A GLIMPSE OF HELL
US, 2001, 85 minutes, Colour.
James Caan, Robert Sean Leonard, Daniel Roebuck.
Directed by Mikael Salomon.
A Glimpse of Hell is the story of events on the USS Iowa in 1989. An old navy battleship from World War Two, the Iowa was still in action in the 1980s and the holder of a proud training. However, it seems that personnel were not so well trained, that some of the equipment was outdated, the gunpowder coming from the 1940s. Various tests for firing ammunition were done at sea – resulting in an explosion in one of the turrets where forty-seven men were killed.
During the navy inquiry, suspicion was laid at the door of Clay Hartwig, the homosexual officer who was in relationship with another officer. The investigation blamed him for sabotaging the ship after finding a book in his locker. However, no timer was ever found.
The captain, Fred Moosally, played well by James Caan, especially in the final sequences when he gives testimony to the Senate inquiry, toed the navy line. The navy wanted an investigation but also a result which did not blame the navy, the ship or its equipment. Hartwig became a scapegoat – but questions were raised when his family questioned his bequest to leave his insurance to a friend. The FBI became involved in the investigation and interrogated the men who were allegedly in relationship with Hartwig.
Lieutenant Dan Meyer (Robert Sean Leonard in yet another very serious role), who was an adviser to the film, was critical of the inquiry – he had inspected the damage, had identified the bodies – which placed Hartwig nowhere near the possibility of sabotage. He was considered as a traitor and silenced. However, Dale Mortenson, who worked as an engineer and had stood up to Meyer, collaborated in the investigation with Meyer and the criticism of the navy. Ultimately, there was a Senate inquiry where the captain could not say that he could lay the blame on Hartwig.
The film was an interesting look at navy life an action but, more importantly, a picture of an organisation trying to protect itself and individuals suffering accordingly.
The film was directed by cinematographer Mikael Salomon, who moved to cinema and television director in the 1990s. His films include A Far-Off? Place, Hard Rain, Dean Kuntz’s Sole Survivor.
1.A film based on actual events, 1989, the action and accident, the investigation? The film based on a book looking at the case? The film over a decade after the events and the Senate inquiry?
2.Audience response, to the navy and action, to patriotism, to navy discipline, action, the inquiry, the cover-up and pressures?
3.Investigations, the preservation of the reputation of the navy, at the expense of individuals? The truth, the questions asked, the questions avoided? Blame? Scapegoating?
4.The situation of the explosion, the information about the Iowa, its age, the personnel and training, the gunpowder being old, the dangers? The explosion, the fire, forty-seven killed? Hartwig and the blame? The background of homosexuality in the navy, relationships, suicide? Issues of sabotage? Blame, information leaked to the media, the effect on Hartwig’s family, on men who served with him?
5.The technical advice for the film, Dan Meyer and his perspective?
6.The perspective of Dan Meyer, his voice-over, his family background, career in the navy, his father and submarines, his hopes for a battleship? The turret, his own command? His relationship with the captain, expectations? Tough, ambitious, his experience? Advice? The clashes with Mortenson? (*? You said Martenson here and from here on, but earlier it was Mortenson) Mortenson standing up to him? Their later collaboration?
7.The men, on board, the life, Hartwig, relationships, suggestions, his social life, dating and his inability to kiss, friendships? The two men alleged to have been in relationship? Their interrogations, the FBI browbeating the suspect into an admission, his later retraction?
8.The admiral, the display, the explosion, Meyer and Mortenson searching, identifying the bodies, the damage?
9.The navy heads, the choice of the admiral for the investigation? His assistant and minder? The role of the captain, the role of Gill, the advice to give short and factual answers? The line-up of men being interrogated?
10.Meyer and his information, the assistant, stopping the tape, the captain calling him a rat, the discussions with Mortenson?
11.The men, their information, its being catalogued – and the captain later reading it before replying to the Senate?
12.The passing of time, Hartwig, the book in his locker, explosives, the family and the issue of the insurance, the letter, the response of the navy? The FBI, the search of the room, the innuendo? The browbeating of witnesses? The conclusion and their report?
13.Meyer, the discussions with his father, seeking advice?
14.Meyer, the captain, testing the questions, advising the captain to read the testimony of the men?
15.The role of the media, television, the reporters, the leaks, cumulative effect, the press conferences, the admiral and his assistant watching the television?
16.The Senate inquiry, the conclusions of the admiral, the captain and his reading the material, risking his career, his explanation of why he couldn’t answer the questions, the range of questions, his not blaming Hartwig?
17.The family listening to the Senate inquiry, the mother, her past concern about his son and his reputation, her thanking the captain?
18.The aftermath, Meyer, leaving, his being saluted by everyone? Mortenson and his work in a factory?
19.The perspective on naval action, history, inquiries, justice or not?
