The Enemy Below
A disciplined American captain and an equally formidable German commander wage a tense strategic duel across the South Atlantic during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Overview
A tense naval standoff unfolds beneath the waves during World War II.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- claustrophobic
- serious
- classic war cinema night
- naval history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a compact, competently written and ably acted naval war drama, with strong aggregate approval.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Captain Murrell and Kapitän von Stolberg alternate as strategic opponents in the destroyer escort's pursuit of the German U-boat.
The American and German commanders are presented as equally experienced adversaries whose skill and discipline drive the duel.
The submarine and destroyer duel unfolds through concealed positions, sonar-like detection, depth-charge danger, and pressure on both crews.
The film foregrounds the USS Haynes, the German U-boat, underwater maneuvering, explosions, and award-winning audio effects.
Films like The Enemy Below, and why
In Which We Serve
shared world war ii naval combat, strategic cat-and-mouse tension, and focused military drama
Das Boot
shared submarine warfare, claustrophobic command decisions, and sustained tactical suspense
The Cruel Sea
shared world war ii combat realism, opposing commanders, and morally serious action drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Dick Powell
- Release Date
- 1957-12-25
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (223)
Cast
- Robert Mitchum
- Curd Jürgens
- David Hedison
- Theodore Bikel
- Russell Collins
- Kurt Kreuger
- Frank Albertson
- Biff Elliot
- Michael McHale
- Alan Dexter
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 The Enemy Below about?
- A disciplined American captain and an equally formidable German commander wage a tense strategic duel across the South Atlantic during the Battle of the Atlantic.
- What is The Enemy Below like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Enemy Below as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Enemy Below violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Enemy Below as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Enemy Below?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a compact, competently written and ably acted naval war drama, with strong aggregate approval.
- Which films are like The Enemy Below?
- Films with a similar feel include In Which We Serve, Das Boot, and The Cruel Sea.
- How long is The Enemy Below?
- The Enemy Below runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Enemy Below?
- In United States, The Enemy Below streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
