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Up Periscope
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGordon Douglas
Screenplay byRichard H. Landau
Based onUp Periscope
1956 novel
by Robb White
Produced byAubrey Schenck
Howard W. Koch
Edwin F. Zabel
StarringJames Garner
Edmond O'Brien
Andra Martin
Alan Hale Jr.
Narrated byEdmond O'Brien
CinematographyCarl E. Guthrie
Edited byJohn F. Schreyer
Music byRay Heindorf
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • March 4, 1959 (1959-03-04)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million[1]
Box office$1.5 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)[2]

Up Periscope is a 1959 World War II submarine film drama directed by Gordon Douglas, produced by Aubrey Schenck and starring James Garner and Edmond O'Brien. The supporting cast features Andra Martin, Alan Hale Jr., Edd Byrnes, Warren Oates and Saundra Edwards. The film was shot and processed in WarnerScope and Technicolor and was distributed by Warner Bros. The screenplay was written by Richard H. Landau and Robb White, adapted from White's novel of the same name.

Garner called the film "another piece of crap that Warner Bros. stuck me in while I was under contract."[3]

Plot

[edit]

Lt. Kenneth Braden, a newly trained U.S. Navy frogman, is unexpectedly ordered to report for duty without being able to notify his new girlfriend Sally Johnson. He learns that she is a naval intelligence officer responsible for a recent confirmation of his character and fitness for a special mission.

Submarine commander Stevenson, whose crew's morale has been shaken by the recent unnecessary death of a crew member, is ordered to take Braden to the island of Kusaie (Kosrae) to photograph a code book at a Japanese radio station. Stevenson waits in Lelu Harbor while Braden executes his covert mission.

After Braden returns, Stevenson dictates a letter accusing himself of endangering his submarine and crew in order to make Braden's mission easier. When they reach Pearl Harbor, Braden informs Stevenson that his crew "lost" the letter. To Braden's surprise and delight, Sally is waiting at the dock to greet him.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic A. H. Weiler wrote: "[I]t seems to run a familiar and somewhat undramatic course. ... Although there are moments of tension in 'Up Periscope,' it sails a movie course that is not particularly exciting. The bravery shown here is no longer unsung."[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Up Periscope

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Up Periscope is a 1959 American black-and-white World War II submarine adventure film directed by Gordon Douglas and produced by Aubrey Schenck for Warner Bros. Starring James Garner in his first leading role as Lieutenant Ken Braden and Edmond O'Brien as Commander Paul Stevenson, the film follows Braden, a Navy underwater demolition expert, who is assigned to a submarine mission to photograph secret Japanese radio codes on an enemy-held island in the Pacific theater. Adapted from the 1956 novel of the same name by Robb White, the screenplay was written by Richard H. Landau and White himself. The film opens with Braden being pulled from a budding romance to undertake the high-risk espionage task, leading to tensions with the cautious submarine commander as they navigate enemy waters. Shot in 111 minutes on wide-screen, it features supporting performances by Andra Martin as Braden's love interest Sally Johnson, Alan Hale Jr. as Lieutenant Malone, and early appearances by Edd Byrnes and Warren Oates. Released on March 4, 1959, Up Periscope earned $1.5 million in North American rentals. Critically, the film received mixed reviews for its familiar plot and standard dramatic elements, though it was praised for the professional cast and direction that honored the bravery of WWII submariners. Contemporary audiences appreciated the suspenseful submarine sequences and Garner's charismatic debut, contributing to his rising stardom, while modern assessments note its use of stock footage from earlier war films like . With an rating of 6.4/10 and a , Up Periscope remains a modest entry in the genre of cinema.

Background

Source material

Up Periscope is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by and first published in by Doubleday. The book, aimed at younger readers, offers a detailed portrayal of submarine operations in the Pacific theater. , who graduated from the in 1931, returned to in 1941 and served in the Pacific during as a —including participation in the —drew on his naval experience to craft the narrative. His firsthand knowledge of and covert missions informed the story's authenticity. The novel is set in 1943 and follows Lieutenant Ken Braden, a recent graduate of the U.S. Navy's , assigned to a high-risk mission aboard the USS Shark. Braden's objective is to infiltrate a Japanese-held in the South Pacific to photograph or retrieve critical radio codes, while tensions escalate between him and the submarine's captain over tactical decisions, such as a long-range attack conducted at over three miles. The plot highlights the perils of submarine patrols, including a 57-day mission through enemy waters, and explores themes of , conflict, and heroism under pressure. Described as based on true events, the story reflects real covert operations by frogmen and demolition teams during the , emphasizing the strategic importance of gathering in the Pacific campaign. At 251 pages, the combines adventure with technical insights into tactics and underwater .

