DOWN PERISCOPE
US, 1996, 92 minutes, Colour.
Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holly, Rob Schneider, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, William H. Macy, Rip Torn, Duayne Martin, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed by David S.Ward.
Down Periscope is a variation on Mc Hale’s Navy. It is also something of an American version of the British Carry On… comedy.
The film is very cheerful but also enjoying itself as undermining pompous authority. Kelsey Grammer plays the commander of a submarine who has had an accident in the past and ruined his chance of further command. Bruce Dern is the admiral out to get more stripes but to bring down Grammer. Rip Torn is the overseeing admiral. Also in the cast is Lauren Holly as the first female on the submarine and Rob Schneider as a very noxious second-in-command who gets something of a comeuppance. William H. Macy is a serious submarine commander.
Grammer is put in charge of a rust bucket but spruces it up and is challenged to wargames, entering into Norfolk Harbour eluding superior supervision – and, with various devices, extending the rules, relying on his rather non-descript crew rise to the occasion, often comically, one-upping Bruce Dern. Some comic situations, some innuendo, some pratfalls, and, at the end, the Village People themselves, along with the cast, singing their hit In the Navy!
The film was directed by David S. Ward whose credits are various and include Cannery Row as well as Major League.
1. An entertaining comedy? The background of films like Mc Hale’s Navy? An American Carry On…?
2. The submarine settings, the naval bases and offices, the docks? The interiors of the submarines? The musical score?
3. The title – and the touch of humour, the opposite of Up Periscope?
4. The introduction to Dodge, on the submarine, setting sights, the golf? His reputation?
5. Admiral Graham, his personality, the staff meeting, his denunciation Dodge? Winslow and his defence? The issue of promotion? The setting up of the war games?
6. The summoning of Dodge, discussions with Winslow, his being put in charge of the Stingray? Its dilapidated state? Introduced to the straggly crew? Losers and loners, sports players and gamblers, Winslows son, Sonar and his hearing abilities, the radio operator and connecting wires through his body… The large cook, Harry Dean Stanton in the boiler room? Emily and the men’s reaction to a woman on-board? The audience expecting pratfalls and comic humour – as well as expecting how well they will react in crises?
7. Dodge, his reputation, his disgrace in the past, the story about his tattoo? His taking command, his sense of irony, summing up people, getting them to do their best? His reaction to Marty, irritated, and Marty’s final insurrection? His reaction to Emily, testing her?
8. Captain Knox, his abilities, not liking George? Graham putting him in charge of the war games? The loyal sailor, and his dislike of Graham and his orders? The details of his work with his crew, conscientious, sonar, strategies?
9. The war games, evading the Orlando, having to get into Norfolk Harbour? Dodge and his ideas, risky, extending the boundaries of orders?
10. Marty, small, serious, irritating, his defying Dodge, calling for his standing down, the tables turned and his being charged with mutiny? Blindfold, condemned, making Marty walk the plank – and into the fishing nets?
11. The dive, Emily and her experience, landing on the ocean floor, everybody silent, the Orlando misinterpreting the silence? Sneaking through? Graham and his exasperation, making the wargames more difficult, stricter rules and areas of containment?
12. The action of the various men, Sonar and his ability to pinpoint everyone, and his ability with whales sounds and the use? Winslow’s son and his surliness yet loyalty? The football player, the gambler, their discussions about his techniques and the bets? The radio officer and his connecting the wires through himself? Howard and his role in the boiler room? Fixing the leaks, putting the whiskey in the fuel?
13. The decision to squeeze through the vehicles, Emily withdrawing, yet her shrewdness, the tension of getting them through, Dodge wanting to test her?
14. The torpedoes, their being fired? Contact with Graham, too late?
15. Winslow, Graham not getting his stars? The new nuclear submarine and Dodge in charge, his demanding from Winslow to have the same crew? The revelation of Winslow’s son?
16. And the humour of having the Village People sing In the Navy, and all the crew joining in and a recap of all the humorous events?
