Action in the North Atlantic

[Bubblehead1980]

This afternoon was the first time ever watched the movie "Action in the North Atlantic" , really enjoyed it. Even though as it was made in 1943 there is a bit of propaganda in it, loved it. The visual effects were not bad at all for the era. Humphrey Bogart gave an outstanding performance as well.

I was impressed the U boat officers and crew were speaking German, those of other nationalities were speaking native tongues, pretty rare for films of that era.

I did chuckle a little at the u boat crews in such nice clean proper uniforms lol but understand they had no clue about how things actually were on the boats.

Definitely one of my favorite WW 2 movies now and told the story of some unsung heroes, the merchant mariners.Check it out if get a chance.

[p.jakub88]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

This afternoon was the first time ever watched the movie "Action in the North Atlantic" , really enjoyed it. Even though as it was made in 1943 it a bit of propaganda in it, loved it. The visual effects were not bad at all for the era. Humphrey Bogart gave an outstanding performance as well.

I was impressed the U boat officers and crew were speaking German, those of other nationalities were speaking native tongues, pretty rare for films of that era.

I did chuckle a little at the u boat crews in such nice clean proper uniforms lol but understand they had no clue about how things actually were on the boats.

Definitely one of my favorite WW 2 movies now and told the story of some unsung heroes, the merchant mariners.Check it out if get a chance.

Hello,

i also watched this movie some time ago in original language without Polish subtitles (i understood most of it, except of some strange slang expressions and phrases).

Very good movie with funny dialogs. . It is interesting to see how people in America used to talk back in the 40's .

The movie is regarding important part of the Battle of Atlantic - delivering convoys to Murmansk to support Russia in war against Germany, which was a deadly business for the sailors of the Allied merchant fleet.

I recommend another old war movie (a British one): "Sink the Bismarck!"

Very interesting plot and gripping action, also very detailed.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by p.jakub88

Hello,

i also watched this movie some time ago in original language without Polish subtitles (i understood most of it, except of some strange slang expressions and phrases).

Very good movie with funny dialogs. . It is interesting to see how people in America used to talk back in the 40's .

The movie is regarding important part of the Battle of Atlantic - delivering convoys to Murmansk to support Russia in war against Germany, which was a deadly business for the sailors of the Allied merchant fleet.

I recommend another old war movie (a British one): "Sink the Bismarck!"

Very interesting plot and gripping action, also very detailed.

Lol well some of the dialogue was a bit corny and doubt that is how americans really talked back then.

Great movie though and yes covered an important part of the arctic convoy runs to murmansk. I live not far from the Battleship USS Alabama, visited there many times(submarine USS Drum is there also). Alabama escorted some of those convoys, they have the cold weather gear, pictures of the ice on deck etc, pretty interesting.

What a difference from her time in the Pacific.

[max-peck]

I have never watched Action in the North Atlantic, thanks for the recommendation Bubblehead - I will definitely give it a go

If you are up for other old WW2 Naval Movies I can also recommend the following

Sink The Bismarck
Battle of the River Plate
The Enemy Below (This one is VERY good!)
The Cruel Sea
In Which We Serve

And Obviously
Operation Petticoat

[Ishmael]

Ah, Action in the North Atlantic. Back in 2009, I wrote the following Review for IMDB:

"My grandfather went to sea on square-riggers in 1900 and my Dad served as an Able Seaman all through World War 2. He was 400 miles ENE of Honolulu on 12/7/41 and heard the distress calls of the SS Cynthia Olson, sunk by a Japanese sub 200 miles North of them and 4 hours before the attack occurred. He went on to see action in the invasions of Attu, Kiska, North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Iwo Jima. So he had the dubious honor of being shot at by representatives of all Three Axis Powers(4 if you count the Vichy French). He told me the following story about seeing this film.

He and his shipmate, Dudley, a fellow San Franciscan, had returned to the states after Anzio and were on a bus trip back to San Francisco. They had an overnight stay at some Podunk town in western Nebraska. With nothing else to do, they decided to see what was playing at the local theater. When they saw it was this film, wild horses couldn't keep them from watching it. They attended the screening and just laughed up a storm through the entire movie; especially at the scenes of an old Liberty ship slewing around the ocean like a Fletcher-Class Destroyer. They were SO loud and boisterous that the rest of the local crowd thought they were Nazi saboteurs and laid hands on them with the intention of beating the crap out of them THEN hanging them. Dudley and my Dad had to produce THEIR merchant seaman's documents and Sailor's Union of the Pacific and Seafarer's International Union cards to the crowd to save their skins. Once the crowd realized WHO they were, they were immediately carried to the local saloon and gotten rip-roaring drunk on the townspeople's dime.

I finally got a chance to watch it on TCM sometime back and agree to the potboiler and propaganda elements of the film. That said, I DO think the screenplay is a lot better than he gave credit for. Especially considering it was nominated for an Academy Award. The language and characters ring more true than false and I could swear to knowing many old salts just like the crew. My Dad later went on to sail with Jim Thorpe in 1947/48 and was an able seaman into the early 1960's. But I'll always remember "Action In Northern Nebraska" as one of his favorite sea stories.

So I leave you all with the admonishment and reminder he told me before I went to sea on Destroyers: "Keep her between the anchors!" "Just remember son. No matter WHERE you are at sea, you're NEVER more than seven miles from land...STRAIGHT DOWN!"

[Steiger]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Lol well some of the dialogue was a bit corny and doubt that is how americans really talked back then.

It's called the 'Transatlantic Accent' (AKA Mid-Atlantic Accent) which is not a true evolved accent, but a way of speaking that was taught at upper class schools. Because the vast majority of people who would have been involved in movies and radio would have had these kinds of backgrounds, the accent became entrenched in American history.