CRIMSON TIDE

US, 1995, 116 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, George Dzundza, Vigo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Matt Craven.
Directed by Tony Scott.

Crimson Tide was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, responsible for such hits as Top Gun. This time they focus their attention on submarines and the aftermath of the Cold War, nuclear dangers still remaining. The director is Tony Scott, also director of Top Gun (as well as The Hunger, Days of Thunder, The Last Boy Scout, True Romance).

The film had many screenwriters including Quentin Tarantino (and some hip discussions about current issues and submarine movies). There were also contributions by Robert Towne (Chinatown) and Steven Zaillian (The Search for Bobby Fischer, Schindler's List).

The film, while talking about the traditions of submarine movies like Run Silent Run Deep, The Bedford Incident, is a showpiece for Denzel Washington and a confrontation with Gene Hackman as the captain of the ship. The film raises issues of the '90s, rogue Russian nationalists, nuclear dangers, the American response. It also raises issues of letter of the law command in the military forces as well as more personalised interpretations.

1. An action film of the '90s? The US and Russia? Tensions after the Cold War? Nuclear tensions?

2. The world of the submarine? The interiors, a sense of enclosed space and isolation? The dangers in enclosed space under the sea surface, the danger of falling to depths, flooding...? The colour codes for the various locations within the submarine? The contrast with the ending on land? The tension in submarine dramas, in warfare, strategies and tactics, personality clashes? The musical score and its atmosphere?

3. The title and its tone? The contribution of the stars?

4. Russian politics in the '90s, the Ultra Nationalists and their dangers? Nuclear risks? The USS Alabama and its role in defending the US? Alert to Russia? The stances of the personnel in the submarine? The internal submarine politics - right-wing and left-wing, harsh stances and personalised interpretations?

5. The messages coming through, the pre-emptive strike, the torpedoes? The melodrama of the incomplete message? Creating the situation for interpretation? Hawks and doves?

6. Gene Hackman as Ramsay, personality, the letter of the law, against intuition? His hawkish stances? His severity with Hunter and the other members of the crew? COB and his opinion? The factions in the submarine and their clashes? Ramsay as a rallying point for the hawks? His background in military service, Washington and their reliance on him?

7. The contrast with Denzel Washington's Hunter? The Harvard background, dove attitudes? The support of the book and the letter of the law, COB? The interpretation, his opinions with Ramsay, the clash, his taking command?

8. The issues of hawks and doves, the letter and the spirit of the law, the following of orders, risks and interpretation of orders?

9. Hunter and his skills, saving the submarine from the torpedoes, the melodrama of their sinking, the flooding, the deaths? Radio damage? The weapons officer and friendships and loyalties? The factions, their military tactics and alliances, stealth and subterfuge? Freeing Ramsay, imprisoning Hunter?

10. Ramsay and the launch? Hunter and his escape? The orders on the intercom? The battle and the stand-off? The message coming through - and the support of the interpretation of law rather than the letter of the law?

11. The personnel on the submarine, COB and his support despite personal loyalties? The weapons officer? The factions, the leaders and their motives?

12. The court martial, Ramsay and the analysis of his behaviour, his motivation? His future? The two men walking and his support of Hunter?

13. Themes of power, authority? Theories of war?