Richard Widmark

Robert Wagner

Dana Andrews

Gary Merrill

Jeffrey Hunter

Warren Stevens

Harvey Lembeck

Robert Rockwell

Henry Slate

Robert Adler

Parley Baer

William Bishop

Frank Donahue

James Gregory

Harry Hamada

Russell Hardie

Ray Hyke

Peter Leeds

Norman McKay

William N. Neil

Robert Patten

Fay Roope

Sydney Smith

Jack Warden

Rush Williams

George Yoshinaga

Lloyd Bacon

John Tucker Battle

Oscar Millard

Norbert Brodine

Samuel G. Engel

Cyril J. Mockridge

William Reynolds

Albert Hogsett

Lyle R. Wheeler

Thomas Little

Fred J. Rode

Ben Nye

Harry Maret

Robert D. Webb

Richard Maybery

Roger Heman Sr.

Winston H. Leverett

Fred Sersen

Charles LeMaire

Sam Benson

Jack Brown

Bud Gaunt

Earle Hagen

Lionel Newman

Herbert W. Spencer

Bernard Mayers

Action

Adventure

Drama

The Frogmen

20th Century Fox

United States of America

Frogs Abound In WWII.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Wagner. Plot finds Widmark as a strict disciplinarian who takes command of the Navy Underwater Demolition Team and quickly upsets the men with his forceful ways. With the team building up to a crucial mission the question is if the men and commander can find an accord for the war effort?

Like the men at the film’s heart, this is a sturdy war film that’s for those who don’t mind the focus being more on characterisations than action. The sets and construction of certain scenes show their age, but the underwater filming is neat and the strong cast keep the viewer engaged enough till the big mission arrives. Not essential war film buff viewing, but a decent time waster at least. 5.5/10

CinemaSerf

Richard Widmark is the new, hard-nosed, squandron commander "Lawrence" who takes charge of a specialist underwater diving team after the death - in action - of their previous boss. He is trying to make his presence felt and they - led by "Chief Flannigan" (Dana Andrews) are clear they want little to do with him. He changes their training regime, intensifies it, reinvigorates it - and makes it clear that he is now in charge. Gradually, some of the men realise that maybe he's not such a bad guy and Lloyd Bacon quickly sidelines the personality conflicts to turn out a series of action escapades as this team carry out their tasks bravely and successfully. Thanks to a little intervention from "Pappy"(Jeffrey Hunter) and "Vincent" (Gary Merrill who commands their mother ship, things begin to improve before a perilous denouement at a well defended Japanese submarine pen. It's not Widmark's most natural performance, this, and there is little actual jeopardy with the narrative - it's all pretty obvious. That said, the adventures are exciting, the photography captures well the riskiness of their jobs (and the dangers) and the complete absence of any opportunity for romantic interludes is also to be commended. It packs a lot into ninety-odd minutes and flies the flag proudly for a group of sailors who risked life and limb on a daily basis. I enjoyed this.

English

The Frogmen ≣ 1951 ≣ Trailer