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The Enemy Below

Play trailer Poster for The Enemy Below 1957 1h 38m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
During the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II, two equally able captains on opposing sides square off in a life-and-death game of tactical maneuvering. American Capt. Murrell (Robert Mitchum) helms the destroyer USS Haynes, while his Nazi counterpart, Von Stolberg (Curt Jurgens), commands a German U-boat. As both men follow their orders, they push their crews to greater lengths to achieve victory. Over the course of the intense battle, a respect develops among enemies.
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The Enemy Below

Critics Reviews

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Jim Schembri jimschembri.com More than 60 years on it still stands as one of the most thoughtful and humane war films ever made. Rated: 4/5 Jul 15, 2020 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine There's considerable tension in this war-at-sea drama... Dec 2, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This WWII drama, centering on the suspenseful warfare between rival sumarine officers, German (Curt Jurgens) and American (Robert Mitchum, deservedly won the Special Effects Oscar. Rated: B+ Jan 28, 2012 Full Review Christopher Lloyd Sarasota Herald-Tribune While recognizing that it's not any sort of great piece of acting by Robert Mitchum or a searing portrait of war, if one accepts The Enemy Below as an action-filled war movie, it's thoroughly entertaining stuff. Rated: 4/5 Mar 14, 2011 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 2/5 Oct 6, 2005 Full Review Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Rated: 5/5 Jul 25, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michael D Very satisfying movie. A exemplary demonstration of military decorum as it applies to abiding by the expectations of humane treatment of fellow human beings during the chaos of war. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review Gary T Second favourite submarine movie and I love submarine movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/23 Full Review deke p wow! GREAT WW2 NAVY vs German sub war movie. Why have i neve seen it before. Finally saw on tv 6.18.2021 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A great film for life aboard a US Navy vessel in the war. Highly recommend. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review paul d A very well done, old-fashioned WW2 movie. The cat and mouse of the submarine chase is excellent, as are the battle scenes. But the movie is most of all about the battle between the two captains, and to showcase their humanity and intelligence. Made 12 years after the end of the war, it expressly shows the Germans and Americans as equals in battle and also in their morality. Mitchum is excellent but the real star is Jurgens, in a masterful performance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review andy f An entertaining World War II drama showing some of the horrors of sea battle and U-boats. Jurgens and Mitchum are marvellous and this is weightier than many other war films of the era. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Enemy Below

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Cast & Crew

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Dick Powell

Director

Robert Mitchum

Capt. Murrell

Curd Jürgens

Von Stolberg

Theodore Bikel

"Heinie" Schwaffer

David Hedison

Lt. Ware

Russell Collins

Doctor

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The Enemy Below

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Movie Info

Synopsis During the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II, two equally able captains on opposing sides square off in a life-and-death game of tactical maneuvering. American Capt. Murrell (Robert Mitchum) helms the destroyer USS Haynes, while his Nazi counterpart, Von Stolberg (Curt Jurgens), commands a German U-boat. As both men follow their orders, they push their crews to greater lengths to achieve victory. Over the course of the intense battle, a respect develops among enemies.
Director
Dick Powell
Producer
Dick Powell
Screenwriter
Wendell Mayes
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 38m
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