The Frogmen *** (1951, Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter) – Classic Movie Review 10,803

Director Lloyd Bacon’s 1951 American black-and-white World War Two drama The Frogmen stars Richard Widmark as martinet US Navy lieutenant commander John Lawrence, who leads the WW2 wartime Underwater Demolition Team divers of the title, and wins the respect of his squad by hazardously detonating a torpedo.

Widmark’s sterling performance helps to propel this well-done, convincingly realistic war film, with a keen sense of detail and plenty of decently handled action. The highlight is the exciting attack on a Japanese base.

The film received Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) for Norbert Brodine and Best Screenplay (Motion Picture Story) for Oscar Millard but neither won.

There were a couple of interesting new kids on the block:  20th Century-Fox were trying out new young studio contract players Robert Wagner and Jeffrey Hunter in supporting roles as Lieutenant J G Franklin and ‘Pappy’ Creighton. The pair would often work together later. It also features Dana Andrews as Chief Jake Flannigan, Gary Merrill as Lieutenant Commander Pete Vincent, Warren Stevens as Hodges, Harvey Lembeck as Marvin W ‘Canarsie; Mikowsky, Robert Rockwell as Lieutenant Bill Doyle and Henry Slate as ‘Sleepy’.

Also in the cast are Robert Adler, Bob Patten, Harry Flowers, William Bishop, Fay Roope, Parley Baer, Harry Flowers, James Gregory, Harry Hamada, Russell Hardie, Peter Leeds, Norman McKay, William N Neill Robert Patten, Jack Warden, Sydney Smith, Ray Hyke, Ed Donovan and Rush Williams.

Other studios wanted to make films about the Underwater Demolition Teams, but only Twentieth Century-Fox obtained an exclusive guarantee of cooperation from the US Navy. The film starts: ‘This is a true story based on incidents which occurred in the latter part of World War II. It deals with one of the most hazardous and unique branches of the Armed Forces… the Underwater Demolition Teams. This film could not have been produced without the active cooperation of the Department of Defense and the United States Navy.’

All female roles were written out of the screenplay because working conditions for The Frogmen were deemed too ‘riotous’ for women. No doubt this is why a homosexual subtext has been detected by some viewers.

As the first film about frogmen and scuba diving, it became a popular hit and a cultural signifier.

The premiere was held at the US Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,803

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