The Flying Missile

I stream videos in the background while I'm doing other work, and when I started this one, I wasn't expecting a lot. However, after a slow start, it grabbed me, and I ended up being distracted and not getting anything done. I also learned a few things I hadn't known, and followed up with a quick detour down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. All in all, a pleasant diversion.

I don't know about you, but I always found Glenn Ford a rather dull actor to watch. He wasn't bad, just unremarkable - and this maritime adventure sort of confirms that. He is a determined (bolshy) US Naval Commander who is convinced of the merits of launching missiles from submarines - despite scepticism from the upper echelons - and so sets out to coax, cajole and bulldoze his theories through. Viveca Lindfors "Karin" provides the love interest, and indirectly some of the conflict as her father is a devout pacifist. The end result is never in jeopardy and to a certain extent the film smacks of willy-waving at the Soviets in the immediate (1950) aftermath of WWII - with scant regard to fact. I tend to like submarine adventure films (usually because they are exciting and there is normally an absence of slushy love scenes) but this doesn't really satisfy either of my criteria and so whilst it's not rotten, it's almost as bad - it's bland.

Of course McHale's Navy didn't appear until over a decade after this movie was made, but there are elements of this movie that remind me of McHale's Navy...stealing supplies, crewmen horsing around. The attempts at comedy were largely unsuccessful however.

This movie involves the implementation of Commander Talbot's (Glenn Ford) vision of missiles being launched from submarines. And he, and his crew, go through major contortions (a la McHale's Navy style) to get this accomplished. Of course, while so occupied, romance intervenes. And the girl's (Viveca Lindfors) father is a major stumbling block. He is a pacifist who is strongly against the commander's efforts.

Although slow moving, this film is still quite watchable. The acting is fair and the story is reasonable. It is obviously pro-military and I'm sure heartily embraced by the Dept. of Defense. For the amount of money which appears to have been spent on this production...very little...it turned out fairly well.

Although this is not a war movie per se, fans of WW2 era material will probably enjoy this one. My vote: 6 out of 10.

This film is in my 16mm collection and is quite old with various splices which makes it difficult to do a decent technical analysis. Additionally 16mm films are generally limited to mono sound tracks and substandard sound fidelity. If this film is available on video or DVD, I am unaware of it.

Disapline in theUSA non existent ado as you like on atop secret base What a waste of a great cast and a show up for the USA forces Walt Disney where were you

It Never Ceases to Amaze.

The Parade of Never-Ending Boasting from the Governmental Influence on Hollywood in the Post-WWII Years.

Taking Victory-Lap After Victory-Lap at the Expense of Good Taste and Humility.

Yes We (the Allies) Defeated Evil in Another Us vs Them Slaughter for the Sake of Saving Humanity from Itself.

We Won the War...Hurrah.

A Good Example of the Hollywood Unbridled Assault on Movie-Goer Sensibility and Tolerance,

is those Prolog "Government is Your Friend" Embarrassments that got Tacked-On Otherwise Good Movies.

Some "Authority Figure" Reading from Cue-Cards About this and that to Pacify and Glorify.

Back to this Movie.

It is a Forgotten-Film and Deserves the Neglect.

Wasting Glen Ford and other Valuable Resources the Movie Plays-Out Like a Military Training Short.

Void of Creativity and Any Entertainment Value.

File this One in the Dust-Bin of Hollywood History with those Other Obsoletes.

Because this Contains Absolutely Nothing Worth Anyone's Time..