Development

The Up Periscope by Robb White, a adventure centered on a naval officer's covert mission, was first published in by Doubleday. Film rights to White's were acquired in August 1957 by the producing team of Edwin F. Zabel, Howard W. Koch, and Aubrey Schenck, marking the initial step toward . The was developed shortly thereafter, with Richard H. Landau adapting the source material; a typescript of the script, dated September 4, 1957, indicates rapid progress in pre-production scripting. Although White was initially slated to contribute to the , he received no onscreen credit for the final version. Production responsibilities fell to Schenck and Koch under their independent banner, Lakeside Pictures, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Early casting considerations in March 1958 included Tab Hunter for the lead role, contingent on his schedule from the film Damn Yankees. By April 1958, plans solidified for principal photography in Technirama format, with locations targeted in Hawaii to capture authentic Pacific settings. In May 1958, Warner Bros. publicly confirmed the project as a theatrical release under the independent production team of Zabel, Koch, and Schenck.

Production

Casting

James Garner was cast in the lead role of Lt. j.g. Kenneth M. Braden, marking one of his first major starring opportunities in film following his breakout success as on the television series Maverick. Warner Bros., recognizing Garner's rising popularity from television, positioned Up Periscope as a key step in transitioning him to cinematic leading man status. Edmond O'Brien portrayed the submarine commander, Paul Stevenson, selected for his established dramatic presence and one prior Academy Award nomination (for which he won Best Supporting Actor for ), which added authoritative weight to the film's wartime narrative. Andra Martin was chosen for the female lead as Sally Johnson, Garner's love interest, in a role that highlighted her emerging screen appeal during the late . The supporting cast included as the boisterous Lt. Pat Malone, Carleton Carpenter as Lt. Phil Carney, and as Pharmacist Mate Ash, with these actors contributing to the ensemble's portrayal of naval camaraderie. made his uncredited film debut as Seaman Kovacs, an early credit in his extensive career. , the star, appeared as the Mount, leveraging his athletic background for authenticity. Casting for the lead initially targeted , who was attached to the project in March 1958 but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts with . was also pursued for the role earlier that year but ultimately unavailable. For the female lead, was a strong contender in mid-1958 but did not join the production.

Filming

Principal photography for Up Periscope took place from early July to late August 1958. The production was filmed in Technicolor and , later referred to as WarnerScope, to capture the confined interiors of the while emphasizing dramatic tension. Much of the film was shot at sea in the aboard the real U.S. USS Tilefish, highlighting the authenticity of the underwater sequences. This approach was made possible through extensive cooperation from the Department of Defense, the U.S. , and the Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, which provided access to naval facilities and vessels. Some exterior and base scenes were filmed at submarine bases around , , leveraging the region's military infrastructure during a surge in submarine-themed productions in the late . Interior studio work occurred at Warner Brothers Studios in . Initial plans included location shooting in using the process, but the final production adhered to for its widescreen format. The budget exceeded $1 million, reflecting the logistical challenges of filming on active naval assets in remote oceanic environments.

Content

Plot

In 1942, during in the Pacific theater, Lieutenant (j.g.) Ken Braden, a skilled and recent top graduate of the U.S. Navy's school, is selected for a high-risk . His mission is to infiltrate the Japanese-held island of Kusaie, locate an enemy radio station, and photograph a vital to aid Allied efforts. Braden is transported to the target area aboard the submarine USS Barracuda, commanded by the strict, by-the-book Paul Stevenson, who prioritizes crew safety and protocol above all. Aboard the Barracuda, tensions simmer between the hot-headed Braden and the cautious Stevenson, exacerbated by Braden's clashes with crew members, including a brawl that lands him in the . The submarine faces immediate dangers during its approach, including evasion maneuvers against patrolling Japanese destroyers and , while a prior incident—where an injured crewman died after the submarine delayed its return to to avoid a Japanese —fuels crew resentment toward the . Meanwhile, back in San Diego, Braden has begun a whirlwind romance with Sally Johnson, a WAVE in naval intelligence who reveals she was secretly assessing his psychological fitness for the mission; she awaits his return at . As the Barracuda positions near Kusaie, Braden swims ashore under cover of night, successfully photographing the despite close encounters with Japanese guards. On his return swim, he battles a but reaches the rendezvous point. The , forced to linger perilously close to the to retrieve him, withstands depth-charge attacks from Japanese vessels and aerial bombings, testing Stevenson's resolve and the crew's endurance. Ultimately, the mission succeeds, the Barracuda escapes to , and Braden and Stevenson forge mutual respect, with Braden reuniting with Sally.

