Ao capitão de um submarino afundado pelos japoneses durante a WW2 finalmente é dada a chance de ser capitão de outro submarino após um ano de trabalho burocrático. Sua determinação, obcecado por vingança contra o destruidor que afundou seu navio anterior, coloca sua nova tripulação em um perigo desnecessário. E causa atrito com seu primeiro oficial e equipe.
This superior wartime submarine story is about an American captain (Gable) who seeks to avenge the loss of an earlier ship to a Japanese destroyer by perfecting a very difficult "bow shot" technique that would enable him to torpedo this fast moving enemy head on. Burt Lancaster portrays his popular XO who ought, originally, to have had that command but has been passed over; and the film depicts the evolution of their taut and mistrusting relationship. Gable is on good form as his character treads a very thin line between reason and obsession and Lancaster works hard to keep himself and the crew under control. The direction is tense and the chemistry between these two men works really well. This is more than a post-war grandstanding picture; it does touch on the psychology of command and of grief, and is well worth an hour and a half of your time.
