.
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I think I remember that but forgot what show it could be?
 
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