A submarine story that sticks to a simple "clash of wills" storyline without the inclusion of sub-plots and worn-out clichés that existed in so many WWII war stories is RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP. It proves without a doubt that CLARK GABLE and BURT LANCASTER were not only genuine classic stars but extremely good actors when given a solid script. And under Robert Wise's no nonsense direction, the cast of submarine sailors delivers the goods in realistic fashion, avoiding the sort of stereotypes often seen in these kind of war stories.

The main action involves Gable's revenge motif. He's like a Captain Ahab, fervently determined to sink the Japanese destroyer that took the lives of his former crew members a year earlier, just as Ahab ran after the whale. His motives are questioned by the man originally selected to be Captain, his second in command Burt Lancaster. It's the clash of wills between these strong personalities that gives the film its punch and keeps the situation tense and taut until the final battle.

Franz Waxman's score is almost non-existent, one of the chief shortcomings for me, as I always expect great things from Waxman. Here he opted for silence on the soundtrack when the situations get tense, as when the depth charges are sinking to the bottom of the ocean, barely missing the submarine. Perhaps this was a wise decision, since the sounds we do hear are those the sailors aboard the sub are experiencing while waiting tensely in their claustrophobic surroundings.

It's an admirable war film, graced by two excellent performances from Gable and Lancaster, both convincing in their display of authority and command. Although models are used in the battle scenes, all of the action looks very realistic thanks to some excellent B&W photography. Kudos to Robert Wise for keeping the whole story brisk and supercharged.

It never drags for a moment, as some of the other big wartime movies like DESTINATION TOKYO did. The script is taut and concise without resorting to any arbitrary love interest or humorous shenanigans which would have weakened the drama--and it's all told in a tense running time of 94 minutes.

There's really nothing to knock about this excellent submarine film. The acting was stellar--with Clark Gable giving a generally restrained performance and Burt Lancaster doing a fine job as his second in command. The writing and directing were also very good and are meant to appeal to the intelligent and discerning viewers. Although not exactly upbeat, I like the way the movie ends--it may be a bit of a downer for some, but represents the sacrifices that are often made in war. As a result of all these pluses, it is an even better film than the exceptional Destination Tokyo. However, considering the absolute care and devotion to detail in the German film, Das Boot, it must rank as perhaps the second-best submarine film of all-time.

RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP is a WW2 thriller about the crew of an American submarine in the Pacific who go after a deadly Japanese destroyer which has been sinking tons of their shipping. The film is directed by the one and only Robert Wise with his usual level of professionalism and features two stars in the forms of Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable as the leaders of the crew who end up butting heads throughout.

Naval thrillers such as this one live or die depending on the action and suspense scenes and I'm pleased to report that they're more than effective here. The special effects of ships exploding and the like are highly impressive and the depth charge attacks are gripping. Gable plays the old timer as a Captain Ahab-alike, obsessed at revenging himself on the enemy at whatever cost, while Lancaster is a more likable, level-headed guy in charge. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP features a little comedy to lighten the mood, a good sense of setting, and some solid plot twists. There's very little to dislike about it overall.