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War drama

Submarine Command (1951): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch

Submarine Command (1951) movie poster

Submarine Command is a 1951 war drama directed by John Farrow, starring William Holden as Lt. Cmdr. Ken White, Don Taylor and Jack Gregson. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Where to watch Read the plot summary
Submarine Command (1951) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m (87 min)
Director
John Farrow
Genres
Drama , War
Original language
English
Studio
Paramount Pictures
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Submarine Command About?

The premise of Submarine Command without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During the Korean War, submarine commander Ken White leads a dangerous rescue aboard the same sub where, in World II, he ordered an emergency dive that killed his captain and a crewman. Plagued by guilt, stuck in shore duty and facing a failing marriage, White must confront his past when the navy reassigns him to the vessel for a daring operation.

Submarine Command Themes & Keywords

· 49 tags
  • war at sea
  • submarine
  • naval officer
  • u.s. military
  • sea rescue
  • survivor
  • submarine captain
  • u.s. navy
  • world war two
  • year 1943
  • naval uniform
  • voice over narration
+37 more
  • u.s. airman
  • navy wife
  • ptsd post traumatic stress disorder
  • farrow and holden
  • two word title
  • submarine commander
  • cigarette smoking
  • barefoot male
  • bare chested male
  • boat
  • ship
  • man wears shorts
  • man wears sandals
  • signed photograph
  • framed photograph
  • photograph
  • african american
  • sleeping shirtless
  • working shirtless
  • binoculars
  • restaurant
  • 1940s
  • mothball
  • korean war
  • strafing
  • japanese ship
  • torpedo
  • downed aircraft
  • recalled to active duty
  • guilty conscience
  • korea
  • nostalgia
  • sinking
  • japanese navy
  • depth charge
  • periscope
  • u boat
Where to watch

Where to Watch Submarine Command

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

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Cast & crew

Submarine Command Cast & Characters

William Holden leads the cast as Lt. Cmdr. Ken White, with Don Taylor as Lt. Cmdr. Peter Morris and Jack Gregson as Cmdr. Joshua Rice. Directed by John Farrow; 47 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Submarine Command

· 43 more
Show all 47 cast members
Plot

Submarine Command Plot Summary

What happens in Submarine Command from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

During the Pacific War, Lt. Cmdr. Ken White orders the submarine Tiger Shark to crash dive to evade a Japanese aerial attack. CPO Boyer begs him to wait for the captain, Cmdr. Josh Rice, who remains topside, but White refuses, and Rice (his good friend) and the quartermaster are lost. When they surface, they learn that the war is over. No one besides Boyer blames White—not even the captain’s widow and father.

Full summary

The whole story of Submarine Command, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Submarine Command?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which submarine does Lt. Cmdr. Ken White command during the Korean War mission?
Details

Submarine Command Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “Duel sous la mer” and “Squali d'acciaio”.

Also known as
  • Duel sous la mer
  • Squali d'acciaio
  • U-Kreuzer Tigerhai
  • Comando submarino
  • Μονομαχία στις θάλασσες της Κορέας
  • 潜艇突击战
  • Команда субмарины

Seen Submarine Command?
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Movies Like Submarine Command

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Submarine, Submarine Patrol and Submarine D-1.

FAQ

Submarine Command FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Submarine Command, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Submarine Command?

Submarine Command runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).

When was Submarine Command released?

Submarine Command was released on November 1, 1951.

Who directed Submarine Command?

Submarine Command was directed by John Farrow.

More films by John Farrow

Who is in the cast of Submarine Command?

Submarine Command stars William Holden as Lt. Cmdr. Ken White, Don Taylor as Lt. Cmdr. Peter Morris and Jack Gregson as Cmdr. Joshua Rice, among 47 credited actors.

Where can I watch Submarine Command?

In the US, Submarine Command is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

Does Submarine Command have a post-credit scene?

No. Submarine Command has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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