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Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, Theodore Bikel, Russell Collins, Kurt Kreuger ... see more see more... , Frank Albertson , Biff Elliot , Alan Dexter , Doug McClure , Jeff Daley , Joe Di Reda , Ralph Manza , David Bair , Joe Brooks , Peter Dane , Vince Deadrick Jr. , David Hedison , Ralph Reed , Robert Boon , Dale Cummings , Maurice Doner , Richard Elmore , Sasha Harden , Michael McHale , Robert Whiteside , Ronnie Rondell

The Enemy Below is a study of submarine warfare from the vantage point of both sides. Robert Mitchum plays the captain of an American destroyer, who despite having lost his family in the war endeavors... read more read more... to let his head rule his heart in combat. Curt Jurgens co-stars as a German U-boat commander, depicted as being as honorable and compassionate as Mitchum. The two men develop a grudging mutual respect as they pursue one another throughout the North Atlantic. Based on a novel by D. A. Rayner, The Enemy Below was the last theatrical film directed by Dick Powell, who hereafter concentrated on his extensive television work. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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76% liked it

4,258 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Dick Powell

Release Date: December 25, 1957

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (159)

  • webalina
    May 31, 2010
    webalina
    A real nail-biter of a film about a naval destroyer, captained by Robert Mitchum, playing cat and mouse during WWII with a German U-Boat, captained by Curt Jurgens. The film doesn't pick sides for the most part, showing respect for both crews, and particularly both captains as th... read moreey try to predict each other's moves. It shows that even though we may be "enemies" politically, we are not really any different from each other. Such a good film I was almost late for work because I needed to see how it ended.
  • flixsterman
    April 8, 2010
    flixsterman
    It's Curd Jürgens vs. Robert Mitchum in this technically accurate battle of wits. An American destroyer stalks a German U-boat across the South Atlantic. An intelligent homage to WWII sailors on both sides.
  • chaleins
    October 12, 2010
    chaleins
    One of the better films made about submarine and anti-submarine warfare, The Enemy Below takes a unique dual view of the action. It's basically a duel between an escort vessel and the U-Boat that they are hunting, a scenario that's been used in other films like it. While it suffe... read morers from the obviously propagandist nature of World War 2 films, it's better than most when it comes to the human non-political nature of this kind of warfare. Curt Jurgens plays his German opponent with his usual grim-faced vigor.

    The depiction of the action is pretty good by the standards of the day, although the plot is somewhat predictable. The destroyer escort depicted is accurate as to class, and actual crew of a real US destroyer escort were extras in the film. The U-Boat set is less impressive, and fails to capture the cramped nature of the small German boats in the Atlantic. Das Boot still remains the best of this genre, but Enemy Below is pretty competent as to tactics and devices used. Based on a book by a former British Navy officer, the whole scenario closely resembles similar ram-and-sink incidents in the North Atlantic convoy actions.

    Robert Mitchum played a number of naval officers during his long and varied career, but this is one of his better gutsy performances.
  • DrLappos
    May 9, 2008
    DrLappos
    Brilliant. Love the underse death aspect.
  • jam233
    March 22, 2010
    jam233
    79/100. I feel Robert Mitchum is the most under appreciated actor of his time. For some reason at that time he wasn?t considered a skilled actor, all the attention went to Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, William Holden and Marlon Brando. His performances in Heaven Knows Mr. Allison... read more, The Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear are three of the best performances of all time. He is excellent in The Enemy Below as well. Great story with a fascinating plot and characters that evolve beautifully. It?s a good study of human nature and respect. Good cinematography, very well produced. Suspenseful and intriguing, with a rousing score.
  • accounts1
    June 8, 2007
    accounts1
    Kurt Jurgens and Robert Mitchum are great. This movie actually plays out the "down time" in a suspenseful way that really works.
  • tyrsson17
    March 17, 2007
    tyrsson17
    Robert Mitchum puts in a decent performance as a destroyer captain in this World War II sea drama. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast are unconvincing. Jamaican Rastafarians would have been closer to authentic German accents than what this movie offers. The American sailers a... read moreren't much more believable.

    Despite its faults, though, "The Enemy Below" is still an interesting study in post World War II drama. Put into the context of the decade following the war, this story seems to be as much a commentary on the era of the Marshall Plan as it is about the matching of wits of two experienced sea captains. As such, it probably does deserve a place as a war classic.
  • realman7777
    January 17, 2007
    realman7777
    Here another Mitchum film is a match of wits between an American naval officer and a German submarine Captain. A 1 of a kind in its type of movie it has a twist showing both sides . A must see.
  • scrambledegg7
    September 29, 2006
    scrambledegg7
    (Note - on my reviews from now on, I'm going to attempt to put an ultracondensed plot synopsis so you can get a quick sense of what kind of movie it is without having to look it up.)

    This was a pretty decent movie. It's about an American submarine chasing a German one during Wor... read moreld War II, which doesn't sound like all that interesting a plot synopsis to me. The back of the DVD described it as "a game of cat-and-mouse," and, honestly, that's what it felt like. It was actually fascinating to watch the German captain trying everything he knew to get away from the American sub, so he could complete his mission. A bit of political stuff about war, but the movie didn't feel like a political diatribe.

    My only real complaint about the movie was some of the stuff at the end. The ending just didn't feel right. All of them seem to be peacefully co-inhabiting. Is there *no one* on either sub who's going to react negatively toward the other side? Other than that, though, pretty good movie. Probably wouldn't watch it again, though.
  • hmstiger
    September 26, 2006
    hmstiger
    A bit unrealistic in some of its sentiment in the submarine, but still a classic, and a good look at yet another small part of the War. Our veterans are dying out, but we must never forget and fail to understand this great and pivotal moment in U.S. and world history.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
January 28, 2012
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. Full Review

Christopher Lloyd
March 14, 2011
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 entertai... Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

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March 25, 2006
New York Times

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January 10, 2004
Chicago Reader

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Chuck O'Leary
October 6, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Linda Cook
July 25, 2004
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

Frank Swietek
April 15, 2004
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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May 24, 2003
Film4

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