Cast

Up Periscope features in the lead role of Lt. Ken Braden, a skilled and demolitions expert selected for a high-risk mission to photograph a Japanese code book on a Pacific . plays Commander Paul Stevenson, the disciplined submarine captain who leads the USS Barracuda and often clashes with Braden over protocol. portrays Sally Johnson, an intelligence WAVE who evaluates Braden's suitability for the assignment and develops a romantic interest in him. The supporting cast includes as Lt. Pat Malone, a lighthearted awaiting promotion who provides aboard the . Carleton Carpenter appears as Lt. Tom Carney, another key handling communications and . The crew is depicted by actors such as as Mount, William Leslie as Doherty, as Peck, as Ash, as Floyd, and as York, contributing to the film's portrayal of submarine life under pressure. This ensemble marks an early big-screen starring opportunity for Garner, following his breakout television success on Maverick, while O'Brien brings veteran intensity from his prior acclaimed roles in films like . Hale Jr.'s performance as Malone highlights his knack for affable authority figures, a trait he later amplified in . The cast effectively balances tension, humor, and wartime camaraderie in the submarine setting.

Release

Premiere

Up Periscope had its New York premiere on March 4, 1959, at the Roxy Theatre, located at Seventh Avenue and Fiftieth Street in . The event marked the film's debut in the United States, presented by in black-and-white and wide-screen format, with a runtime of 111 minutes. The premiere included a lavish stage show to complement the screening, featuring performances by singer Teal Joy, dancer Takeuchi Keigo with the Imperial Japanese Dancers, and the Roxy Singers and Dancers. This entertainment was typical of the era's big-city theater openings, enhancing the spectacle for audiences attending the submarine drama directed by Gordon Douglas and produced by Aubrey Schenck. The following day, published a review of the premiere, describing the film as a familiar tale of underwater tension with capable leads and , though it followed a predictable course without standout excitement. No records indicate attendance by principal cast or crew at the event, aligning with the modest promotional rollout for the mid-budget production.

Box office

Up Periscope earned an estimated $1.5 million in U.S. and Canadian theatrical rentals during its initial release. This figure reflects the film's performance in the domestic market, where Warner Bros. distributed it as a mid-tier World War II adventure. The performance positioned it as a moderate commercial earner, consistent with James Garner's emerging stardom following his television success on Maverick.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release, Up Periscope received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its technical aspects and performances while critiquing the formulaic plot and lack of dramatic tension. of commended the film's professional execution by writer Richard Landau, director Gordon Douglas, and the cast, particularly highlighting the strong performances of as the submarine captain and in his first leading role, as well as the effective use of to depict underwater sequences. However, Crowther found the storyline overly familiar and undramatic, echoing previous submarine films like , with predictable conflicts that failed to generate sustained excitement despite occasional tense moments. Variety offered a generally favorable assessment, appreciating the film's salute to World War II submarine crews and its brisk pacing, but noted that the sentimental ending—featuring crowds cheering the returning crew into harbor—felt implausible amid wartime secrecy. In aggregate, the film holds a 32% audience approval rating on based on over 100 user ratings, with only 2 critic reviews and no Tomatometer score as of November 2025, reflecting its middling status among 1950s war dramas. Later critiques, such as Glenn Erickson's in DVD Savant, described it as the least distinguished entry in the era's submarine , attributing the subdued tension to extensive U.S. Navy cooperation in production, which prioritized accuracy over high-stakes drama.

