I can still remember as if were yesterday the first time I saw the Tom Clancy classic Hunt for Red October. I was in the U.S. Navy stationed in (what was then) West Germany, at the Joint Intelligence Center, Headquarters United States European Command, in Stuttgart, where I wrote naval intelligence briefs. As a submariner of ten years who was now landlocked, I had a keen interest in Clancy’s book, turned theatrical release. Would the movie do justice to what turned out to be a fine piece of naval fiction?

But I was not the only one. The U.S. Army base on which I was stationed was abuzz with talk of the movie, and the night it opened the base theater was packed to the last seat. Everyone it seemed has turned out to see the movie. And as the credits rolled at the end of the movie, the audience of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel erupted in thunderous applause. And I had seen one of the finest movies ever made.

By now everyone is familiar—or at least should be familiar—with Tom Clancy’s story. Clancy was obscure Maryland insurance broker with a fervor for naval history be fore he penned Hunt for Red October. Until he wrote and published the book—arguably one of the greatest naval themed novels of our generation—he only had a letter to the editor and a brief article on the MX missile to his publishing credit.

After President Reagan sang its praises, calling it “the perfect yarn” Hunt for Red October shot to the top of the prestigious New York Times Best Sellers List. Clancy followed Hunt for Red Octoberup with numerous other best sellers: Red Storm Rising, Patriot Games, Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, Without Remorse and Debt of Honor. But I digress…

Story-Line

Directed by John McTiernan (Nomads – 1986, Die Hard -1988, Last Action Hero – 1993, Rollerball- 2002), Hunt for Red October opens on a gloomy day along the Barents Sea north of Murmansk, headquarters of the Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet. There a Typhoon class ballistic missile submarine—the Red October—puts to sea from Polyarnyy Inlet, home of the Soviet Northern Fleet submarines forces. She is captained by Captain First Rank Marko Ramius portrayed with uncanny perfection by Sean Connery (Goldfinger – 1964, Diamonds are Forever -1971, The Untouchables – 1987, The Rock – 1996, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – 2003). Ramius an intelligent, seasoned and well respected Captain knows full well that his “boat” has been built as a first strike weapon and he intends to defect with her to the U.S. followed by most of his wardroom (group of officers).

Meanwhile in London CIA analyst Jack Ryan, portrayed with ease by Alec Baldwin (Working Girl -1988, Miami Blues – 1990, Ghost of Mississippi -1996, Pearl Harbor – 2001), has made a discovery about Red October; British Intelligence has somehow acquired pictures showing two sets of doors, forward and aft set down the lateral line of the boat. These doors are too big to be meant for torpedoes, and it makes no sense to launch Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM’s), from them; they are always launched vertically, so what are they for?

Ryan flies to Washington DC to brief the Deputy Director for Intelligence (DDI) Rear Admiral James Greer portray by stalwart James Earl Jones (The Great White Hope – 1970, The River Niger – 1976, Conan The Barbarian – 1982, Patriot Games – 1992, Santa & Pete – 2003).

Neither Ryan or the British can figure out what the doors could be used for, so Ryan seeks permission from Greer consult with ex-submarine driver Skip Tyler portrayed by Jeffrey Jones (Amadeus -1984, Ed Wood -1994, Heartbreakers – 2001). Tyler reasons that the Soviets have perfected a “caterpillar” drive, which uses the earth magnetic field to propel the submarine forward by sucking water in through the front of the boat and propelling it out the back. This same principle is applied in maglev trains.

Back in Murmansk, Ramius informs the Russian high command of his intentions to defect by mail. The Soviet Northern Sea and Mediterranean Sea fleet’s sortie (puts to sea) with orders to sink the Red October. Meanwhile we follow Ryan to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise captained by (Senator) Fred Thompson, in the northern Atlantic, then to the Los Angles class fast attack submarine U.S.S. Dallas, captained by Bart Mancuso (Scott Glenn), and eventually to the Red October herself.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. In fact it has become one of only two movies I must watch every year without fail; the other is Last of the Mohicans. While the plot may seems a little far fetched Clancy made the premise believable by breathing life into the demonized Soviets, turning them into human beings with hopes and dreams like the rest of mankind.

Technically, Hunt for Red October is a masterpiece. While the layout of the Typhoon class’s control room (yes it is a real class of Russian submarine, the largest in the Russian fleet, whose missiles are capable of hitting the U.S. from the Barents Sea BTW, she need not travel even a day to launch) had to be guessed at, the depiction of the U.S.S. Dallas’ control room was right on the money. The undersea shots of the submarines maneuvering were well done and true to life, as was the technical jargon used throughout the movie.

The one fly in the ointment, so-to-speak, was the part the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) played in the movie. While DSRVs are designed for quick deployment in the event of a submarine accident, and are transportable by truck, aircraft, or ship, in order to “ride” piggyback on a submarine, the sub must be specially configured (with framework) in order to transport a DSRV. The Navy only has two submarines so equipped.

Outside of this one minor technical flaw, I can find little fault with the movie. Of course Clancy’s book was much more involved then the movie could afford to be, but I feel as though the spirit of the book was married successfully to the screen, brings us a movie steeped in action suspense, and more importantly emotional depth which allowed me to relate to the main characters.

The acting was stellar, Connery especially turned in masterful performance as the grizzled, wise and beloved Russian sub-driver, and Sam Neill (Sleeping Dogs – 1977, Dead Calm -1989, The Piano & Jurassic Park -1993, Perfect Strangers – 2003) deservers honorary mention as his capable and loyal executive officer.

To be sure Hunt for Red Octoberis no Das Boat in its depiction of submarine life, but then it does not try to be, and I did not expect that level of realism. What I get in Hunt for Red October is a well rounded, well written suspense movie that I highly recommend any fan of such genre to watch, and watch often.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older