Crimson Tide (film)

Crimson Tide is a 1995 Hollywood film starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman and directed by Tony Scott. It is a typical submarine film, focusing on the tension that occurs between the men who must not only share the scarce and dangerous space aboard an Ohio-class nuclear submarine, but also the weight of responsibility for the nuclear SLBMs they are trained to deploy, and the mental stress of the dire consequences that could result from either failure or success in doing so. In the film, this tension occurs primarily between the characters played by Hackman and Washington; supporting characters such as the Chief of the Boat (George Dzundza) and WEAPS (Viggo Mortensen) are surprisingly more complex than expected however, and hold their own views of the unfolding situation that aren't always the same as either of the lead characters. The film was scored by Hans Zimmer.

Plot

The film takes place in the near future during a period of instability in the Russian Federation. An ultranationalist has taken control of a nuclear missile installation and is threatening nuclear war if either the Americans or the Russian government attempt to confront him.

The United States nuclear strategic missile submarine U.S.S. Alabama is given the mission to go on patrol and be available to launch its missiles in a pre-emptive strike if the Russian nuclear installation attempts to fuel its missiles, in which case they can be launched one hour after the fueling process begins. Captain Frank Ramsey (Hackman) is the commander of the sub, one of the very few Captains remaining in the US Navy with any experience in combat. He chooses as his new executive officer (XO) Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Washington), who has an extensive education in military history and tactics, but no combat experience.

The Alabama eventually receives an order to launch its missiles on the Russian nuclear installation, based on satellite information that the missiles are being fueled. However, before the Alabama can launch its missiles, a second message begins to come through, but is interrupted by the attack of a Russian Akula-class attack submarine friendly to the ultranationalist cause. The communications systems are damaged in the attack, the remainder of the message cannot be received, and the message cannot be authenticated. Cut off from communications, attacked by the hostile Akula and with an order in hand to launch, Capt. Ramsey decides to proceed with the launch. XO Hunter refuses to concur as is procedurally required to launch, and instead tries to confirm the second message, which he believes is a retraction of the previous launch order. Eventually, Hunter orders the arrest of Ramsey for attempting to exceed his authority, Ramsey escapes confinement to confront Hunter with charges of mutiny, and the two men struggle for authority. Eventually, the crew divides into those loyal to the captain and those who do not want to risk nuclear war. In the end, the communications equipment is repaired and it turns out that the Russian army has the situation under control and the rebellion is subdued, eliminating the need to launch the missile. Captain Ramsey retires and Hunter is given a command.

Background

The film is based on the premise that, at the time, U.S. submarine commanders were authorized to launch missiles on their own initiative if they could not communicate with the President of the United States after the order to arm the missiles was received. At about this time, the procedure was changed so that missiles could only be launched if a direct order from the Commander-in-Chief was received, even if communications had been broken off in the meantime. This matched Russian policy on submarine based missile launches, which had always required direct orders to launch.

Although the film does not claim to be based on a true story, events that transpire throughout the plot are strikingly similar to one of the most tense periods of the Cuban Missile Crisis. On October 27, 1962, a Soviet submarine officer named Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov reportedly refused to comply with the launch of a nuclear warhead while apparently under attack by a U.S. warship near Cuba In order to initiate such an attack, Soviet naval procedures stated that the captain and two other officers must concur [http://www.airmic.com/Vasili-Arkhipov.asp. The other officer on duty agreed to the launch, but Arkhipov convinced the captain to wait for instructions from Moscow before proceeding.

Trivia

The name of the film is a reference to one of the nicknames of the University of Alabama football team.
The U.S. Navy refused to assist with the making of the movie because it depicts a mutiny on a US Naval vessel.
U.S Navy submarines sometimes use red lighting in the control room to allow the Officer of the Deck's vision to adjust for night-time periscope viewing.
Ohio-class SSBNs have no compartment called bilge bay despite its presence in the film.
Though credited to screenwriter Michael Schiffer, the film had at least three script doctors: Quentin Tarantino, James Toback and Robert Towne.
The Jack Russell Terrier in the movie was introduced by the character played by Gene Hackman as one of the smartest dog breeds in the world.

Awards

As of 2005, this film is one of only two films (the other being Philadelphia) in history to feature three actors who had won, or would go on to win, two Academy Awards for acting: Jason Robards had won two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor in 1976 (All the President's Men) and 1977 (Julia); Gene Hackman won a Best Actor Oscar for The French Connection in 1971 and a Best Supporting Actor award in 1992 for Unforgiven. Denzel Washington had already received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Glory in 1989, and would later win a Best Actor Oscar for his 2001 role in Training Day.

Cast

Denzel Washington as Lt. Commander Ron Hunter
Gene Hackman as Captain Frank Ramsey
George Dzundza as Chief of the Boat (COB)
Viggo Mortensen as Lt. Peter (WEAPS) Ince
James Gandolfini as Lt. Bobby Dougherty
Matt Craven as Lt. Roy Zimmer
Lillo Brancato Jr. as Russell Vossler
Rocky Carroll as Lt. Darik Westergaurd
Danny Nucci as Petty Officer Danny Rivetti
Steve Zahn as William Barnes
Ricky Schroder as Lt. Paul Hellerman
Vanessa Bell Calloway as Julia Hunter

External links