The Frogmen
Richard Widmark plays Lt. Commander John Lawrence, a sympathetic but unfairly disliked leader of a group of Navy underwater demolition experts in the fascinating World War II dramaThe Frogmen. Basically a story written around some authentic Navy footage of real frogmen in action, the film is full of daring maneuvers that (even when occasionally simulated) reveal much about the clandestine operations of frogmen as they engage in reconnaissance and ambushing missions, sometimes under cover of night. As such,The Frogmenwill delight Navy buffs, but the very human tale of a commanding officer losing the respect of his men for reasons he can't help is universally compelling. Dana Andrews and Jeffrey Hunter play two of the men under Lawrence's command who request transfers after Widmark's officer proves a little more by-the-book than their previous, much-beloved boss. Gary Merrill has a nice supporting role as a ship's reflective, pipe-chewing commander who befriends Lawrence and helps him get through a tough time. There are several, nicely suspenseful set pieces, including a harrowing scene involving an unexploded torpedo sticking its nose into sick bay (while a major character is helpless to flee).--Tom Keogh