Retrospective views

In the decades following its release, Up Periscope has been regarded as a competent but unremarkable entry in the 1950s , often overshadowed by more acclaimed contemporaries like (1958) and (1957). Critics have noted its simplified adaptation of Robb White's novel, which prioritizes procedural authenticity over dramatic depth, resulting in a that lacks the intense psychological tension found in those films. Filmed aboard the real USS Tilefish with U.S. Navy cooperation, the movie benefits from realistic depictions of submarine operations, though land-based scenes suffer from clichéd dialogue and underdeveloped characters. James Garner's performance as Lieutenant Ken Braden has drawn particular retrospective praise, marking an early showcase of his easygoing charisma and humor that propelled him from television's Maverick to film stardom. While the skipper role played by provides solid support, Garner's presence is seen as a highlight, compensating for the script's routine plotting and helping the film appeal to audiences as light wartime entertainment. Modern reviewers appreciate it as a transitional work in Garner's career, emphasizing his natural screen appeal in a dominated by more somber tones. Scholars of cinema have analyzed Up Periscope within broader trends of that subtly critique military authority, portraying command decisions under pressure in confined spaces as sources of . Unlike wartime pieces, it reflects a late-1950s shift toward examining procedural adherence and crew dynamics, though without the deeper subversion seen in later works. Overall, the film is valued today for its historical snapshot of Cold War-era naval optimism rather than innovative storytelling.

Legacy

Home media

The film Up Periscope was first released on home video in the VHS format by Warner Home Video in 1992. It received a DVD release from Warner Home Video on December 19, 2006, as a single-disc edition in Region 1. The DVD features a encoded video at resolution with a 2.35:1 , presented in anamorphic 16:9 . Audio options include English and French Mono tracks, with English subtitles available. The release runs 112 minutes and is unrated, with no special features included. No official Blu-ray edition has been released as of 2025. Digital versions became available for purchase and rental starting in the 2010s through platforms such as Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, , , and Vudu. These digital formats support streaming and download in high definition, often compatible with for cross-platform access.

Influence and recognition

Up Periscope played a significant role in advancing James Garner's career, serving as one of his first leading roles in a major theatrical release following his breakout success on the television series Maverick. Directed by Gordon Douglas and released by Warner Bros., the film showcased Garner's ability to portray a determined lieutenant on a high-stakes mission, helping to solidify his transition from television supporting roles to film stardom in the late . This opportunity highlighted Warner Bros.' investment in Garner as a rising talent, positioning him alongside established actors like and contributing to his growing reputation as a versatile leading man in action-oriented dramas. In the broader context of World War II submarine films, Up Periscope employs expository voice-overs and titles to situate the narrative in the South Pacific theater of , a stylistic choice common in docudrama-style naval pictures. The film's recognition remains modest within , primarily as a representative entry in the post-war submarine cycle rather than a groundbreaking work. While it did not garner major awards or nominations from bodies like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it is noted as a well-regarded in director Gordon Douglas's filmography.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1959/03/05/archives/up-periscope-at-roxy.html
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053399/
  3. https://archives.lib.fsu.edu/repositories/10/resources/784
  4. https://warnerbros.fandom.com/wiki/Up_Periscope
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053399/trivia
  6. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/up_periscope
  7. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5352076W/Up_periscope
  8. https://www.usni.org/people/robb-white
  9. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/robb-white
  10. https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/robb-white/up-periscope.htm
  11. https://archive.org/details/upperiscope00whit
  12. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53053
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1958/05/02/archives/cecelia-parker-in-hardy-movie-kid-sister-in-series-ending-12year.html
  14. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16491/up-periscope
  15. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16491/up-periscope#articles
  16. https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2002/april/filming/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053399/locations/
  18. https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/james-garner-of-maverick-rockford-files-dies-at-86-1201265361/
  19. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/79323%7C8782/Alan-Hale-Jr.
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053399/releaseinfo/
  21. https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/1959-top-grossing-movies/
  22. https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2197up.html
  23. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7765/9781847791863.00009/html
  24. https://vhscollector.com/movie/periscope
  25. https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Up-Periscope-DVD/7342/
  26. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/up-periscope
  27. https://www.blu-ray.com/digital/Up-Periscope-Digital/8201/
  28. https://emanuellevy.com/oscar/oscar-actors-garner-james-background-career-awards/
  29. https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/90917/2/1805%20and%20all%20that.pdf
  30. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gordon-Douglas
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