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Submarine X-1 (1968)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 1/25

SubX1
1/25: The only reason to take a look at Submarine X-1 is James Caan.

Granted, it's a very, very early role for him, and he was just getting started. So, no...the whole thing isn't his fault. It's rather the bland supporting cast in the place of the crew that killed the film. Who are these guys, and what are their names? All are barely developed with no distinguishable characteristics.

At the beginning, when several men blamed the captain for what happened, I'm not given any explanation of exactly how the incident went down before deciding whether or not I should hate him. So, we move on to a long training segment, taking up half of the film. At one point, a woman shows up out of nowhere to philosophize about a pointless observation among guys before the Germans begin to infiltrate the secret compound.

Finally, Submarine X-1 gets to the bottom of what it's supposed to offer: a taste of undersea battle. The part with two scuba divers being attacked by a German, who's lucky to be in the right spot at the right time, saves the film's rating from further deterioration. Afterwards is the dilemma of going ahead to sink an impenetrable battleship, knowing that three of their own will be sacrificed. By the way, if I were the British, I wouldn't use the lettering on the midget submarines: X-1, X-2, and X-3. That's giving away the answer, especially if the third one is captured.

All in all, the presence of James Caan kind of saves Submarine X-1 from being blown up by a 4,000-pound amatol.