GRAY LADY DOWN

US, 1978, 111 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Ned Beatty, Stephen Mc Hattie, Ronnie Cox, Dorian Harewood, Rosemary Forsyth, Charles Cioffi, Michael O’ Keefe, Christopher Reeve.
Directed by David Greene.

Gray Lady Down is an interesting action thriller – given some plausibility in its treatment of a ship going to the rescue of a nuclear submarine which has collided with a Norwegian commercial off the coast of Connecticut. The film builds up its tension in terms of relationships of captain and crew, of the urgency of the rescue, of the nuclear issue.

The film has a strong cast led by Charlton Heston. The film was also the cinema debut of Christopher Reeve who was to appear in Superman the Movie at the end of 1978.

The film was directed by English director David Greene. Greene moved to the United States in the 1950s and worked for almost fifty years in television. However, in the late 60s he made a number of feature films including Sebastian and The Strange Affair. He also made the film version of Godspell.

1. Entertaining? The Americanism of the film - impact, morale-boosting, the an armed forces? the film designed for American audience? International audience?

2. The film's using the disaster conventions of the '70s? The disaster itself, the reaction of the men, the details of the rescue? The background of films about the armed forces and morale-boosting and tributes? The techniques of the rescue film? The comradeship of the all-male crew - with the token acknowledgement of the wives? The technological aspects of the film, the presentation of armed forces heroes? The straightforwardness of the film and its style and attitudes?

3. Panavision photography, colour? The emphasis on the sea especially the underwater sequences? The film of the submarine - and its seeming menace under the water? The focus on the technology, the rescue? Suspense, pace and editing, inter-cutting of above-surface sequences and below-surface?
The score and the dramatic touches? (And the inclusion of the sequence from Jaws with the crew supplying the sound effects!)

4. A Charlton Heston vehicle and tits reputation in films as hero, in disaster films? The very American hero?

5. The aims of the film - entertainment, disaster and rescue, the presentation of American prowess? How well did this film succeed within these aims?

6. The nuclear background of the film, risks, the precautions about the submarines, the role of the submarine? Survival of the men within the submarine? The technology for rescue, the equipment?

7. The portrayal of the men - the crew and their skills, as persons, bonds? Blanchard and his role as retiring Captain, Samuelson and his taking over? The atmosphere of joviality at the beginning? The ethos of the armed forces? The sudden change, challenge, fear? Samuelson's criticism of Blanchard? Having to cope?

8. The response to accidents, culpability, the risks of sailing without radar? The sequences on the Norwegian freighter and its colliding, the decisions of the Captain to hurry? The fog? Blanchard's intention of going above
surface? Was he to blame for the accident? Murphy and his blaming himself for being on the watch?

9. The failing of the submarine group in the depths of the sea? The men drowning? The decision to shut the doors - was this decision necessary, inevitable? The feelings of the Captain? The submarine falling within the crevasse, going over the ledge, the rockfalls under the sea? Gravity pulls? The angle of the submarine? The further moving of the submarine, the intrusion of the water through the door? Samuelson and Murphy and their giving their lives to righting the ship, closing the door? The manoeuvre to make the ship upright? The details of the rescue? Gates' heroics with the Snark?

10. The film's portrayal of morale in the doomed submarine? Blanchard and his taking control? The men with nerves, the radio communicator? The injured and the dying? Questions of air, food? Samuelson and his bitterness? His decisions and collaboration? Radio communication and its failure? The use of Morse Code? The men's reactions to the danger, to survival, to the rescue?

11. Bennett and his ability with handling the situation above water? The Admiral and his being roused in the night, his alerting the others, information to the wives? The effectiveness of the short sequence with the wives and the tennis court? Bennett and his control, communication with Blanchard, decisions especially with Gates? His reassurance of the men? A successful operation?

12. Dates and David Carradine's style? His run along the shore, his invention of the SNARK, collaboration with Mickey? His eagerness to test his invention? Collaboration with Bennett, clashes with him? The going down with the expert? The exploration, sonar detection, finding the disused target? The dangers In going down, suspense? The second trip down with Mickey, finding the submarine, the television camera? The decision to plant the bomb and the delicacy of the operation? Gates' character, Mickey's humour and altering the tone of ultra-seriousness in the film? Gates' final decision, helping to steady the submarine, the inevitability of his death?

13. The presentation of the naval personnel, officials, Secretary for the Navy? The equipment and its transport? The decisions, discipline?

14. The achievement, the presentation of contemporary heroics, self-sacrifice?