The Enemy Below

The Enemy Below is a 1957 film which tells the story of battle between the captain of an American destroyer escort and the commander of a German submarine during World War II. It stars Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison and Theodore Bikel. The movie was directed by Dick Powell.

Related Topics:
1957 - Film - American - Destroyer escort - German - Submarine - World War II - Robert Mitchum - Curd Jürgens - David Hedison - Theodore Bikel - Dick Powell

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The movie revolves around a Buckley class destroyer escort, the USS Haynes (DE-181), and a German U-boat attempting to rendevous with a German merchant raider in the South Atlantic Ocean during World War II. The Haynes is commanded by Captain Murrell (Robert Mitchum), a former merchant marine sailor whose wife was killed when his freighter was sunk by a torpedo during the Second Battle of the Atlantic. Now in command of a destroyer escort, Captain Murrell must track down and destroy a U-boat commanded by Captain von Stolberg (Curd Jürgens) in a personal battle of wits between the two captains. In the end, Captain Murrell rams the U-boat with his destroyer, sinking both.

Related Topics:
Buckley class destroyer escort - U-boat - Merchant raider - Atlantic Ocean - Robert Mitchum - Merchant marine - Freighter - Second Battle of the Atlantic - Curd Jürgens - Rams

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The movie was loosely based on a novel by Alfred Rayner and presented a sympathetic treatment of the enemy as well as a strong anti-war message. The Enemy Below received an Academy Award for best special effects. The destroyer escort Haynes was portrayed by the USS Whitehurst (DE-634). The episode Balance of Terror was loosely based on this movie.

Related Topics:
Alfred Rayner - Academy Award - USS ''Whitehurst'' - Balance of Terror

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