On E List of Movie Reviews

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The Enemy Below (1957)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 2/24

EnBel
2/24: While Das Boot remains the indisputable champ of the submarine genre, The Enemy Below is the runner-up.

Robert Mitchum vs. Curd Jürgens. An American destroyer escort vs. a German U-boat. It's a battle of wits. Hence, the film is fun to watch despite the heavy ship dialogue. A lot of times, I didn't know what everybody was saying, but I'm sure it's accurate. The only negative is the Germans should be speaking their native language the entire time.

The best part is the depth charges exploding underwater over and over. There's no CGI bullshit. That's why the film won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. Sound is another big part of the action. Despite playing a Nazi, to hate Curd Jürgens is impossible. He's instead a likeable character, so it's tough who to root for: Mitchum or Jürgens. A tie has been declared. By the way, Robert Mitchum has a good philosophical scene with Russell Collins before he's ready to go in action.

All in all, if you loved Das Boot, you have to see The Enemy Below.