Blast from the Past: James Garner Revisited
James Garner described Up Periscope, the World War II submarine film he made in 1959, as “another piece of crap that Warner stuck me in while I was under contract.” And while it may not have been a crap, under the helm of pro Gordon Douglas, the story was certainly too familiar to make an impression.
Grade: B-
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Theatrical release poster
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Co-starring Oscar winner Edmond O’Brien (“The Barefoot Contessa”), the WarnerScope-Technicolor film features a strong supporting cast, headed by Andra Martin, Alan Hale Jr., Edd Byrnes, and Warren Oates.
The screenplay was written by Richard H. Landau and Robb White, adapted from White’s novel of the same name.
Garner plays Lt. Kenneth Braden, a newly trained U.S. Navy frogman, who is ordered to report for duty without being able to notify his new girlfriend Sally Johnson. He learns that she is a naval intelligence officer responsible for a recent confirmation of his character and fitness for a special mission.
Submarine commander Stevenson (Edmond O’Brien), whose crew’s morale has been shaken by the unnecessary death of a crew member, is ordered to take Braden to the island of Kusaie (Kosrae) to photograph a code book at Japanese radio station. Stevenson waits in Lelu Harbor while Braden executes his covert mission.
Cast
James Garner as Lt. (j.g.) Kenneth M. Braden
Edmond O’Brien as Commander Paul Stevenson
Andra Martin as Sally Johnson
Alan Hale Jr. as Ensign/Lt. (j.g.) Pat Malone (billed as Alan Hale)
Carleton Carpenter as Lt. Phil Carney
William Leslie as Lt. Doherty
Frank Gifford as Ensign Cy Mount
Henry Kulky as Chief Petty Officer York
Edd Byrnes as Pharmacist Mate Ash (billed as Edward Byrnes)
Richard Bakalyan as Seaman Peck
Sean Garrison as Seaman Floyd
Warren Oates as Seaman Kovacs
Credits:
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Screenplay by Richard H. Landau, based on Up Periscope, 1956 novel by Robb White
Produced by Aubrey Schenck, Howard W. Koch, Edwin F. Zabel
Narrated by Edmond O’Brien
Cinematography Carl E. Guthrie
Edited by John F. Schreyer
Music by Ray Heindorf
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date: March 4, 1959
Running time: 112 minutes
Budget $2 million
Box office $1.5 million
