The Frogmen (1951War film)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C+
Yes, it is another title in yet another wave of 20th
Century Fox’s War genre films. This
time, it is the 1951 drama The Frogmen with Richard Widmark, Dana
Andrews and Gary Merrill about a team of Navy divers who specialize in
demolition work. Set in World War II,
they must battle the Japanese boats and other Axis dangers. Too bad the film does not have enough
action. Not that we were expecting A
James Bond or Michael Bay film, but the story is mixed and as phony as it
looks, there is simply not enough fake Hollywood water tank action to keep this
one going.
These are still the sequences when the film does not show
its age as much as the flat dialogue and mixed acting deliver. The best part is saved for last when the
title troop goes after a Japanese boat.
Still, it is a very long wait until this happens and the film simply
does not have the energy of better films in its genre. It is worth a look for the old underwater photography
and the three leads could only do so much to save themselves from the
screenplay.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 monochrome image was shot by
Norbert Brodine, A.S.C., and has character at times. Fox fixed this one up, but grain and some artifacts get in the
way of an otherwise decent image. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is a bit better than the original monophonic sound,
with a good score by Cyril Mockridge.
The only extras are a teaser and two trailers, which are as interesting
as the water tank.
- Nicholas Sheffo
