Released in 1958, The Deep Six is both a romance and World War II drama starring Alan Ladd as Alexander "Alec" Austen, a lieutenant in the Naval Reserves called up for active duty during World War II.
Ladd, almost 45 at the time, seems too old for the part and I had trouble buying the idea that Susan Cahill (the love interest here) played by Dianne Foster (around 30 when the film was made) would so easily fall for the somewhat haggard, older-looking Ladd (this was six years before the actor's death due to an alcohol and drug overdose).
The romance between Alec and Susan which ends in marriage represents a sub-plot which has little to do with the main narrative which takes place on a US Navy Destroyer.
While the machinations aboard the ship prove to be a standard familiar story, the internal arc of the protagonist proves anything but routine. And that is the influence of Alec's Quaker upbringing on whether he really is fit to be a soldier. The narrative presents a series of tests that Alec must undergo before we discover whether he can overcome his disdain for killing during combat.
The first "trial by fire" involves his commanding officer Lt. Comdr. Mike Edge (Keenan Wynn) who ridicules him for his Quaker background and suggesting that he's really a conscientious objector at heart. Fortunately for Alec, the Commander of the ship, Warren Meredith (a solid James Whitmore) will have none of Edge's bigotry and continually reminds him how unprofessional he is.
It's Edge who again berates Alec for his humane treatment of German U-boat survivors and asks him if he has the ability to "hate" at all-a necessary component in combat as Edge sees it.
Alec fails the test when he "freezes" and fails to give an order to shoot down what appears to be an enemy plane. Lucky for him the plane was American but Meredith transfers Alec to damage control after he admits that fear overtook him during the crucial moment of decision.
Alec's reputation is restored after removing an unexploded bomb below deck along with his pal "Frenchy" Shapiro (William Bendix playing a Jewish Chief Petty Officer of all roles).
Alec proves his mettle further during a fistfight with a group of Merchant Marines while the ship is docked in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Wholly predictable, we discover that Alec "had it in him" all along. During a mission to save stranded airmen on a Japanese-held island, Alec kills a group of Japanese soldiers to save both himself and Frenchy who come under attack. Unfortunately, Frenchy is severely wounded but does not survive.
In addition to the stellar cast of principals, the ship's crew is made up of various ethnic types with Joey Bishop playing Ensign Ski Krokowski in his first film role.
Ultimately. I couldn't get too excited about Alec's inner conflict as you can predict from the start what is going to happen. Perhaps the character of Alec is just a little too earnest and proper without much of an edge. There's enough action here to keep your interest but in addition to Alec's flat internal arc, the romance sub-plot also bogs the narrative down to the point where everything becomes rather predictable.
Ladd, almost 45 at the time, seems too old for the part and I had trouble buying the idea that Susan Cahill (the love interest here) played by Dianne Foster (around 30 when the film was made) would so easily fall for the somewhat haggard, older-looking Ladd (this was six years before the actor's death due to an alcohol and drug overdose).
The romance between Alec and Susan which ends in marriage represents a sub-plot which has little to do with the main narrative which takes place on a US Navy Destroyer.
While the machinations aboard the ship prove to be a standard familiar story, the internal arc of the protagonist proves anything but routine. And that is the influence of Alec's Quaker upbringing on whether he really is fit to be a soldier. The narrative presents a series of tests that Alec must undergo before we discover whether he can overcome his disdain for killing during combat.
The first "trial by fire" involves his commanding officer Lt. Comdr. Mike Edge (Keenan Wynn) who ridicules him for his Quaker background and suggesting that he's really a conscientious objector at heart. Fortunately for Alec, the Commander of the ship, Warren Meredith (a solid James Whitmore) will have none of Edge's bigotry and continually reminds him how unprofessional he is.
It's Edge who again berates Alec for his humane treatment of German U-boat survivors and asks him if he has the ability to "hate" at all-a necessary component in combat as Edge sees it.
Alec fails the test when he "freezes" and fails to give an order to shoot down what appears to be an enemy plane. Lucky for him the plane was American but Meredith transfers Alec to damage control after he admits that fear overtook him during the crucial moment of decision.
Alec's reputation is restored after removing an unexploded bomb below deck along with his pal "Frenchy" Shapiro (William Bendix playing a Jewish Chief Petty Officer of all roles).
Alec proves his mettle further during a fistfight with a group of Merchant Marines while the ship is docked in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Wholly predictable, we discover that Alec "had it in him" all along. During a mission to save stranded airmen on a Japanese-held island, Alec kills a group of Japanese soldiers to save both himself and Frenchy who come under attack. Unfortunately, Frenchy is severely wounded but does not survive.
In addition to the stellar cast of principals, the ship's crew is made up of various ethnic types with Joey Bishop playing Ensign Ski Krokowski in his first film role.
Ultimately. I couldn't get too excited about Alec's inner conflict as you can predict from the start what is going to happen. Perhaps the character of Alec is just a little too earnest and proper without much of an edge. There's enough action here to keep your interest but in addition to Alec's flat internal arc, the romance sub-plot also bogs the narrative down to the point where everything becomes rather predictable.