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Operation Pacific

Play trailer Poster for Operation Pacific 1951 1h 49m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In the South Pacific, submarine officer Duke Gifford (John Wayne) and the crew of the "Thunderfish" are attacked by the Japanese during a rescue mission, and their torpedoes malfunction. Returning safely to Pearl Harbor, Duke meets his ex-wife, Mary (Patricia Neal), who still feels strongly for him but is engaged to a pilot, the brother of Duke's commander, Pop Perry (Ward Bond). Determined to win Mary back, Duke is sidetracked when he and the crew are ordered on a mission with new torpedoes.
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Operation Pacific

Critics Reviews

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Ian Kane Epoch Times 07/22/2023
4/5
“Operation Pacific” gives a good sense of how things were back in the 1950s. As the United States had largely recovered from World War II, there was an almost palpable feeling of optimism for the future. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/24/2019
A hearty oldfashioned undersea drama weighed down by tiresome romantic bickerings ashore. Go to Full Review John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis 04/21/2010
4/10
...typical of John Wayne's war films: heroic, nationalistic, patriotic, sentimental, and hokey. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 11/10/2006
C+
The most interesting element of this typical John Wayne WWII picture is his relationship with his former wife, played by the estimable Patricia Neal. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 01/05/2006
C
Routine WW II submarine film that's lengthy and short on action but long on romance. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Russ 06/03/2023 Of the WW2 sub pictures made during or after the war, this is probably the worst. It is, however, one of the two that touched on the failures of the Mark 14 torpedo. See more Steve D 04/05/2023 Miscast Wayne in a better than average story. See more 11/12/2020 Wonderfully delicious WWII film, great cast, good story, let your love for the classic genre run away! Good cast, See more 07/20/2018 Wonderful movie with great historical references See more 04/26/2018 Unfortunately The Duke didn't leave as much of an impression as usual, with this surprisingly corny, but still very entertaining war drama, as he did with his previous one, The Sands of Iwo Jima. Side-note: Unless you are a sizeable fanatic of war and romance films, (or a John Wayne fan), then this movie is not the one for you. My grade for the film: B- See more 02/05/2016 Lightly entertaining John Wayne submarine drama. The Pacific Theatre of WW2. Lt Commander Duke Gifford (played by John Wayne) is the Executive Officer of a US Navy submarine, the USS Thunderfish. The submarine fleet, incl the Thunderfish, is suffering from malfunctioning torpedoes. Meanwhile Commander Gifford is also trying to win back his ex-wife... A stereotypical John Wayne movie, i.e. overly gung ho and not that accurate, militarily. Some quite unrealistic battle scenes. The relationship side is mildly interesting but also overly melodramatic and complex. Not all bad though, as long as you don't think too much. The battle scenes are quite exciting and there are some insights into submarine life. See more Read all reviews
Operation Pacific

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Cast & Crew

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George Waggner

Director

John Wayne

Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford

Patricia Neal

Lt. (j.g.) Mary Stuart

Ward Bond

Cmdr. John T. "Pop" Perry

Scott Forbes

Lt. Larry

Philip Carey

Lt. (j.g.) Bob Perry

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Operation Pacific

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the South Pacific, submarine officer Duke Gifford (John Wayne) and the crew of the "Thunderfish" are attacked by the Japanese during a rescue mission, and their torpedoes malfunction. Returning safely to Pearl Harbor, Duke meets his ex-wife, Mary (Patricia Neal), who still feels strongly for him but is engaged to a pilot, the brother of Duke's commander, Pop Perry (Ward Bond). Determined to win Mary back, Duke is sidetracked when he and the crew are ordered on a mission with new torpedoes.
Director
George Waggner
Producer
Louis F. Edelman
Screenwriter
George Waggner
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 49m
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