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His small team: Leading Seaman Knowles (Michael Craig), Able
Seamen, Morgan (Alec McCowan), and Fraser (Nigel Stock) are
accomplished divers, but unruly. Organization arrives with
Chief Petty Officer Thorpe (Sidney James), a disciplinarian
with a good heart.
As the time for the arrival invasion fleet nears the Admiral
(John Clements) becomes increasingly concerned at the possible
presence of an Italian miniature submarine base in nearby
neutral Spain.
With the connivance of the Admiral's Secretary, Third Officer
Jill Masters (Dawn Addams), Crabb and Knowles dressed in civilian
clothes slip into neutral Spain seeking the enemy's whereabouts.
Silent Enemy is an exciting war story. The menace
and courage of the Italian frogman has been rarely portrayed,
or the role of a small band of British divers determined to
thwart their plans.
The best action scenes are an underwater fight to the death
in and around the wreck of a Sunderland flying boat, and the
secret Italian submarine base which must be destroyed before
the invasion fleet arrives.
Laurence Harvey is a convincing complex character; to the
enemy he is a ruthless opponent who will do anything to kill
them, and yet chivalrous. With military ceremony he commits
the corpse of a frogman to the deep, an honour appreciated
by the man's comrades on the Spanish mainland.
In most good films there is a weakness that the picky can
find. In this one it is the relationship between the Lieutenant
and the Wren. Neither actors, nor director, handle this romantic
interest well.
There is no magic where there ought to be plenty; he's a
good-looking guy and you sure wouldn't leave her to the Barbary
Apes. Jill Masters watches with not a tear, nor a tremble
of the lips, or even a heave of her bosom as Crabb goes out
to sea in a confiscated two-man chariot to his probable death.
Minor carping apart, Silent Enemy is well worth watching.
Both the picture and sound qualities are excellent for a film
of this vintage.
Conclusion: Movie 85% Extras - 20%
Continued: DVD
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