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      Mission of the Shark

      TV-PG 1991 1h 37m History Drama List
      Reviews 54% 100+ Ratings Audience Score In this fact-based film, the warship USS Indianapolis is ambushed by Japanese forces. As the boat goes down, hundreds of men are killed while valiant military doctor Lt. Steven Scott (Richard Thomas) leads efforts to save his fellow sailors from hypothermia and the vicious sharks that inhabit the water. Several days later, the survivors are finally rescued, but the Navy needs someone to take the fall for this disaster, and the blame is forced on the innocent Capt. McVay (Stacy Keach). Read More Read Less Watch on Prime Video Stream Now

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      Mission of the Shark

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Belter of a film. So much potential for a remake though that could be truly epic. Quint says so. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Just finished watching with the hubbie. Good movie but i hate the fact that the Captain was convicted for his mistake that the ship was sunk. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member <div style="width:280px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/mission-of-the-shark-12307054"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/12/30/70/12307054_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">Mission of the Shark</a></div></div> <I>Mission of the Shark</I> (1991) (TV) Directed by Robert Iscove With Stacy Keach, Richard Thomas and David Caruso. Reason #1197 not to get mixed up with the military. This rather sterilized made for TV movie is the story of the final days of the U.S.S. Indianapolis which delivered the atomic bomb dropped on Japan. It was torpedoed and sunk on its return voyage. The survivors of the sinking spent 5 days slowly dying of thirst, injuries, and being terrorized and devoured by sharks. This was due to criminally negligent incompetence and stupidity on the part of Naval administration. Of course they covered their worthless asses just as rear echelon bastards always do. This was accomplished by witch hunting and scapegoating the ship's captain, Charles McVay (Keach), in a typical kangaroo Court Martial. 316 men out of a crew of 1196 survived the ordeal, 300 having gone down with the ship. The story was treated by the press as a footnote to the end of WWII. This film only hints at the ordeal of the victims, the irresponsibility of and criminal cover-up by the Navy, and the impact the Navy's lies had on the remainder of McVay's life. TV's low budget and misguided broadcasting standards did not allow for upsetting subject matter to be graphically portrayed. Accordingly, <I>Mission of the Shark</I> did not go into much detail about the sharks and the crew's living nightmare dealing with the horror of being ripped apart and eaten alive one by one. This aspect of the disaster would be grist for a very grim remake of the movie. It is one of the most dramatic shark attacks that has made it to recorded history. Note to all you new-age shark lovers: read some interviews of the Indianapolis survivors the next time you want to pet and feel sorry for sharks. Go see <I>Jaws</I> and watch Robert Shaw's portrayal of Captain Quint recounting his experience in the water after the sinking of the Indianapolis in a chilling monologue. Idiots. For a proper dramatization of the Court Martial in detail, read or see John B. Ferzacca's play, <I>The Failure to Zigzag</I>. For more information setting the record straight, go to http://www.ussindianapolis.org/. <div style="width:280px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/ussindianaplolis-12307050"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/12/30/70/12307050_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">U.S.S. Indianapolis</a> </div></div> Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Good war movie. And I will never forget the sharks!!! My gosh, the sharks in this movie were enough to make you never want to go near a beach again. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member MISSION OF THE SHARK: THE SAGA OF THE U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS (1991) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Mission of the Shark

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis In this fact-based film, the warship USS Indianapolis is ambushed by Japanese forces. As the boat goes down, hundreds of men are killed while valiant military doctor Lt. Steven Scott (Richard Thomas) leads efforts to save his fellow sailors from hypothermia and the vicious sharks that inhabit the water. Several days later, the survivors are finally rescued, but the Navy needs someone to take the fall for this disaster, and the blame is forced on the innocent Capt. McVay (Stacy Keach).
      Director
      Robert Iscove
      Production Co
      Richard Maynard Productions, Fries Entertainment
      Rating
      TV-PG (V)
      Genre
      History, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 16, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 37m
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