Overview
A gripping tale of duty and sacrifice unfolds as war looms on the horizon.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- serious
- sweeping
- melodramatic
- classic war film night
- military history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a mixed, overlong naval war epic, with some praising its black-and-white cinematography, pacing, and effects while others found its melodrama conventional and shallow.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows three families as naval officers and their loved ones experience the outbreak of World War II.
The production was shot in black and white, giving its naval warfare imagery a hard, sharply defined appearance.
Captain Rockwell Torrey receives orders after Pearl Harbor to locate and attack the Japanese force, making command responsibility central.
The film uses prominent stars including John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, and Tom Tryon across multiple family and military storylines.
Films like In Harm's Way, and why
The Enemy Below
large-scale World War II naval drama centered on military command, personal sacrifice, and Pacific warfare
Tora! Tora! Tora!
black-and-white World War II combat film combining military strategy with interpersonal drama and moral pressure
The Longest Day
expansive wartime ensemble drama portraying soldiers, families, and institutional duty during World War II
Battleground
serious classic war drama emphasizing command decisions, flawed officers, and the emotional cost of military service
Movie Details
- Director
- Otto Preminger
- Release Date
- 1965-04-06
- Runtime
- 165 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (168)
Cast
- John Wayne
- Kirk Douglas
- Patricia Neal
- Tom Tryon
- Paula Prentiss
- Brandon De Wilde
- Jill Haworth
- Dana Andrews
- Stanley Holloway
- Burgess Meredith
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is In Harm's Way about?
- An expansive black-and-white Pacific War drama follows a naval captain and intertwined families through the shock of Pearl Harbor and the burdens of command.
- What is In Harm's Way like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of In Harm's Way as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is In Harm's Way violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in In Harm's Way as moderate.
- What did critics think of In Harm's Way?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a mixed, overlong naval war epic, with some praising its black-and-white cinematography, pacing, and effects while others found its melodrama conventional and shallow.
- Which films are like In Harm's Way?
- Films with a similar feel include The Enemy Below, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Longest Day, and Battleground.
- How long is In Harm's Way?
- In Harm's Way runs 165 minutes.
- Where can I watch In Harm's Way?
- In United States, In Harm's Way streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
