Gray Lady Down (1978): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Gray Lady Down is a 1978 drama thriller directed by David Greene, starring David Clennon as USS Neptune Crewmember, Robert Symonds and Charlton Heston. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $5.4 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- David Greene
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Gray Lady Down About?
The premise of Gray Lady Down without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Trapped underwater with time running out, the USS Neptune—a nuclear submarine—sinks off Connecticut after colliding with a Norwegian cargo vessel. The Navy launches a risky rescue operation, racing against the clock to save the trapped crew and prevent further disaster.
Gray Lady Down Themes & Keywords
· 35 tags- underwater scene
- self sacrifice
- disaster drama
- nuclear submarine
- submarine
- collision
- rescue
- collision at sea
- 16mm projector
- reference to the avon lady
- pentagon
- collision course
+23 more Show fewer
- radar
- secretary of defense
- major
- retirement
- model ship
- asian american
- water pressure
- condensation
- tennis
- morse code
- african american
- minisub
- rescue from drowning
- drowning
- u.s. navy
- disaster film
- submarine accident
- atomic submarine
- mini submarine
- u boat
- disaster
- based on novel
- title spoken by character
Gray Lady Down Cast & Characters
David Clennon leads the cast as USS Neptune Crewmember, with Robert Symonds as Secretary of Navy and Charlton Heston as Captain Paul Blanchard. Directed by David Greene; 26 actors are credited in all.
- Director David Greene
-
David Clennon as USS Neptune Crewmember - Robert Symonds as Secretary of Navy
-
Charlton Heston as Captain Paul Blanchard - Rosemary Forsyth as Vickie Blanchard
Also Starring in Gray Lady Down
· 22 more- Stacy Keach Captain Bennett
- Ned Beatty Mickey
- Christopher Reeve Phillips
- Michael O'Keefe Harris
- Stephen McHattie Murphy
- David Carradine Captain Gates
- Ronny Cox Commander Samuelson
- Charles Cioffi Admiral Barnes
- Dorian Harewood Fowler
- Charles Robinson McAllister
- David Wilson Hanson
- Jack Rader Harkness
- William Jordan Waters
- Ted Gehring
- Charles Cyphers
- Hilly Hicks Page
Show all 26 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Melendy Britt Liz Bennett
- Antony Ponzini Caruso
- John Stuart West Submariner
- Lawrason Driscoll Lieutenant Bloome
- James Davidson
- Jeffrey Druce
More from David Greene
More films directed by David Greene, best-rated first: Godspell, The Girl Next Door, Bella Mafia and Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II.
Gray Lady Down Plot Summary
What happens in Gray Lady Down from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Aging, respected Captain Paul Blanchard, Charlton Heston, is on his final submarine tour before promotion to command of a submarine squadron. Surfaced and returning to port, the USS Neptune is struck by a Norwegian freighter in heavy fog. With the engine room flooded and its main propulsion disabled, Neptune sinks to a depth of 1,450 feet (440 meters) or approx. 6 fathoms on a canyon ledge above the ocean floor. A United States Navy rescue force, commanded by Captain Hal Bennett, Stacy Keach, arrives on the scene, but Neptune is subsequently rolled by a gravity slide to a greater angle that does not allow the Navy’s Deep-submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) to complete its work.
Full summary
The whole story of Gray Lady Down, scene by scene
Gray Lady Down Box Office
Gray Lady Down grossed $5.4 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$5.4M
- US & Canada
- $5.4M
Gray Lady Down Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip Gray Lady Down - Trailer
How Well Do You Know Gray Lady Down?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the submarine commanded by Captain Paul Blanchard?
Cars in Gray Lady Down
3 cars on screen, including the Jeep CJ-5 and the Corbitt D-808.
-
Jeep CJ-5 Important role -
Corbitt D-808 Minor role -
1971 Ford unknown Background role
Gray Lady Down Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Alerta roja: Neptuno hundido” and “Sauvez le Neptune”.
- Also known as
-
- Alerta roja: Neptuno hundido
- Sauvez le Neptune
- 原子力潜水艦浮上せず
- S.O.S. Submarino Nuclear
- S.O.S. - Submarino Nuclear
- S.O.S. Από Ατομικό Υποβρύχιο
- Παγίδα στο Βυθό
- Salvate il Gray Lady
- U-Boot in Not
- Mélytengeri vészjelzés
- Серая Дама уходит на глубину
- Потъването на "Сивата дама"
+6 more Show fewer
- Fanget i dybet
- Ponorka na dně
- 死亡潜航
- 위기의 핵잠수함
- Tragedia Neptuna
- Gri Hanım Battı
Seen Gray Lady Down?
Movies Like Gray Lady Down
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sub Down, Submarine and Morning Departure.
Gray Lady Down FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Gray Lady Down, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Gray Lady Down?
Gray Lady Down runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Gray Lady Down released?
Gray Lady Down was released on March 10, 1978.
Who directed Gray Lady Down?
Gray Lady Down was directed by David Greene.
More films by David Greene Who is in the cast of Gray Lady Down?
Gray Lady Down stars David Clennon as USS Neptune Crewmember, Robert Symonds as Secretary of Navy and Charlton Heston as Captain Paul Blanchard, among 26 credited actors.
How much did Gray Lady Down make at the box office?
Gray Lady Down grossed $5.4 million worldwide.
Does Gray Lady Down have a post-credit scene?
No. Gray Lady Down has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
