Down Periscope Submarine Fiction Film Directed By David Ward

Released in 1996, Down Periscope was a comedy film. The film was directed by David S Ward and produced by Robert Lawrence. The story and screenplay were written by Hugh Wilson, Andrew Kurtzman and Eliot Wald.

Down Periscope was based on an efficient Lt. Commander and his struggle to regain his dignity, position according to his capability. The music of the film was directed by Randy Edelman. Films leading character of Lt. Commander Thomas Tom Dodge was enacted by Kelsey Grammer. Lauren Holly, the only female artiste, acted as Lt. Emily Lake, the first lady submarine crewmember of Navy.

In Down Periscope, we see Lt. Commander Thomas Tom Dodge was an efficient and deserving officer of US Navy. But due to his unusual and abnormal way of commanding, he was dismissed from commanding his own sub-marine. His main rival was Rear Admiral Yancy Graham (Bruce Dern). Graham intimated at Dodges approach and became successful, convincing the higher authority to drop him from the command program. But with the help of Vice Admiral Dean Winslow, Thomas Dodge got an opportunity to prove his worth. He was ordered to clear a test in which he had to fight against opponents diesel driven submarine.

Dean Winslow instructed him to forget all the rules of warfare and just fight for existence. He said that his only target should be victory, which could lead him to command of a Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine. Dodge was ordered to think like a pirate to conquer the war. In Down Periscope the character of Winslow was played by Rip Torn. Dodge was given a rusty old Balao-class diesel driven submarine, the USS Stingray. The sub was consisted of a number of weird, worthless crew members like impatient, hot-tempered Executive Official Martin Pascal, mutinous engineman 1st class Brad Stapanek, and two three more along with a lady Lieutenant Emily Lake.

The team of Dodge had to fight with well equipped updated USS Orlando submarine which was commanded by Carl Knox featured by William H. Macy. After many ups and downs including Grahams wickedness, Dodge could take upper hand and win the battle. At the end of the movie Down Periscope Winslow greeted and offered Dodge a Seawolf-Class sub along with a worthy group of crew members. But he refused to that and told Winslow that he would like to be with the crew of the USS Stingray.

Down Periscope was a submarine fiction film. The diesel driven USS Stingray submarine shown in the movie, is the original USS Pampanito (SS 383) of the US Navy, which is now displayed in Pier 45 Museum of San Francisco, CA. the movie was liked and admired by cinema lovers as well as critics. The key point was its acting especially of Kelsey Grammer, which made it so natural. The scene where the crew members were singing In the Navy with the village people is unforgettable. Down Periscope