LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

John T. Ryan BY THE YEAR of Anno Domini 1959, Television had take the upper hand in the struggle for supremacy of filmed stories. IOt was during this era that the small screen in our living rooms managed to dim the lights on so many, many of the old neighborhood movie houses that once populated our cities. It was by this time that the big Studios capitulated to the Networks; albeit in one, particular area.FOLLOWING YEARS of actively opposing any venturing into active participation in TV production; even to the point of forbidding their stars to do guest shots on television.* EVEN THESE Studio Moguls were compelled to rethink this position; opting that, "if we can't lick 'em, we might as well join 'em!" Before long, the Studios were in TV; enthusiastically supporting what they formerly held out against.STARTING OUT IN a manner that would seem to have been borrowed from Walt Disney's DISNEYLAND Show; MGM, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Brothers all had weekly hour long anthology series. In them, there would be some look at the history of movies, showcasing some of their old successes. They might interview a current Star and plug his/her current release. (Can you say, "Infomercial?" SO WAS THERE and then a sort of "cross pollination" between Actors on the Big and Small screens. Movie Stars did Guest Shots on TV and those starring in popular series would.............YES, THEY WOULD be featured in theatrical films. Our honoree of today, is just such an example.WITH THE PRODUCTION of UP PERISCOPE, the wheel had, indeed, the wheel had spun a full. The film starred James Garner (star of WB's hit series, MAVERICK) and also prominently featured Ed Byrnnes (popular as supporting character,"Kookie", on the same Studio's hot detective show, 77 SUNSERT STRIP.IN WHAT HAD echoes of Warner's DESTINATION TOKYO, the production team had assembled a great cast. Edmund O'Brien, Andra Martin, Alan Hale, Jr., footballer Frank Gifford and gruff, perennial Sgt. or Chief Petty Officer, Henry Kulky. Also look for a young Warren Oates as a seaman.THE STORY WAS somewhat similar to the previously mentioned DESTINATION TOKYO: but it had more of a "back home" subplot featuring Mr. Garner and his love life than the other film. There was a sort of modernization in the storyline; which was not made during the War, and hence lacked any element of propaganda.THE ACTION WAS good and it was filmed in Warnercolor; an advantage that the old, wartime productions lacked.WE DO RECOMMEND it, if you haven't viewed it, you may be pleasantly surprised. It's just too bad that they didn't make more movies like this in the 1950's. Maybe then there would be more Neighborhood Movie Houses still open today!NOTE:* This boycotting of television was a direct reversal of the Studios' policies about old time Radio; where they used it to their advantage at every possible instance. (Perhaps the Movies and Television were too similar, no?)

sol1218 **SPOILERS*** It's 1942 and things are not looking that good for the US Navy with the Japanese now in control of the entire South Pacific west of Midway Island. It's under these dangerous conditions that US Navy frogman, or Navy Seal as they would later be called, Lt. Kenneth Barden, James Garner, is hand picked to sneak onto a Japanese held island and photograph, with his mini-spy camera, the Japanese secret code that in the end would save thousands of American lives in the upcoming invasion of the Solomon and Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific!Before he takes off on his mission Barden was having a affair with local California girl Sally Johnson, Andera Martin, who fell madly in love with the handsome hunk of a sailor. What Barden didn't know is that Sally was working for US Naval intelligence and ironically picked him, by his qualifications both under the sheets and underwater, to go on what is considered to be a suicide mission that he may never come back from!A bit slow at first with Braden on the USS Baracuda being shipped out in Japanese infested waters to get on shore and photograph and come back with the secret Japanese naval code with the Japs , in him doing everything possible to avoid contact with them, completely in the dark about it! We have as a sidelight in the film with the by the books and take no BS submarine commander Camdr. Paul Stevensen, Brian O'Brien, who's fanatical going by the book almost has him thrown in the brig by not following US Navel regulations that in fact turned the tide of the war in the Pacific in the US' favor!***SPOILERS*** Nothing really exciting happened in the movie with the exception of a Jap Zero attack on the Baracuda, and a few Jap boats being sunk, until Barden finally goes ashore on the Japanese held island in his what was to be a mission impossible mission that no one believed, including himself, he would survive anyway. It's here where Camdr. Stevensen finally used some common sense and gave Barden some slack in getting back safely to the awaiting sub, that was quickly exhausting it's oxygen supply,that made the mission a success! Even though the stupid and robotic jerk, Camdr. Stevensen, was more then ready to get himself court-martial-ed for doing it! P.S There's also in the film it's beautiful sweet and haunting theme song "Please be Kind" everythime we have both Braden and Sally together. You don't know until later in the film the reason Sally burst into tears when she was with Barden in that it was her recommendation, that Barden was totally unaware of, that may possibility send him to certain death! Luckily for her as well as Barden things didn't turn out all that bad for both of them.

sailjz My name is Jim Zeller and I am trying to locate some information about my cousin who was stationed in New London where this movie was at least partially filmed. At that time he was the senior enlisted Chief on this submarine and was responsible under the Captain for all the ships activities. The producers, or whomever, decided that they would use " Ed Zeller " , Navy Chief in the film because he had a lot of tattoos and his persona really showed that of a real military person. "They" decided to use him in the film as a "torpedo loader" and an "extra" for this film since he identified with the picture that they were presenting. I would like to know where I can find this movie or any comments from people that may have known him. His name " Ed Zeller " , now deceased. Thank you Jim Zeller

bux O'Brien is the sub commander, who loses the trust of his crew, Garner the naval officer assigned a commando mission-but the real story here is the vintage cast-Richard Bakalyan and Warren Oates are joined by TV's familiar faces: Edd (Kooky) Byrnes, Henry (Otto Schmidlapp from "Life of Riley") Kulka, and Alan (the Skipper from "Gilligan's Island") Hale Jr. The fine performances are punctuated by adequate action scenes that result in a very watchable picture.