THE FROGMEN
US, 1951, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Jeffrey Hunter, Warren Stevens, Robert Wagner, Harvey Lembeck.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
The Frogmen is fairly standard war material from 20th Century Fox at the beginning of the '50s. It uses regular stars from their productions at that time and they give creditable performances. The film shows the competence of underwater demolition squads as well as commenting on some of the reckless heroism. There are action war sequences and conflict of characters. The film is in crisp black and white, was directed by Lloyd Bacon, a director of some repute at Warner Brothers in the '30s with a variety of credits in gangster films, comedies and musicals.
1. The entertainment value of the war film and the war tribute? The genre in the '40s and ' 50s? Their impact later?
2. The conventions of the war film ? the establishing of the corp, the personnel and their authority, characters, potential for clashes? The ordinary men? Skills, skills in operation, dangers, conflicts and heroism? How well were these presented here?
3. Black and white photography, underwater photography, war action adventure?
4. The authentic background of the plot? The role of underwater demolition squads during World War Two, especially in the Pacific? The men in these groups? Their relationship with the Navy? The clashes, the elitism? The co-operation? The swimming skills, the stealth, the work with explosives? The importance of their role in battles, in the winning of the war? The appropriateness of the film as a record, a tribute?
5. The presentation of the demolition team - Lawrence as a rather dour commander, his relationships with the men, his relationship with Pete Vincent? The early disciplinary action when his men clashed with the sailors and their work? His reading lectures to them? His leading them in operations, his injury, their criticisms and comparison of him with their previous commander who died heroically? His inability to make himself popular? His concern for Creighton after his injury, the clash with Flanagan about the foolhardiness? The final mission and his welding the men together and their tribute to him? Richard Widmark and his personal style in the role?
6. The contrast with Flanagan? Dana Andrews as the critic? His relationship with the men, their clash with the sailors, the memory of the previous commander, the sketch? His friendship with Creighton, their putting the placard on the beach, the clash with Lawrence about this? Lawrence demoting him? His criticisms, leading the transfers, his heroism at the demolition of the bomb and the respect for Lawrence? His participation in the final action?
7. Pete Vincent as the captain of the ship - control, support, wisdom? The other members of the crew - officers, workmen on the decks and the initial clash?
8. The presentation of the demolition squad - the various personalities, their loyalties, clashes? Jokes, tensions?
9. The importance of showing the demolition squad in action - the explanation of the strategies, maps, transmission of orders, the underwater photography, the dangers and risks, the skills in setting explosives, the techniques and timing of picking up the men and getting them back to the ship? The group going out of radio contact and surviving? The various manoeuvres and skills?
10. The value of this glimpse of soldiers in action in World War Two?
