In my advancing years, I am finding that I enjoy older movies more than modern offerings.  That is not to say there are no recent releases that I like.  The problem with newer films is that there is a pessimism to them born of all the events of the last roughly sixty years that seem to have robbed culture of its innocence.  Having studied Hollywood in a scholarly manner, I can tell you that had early filmmakers been allowed, at least in the United States, they would have inserted the kind of material that would be familiar to audiences today.  From this Catholic’s point of view, I am grateful that there were at least some years when making a movie was not a near free-for-all.  There are those, too, who argue that the controls that were in place made the resulting product into basically propaganda.  You can see all this on display with the 1958 classic, Run Silent, Run Deep.

Had Commander P. J. “Rich” Richardson (Clark Gable) Run Silent, Run Deep with his first submarine, it might not have been sunk by the Japanese destroyer Akikaze.  Because they had been attacking other ships, the enemy vessel is able to destroy his first command near the surface.  He manages to survive, though blames himself for the deaths of those who died.  He spends the next year in Pearl Harbor behind a desk going over the battle with Yeoman 1^st Class “Kraut” Mueller (Jack Warden).  Commander Richardson’s endless mental exercise is all to prepare him for an opportunity that is about to come to him.  Returning to Pearl Harbor is the USS Nerka, a submarine whose captain is retiring after this latest patrol.  Its crew expects the executive officer, Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster), to be the next skipper.  Such is his popularity with his men that they make him a jacket with “Captain” sewn onto it.  Shortly after getting this gift, Lieutenant Bledsoe learns that instead of himself, it is Commander Richardson who is to be in charge.  Lieutenant Bledsoe immediately goes to Commander Richardson to register his complaints and concerns, which are mainly based on the crew expectations.  Commander Richardson listens, but proceeds anyway, also rejecting Lieutenant Bledsoe’s request to be transferred to another boat.  With these potential problem areas, the Nerka heads out on its next patrol with Commander Richardson at the helm.  Instead of slowly ingratiating himself with the crew, he promptly begins a series of drills, the purpose of which is mysterious to the men.  It involves maneuvers that are not standard operating procedure for a submarine, and they run through this scenario repeatedly.  When Lieutenant Bledsoe informs Commander Richardson of the fatigue and puzzlement the practice is causing, the captain orders that they do it twice as often.  Further confusing those aboard, outside of their leader, is the fact that they pass on an opportunity to destroy a Japanese submarine they encounter on their way to their patrol sector.  At this point, the junior officers come to Lieutenant Bledsoe and request that he relieve Commander Richardson.  Lieutenant Bledsoe rebukes their insubordination, but takes their concerns to Commander Richardson.  Again, the executive officer is heard, but the Nerka keeps to its course.  Seemingly to assuage the rank and file, the next opportunity they get to attack enemy vessels, they do.  While the sinking of a freighter happens in the usual way, it is against an opposing destroyer that they employ the method they had been going over for weeks, doing so successfully.  Still, this gives Lieutenant Bledsoe an idea of what his superior intends.  Part of their orders before leaving port is to not enter the Bungo Straits, a body of water where four American submarines have been blown up, including Commander Richardson’s last command.  While he cites a vague naval regulation that allows him to do so, his executive officer sees it for what it is: revenge.  Yet, when they get to their destination and find the Akikaze, it soon becomes apparent that they have entered a trap.  Not only is the fearsome destroyer ready for them, but Japanese aircraft are on hand to drop bombs on them.  Before the Nerka can get a torpedo off, it is forced to submerge.  It does not take long for the Akikaze to start dropping depth charges, every submariner greatest fear.  While the American sub is able to survive these underwater detonations, they do so with a few narrow misses.  One of them goes off near enough the Nerkato spring a leak in the forward torpedo room.  Commander Richardson goes to investigate, and is mortally wounded in the process.  However, he is conscious enough to accuse Lieutenant Bledsoe of cowardice when the executive office orders that they go back to Pearl Harbor for repairs.  Lieutenant Bledsoe’s mind is changed, though, when he hears a radio broadcast from the famous Tokyo Rose proclaiming the sinking of their submarine, and naming members of the crew.  He realizes they have an opportunity to return to the Bungo Straits and take the Akikaze by surprise.  They accomplish this feat, sinking another freighter along with it, but soon realize they are not yet out of danger.  They are spotted by a Japanese sub, which nearly does in the Nerka with a torpedo of its own.  They are able to be triumphant because the ailing Commander Richardson finally recognizes the strange signal of the enemy submarine and is able to warn them in time.  From there, he manages to stay on the bridge to witness them sink the Japanese vessel.  After this, Commander Richardson passes out, apparently dead.  The final scene is of him getting a burial at sea, with Lieutenant Bledsoe providing a eulogy.

In Lieutenant Bledsoe’s final words in Run Silent, Run Deep, he loosely quotes Revelation 20:13, which reads, “The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds.”  You can see why such a passage might be used for a funeral at sea.  At the same time, it raises some interesting theological questions that pertain to the film.  When dealing with a vessel like a submarine in a time of war, particularly World War II, you are looking at decisions that decide the fate of your crew and those on the ships you are attacking.  The Bible is pretty clear on the whole “thou shalt not kill” thing.  Thus, how do those in the armed forces get around this seeming contradiction?  The answer is a varied one depending on individual beliefs.  One example of a response to this conundrum can be found in Hacksaw Ridge (2016).  It is based on the service of the real-life Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a pacifist who, instead of avoiding combat, acted as a medic for his unit on the battlefield.  Much of the answer to this question involves what motivates you to fight.  Desmond did not want to get out of his duty to his country, he just did not want to kill to fulfill it.  With Run Silent, Run Deep Commander Richardson is seeking revenge on the Akikaze.  He feels responsible for those who died under his previous command, and is looking to “even the score,” so to speak.  To those against whom the Nerka is fighting, its captain’s motivations are probably immaterial.  However, God sees things differently.  A soldier with the right heart, which God always observes clearer than we can, takes no pleasure in taking the life of another.  Somebody out for vengeance gains satisfaction, and that is problematic.  Luckily, a knock to Commander Richardson’s head, while unfortunately fatal, makes him see the error of his ways.

I recommend Run Silent, Run Deep if you are in the mood for an intense submarine film.  From this one to Crimson Tide (1995), I cannot think of many films about these underwater boats that are not thrilling.  Run Silent, Run Deep may be old, and there is some unfortunate misogyny in it, but it is just as good as its modern equivalents.