The first famous work about submariners - the novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" - appeared in 1869. After almost 40 years, he was first filmed by the French director Georges Méliès, who created a dumb short film with incredible special effects at the time. Since then, films and series about submariners have always been of interest, as viewers have always been attracted by the opportunity to find out what it feels like to sleep, do everyday business, love and hate, while inside a submarine plunged into the depths of the World Ocean.
Silent movie
As already mentioned, long before the Russian TV series about submariners appeared, in 1907 the Frenchman Georges Méliès decided on a bold experiment and made an attempt to shoot the first picture of people who traveled to the deeps of the sea on a fantastic deep-sea vehicle. Although the picture was called the same as Jules Verne’s novel, its plot was rather comedic and did not at all resemble the story of Captain Nemo. The achievements of the picture should be attributed to the fact that it became the first “color” tape in the history of cinema.
After 7 years, the American director Stuart Peyton shot his version of the famous work of Jules Verne, trying to convey the plot as accurately as possible. The main merit of the filmmakers can be considered that they were the first to include real underwater shooting in the art picture.
Sea hawk
Today, Russian TV shows about sailors and submariners are watched with pleasure by both children and adults, spoiled by Hollywood pictures about disasters and adventures. It is not hard to imagine what a sensation more than 75 years ago the appearance of the first full-length Soviet film called "Sea Hawk" about the crew of a submarine fearlessly fighting the enemy made.
The picture began to be shot in the summer of 1941. The main roles in the film were played by Ivan Pereverzeev and Andrey Veit. To give an opportunity to finish the picture, after the outbreak of the war, the actors and the film crew were evacuated to Tashkent, and the main actors were given a reservation, although they wrote a request to send them to the front. Despite the obvious absurdity of the plot, the picture is recognized as public domain, which is quite natural. Despite the fact that she starred in extreme conditions, the creators of the film managed to create a real work of cinematic art.
“Commander of the happy Pike”
This picture about submariners, shot in 1972, immediately became the reason for the increased interest in this complex military specialty among millions of boys in all corners of the Soviet Union. The film “The Commander of the Happy Pike” is dedicated to the feat of the Northern Fleet sailors, who in the most difficult conditions did not stop fighting the enemy for a moment and performed the most difficult tasks, often even contrary to instructions requiring caution. By the way, those who prefer to watch series about submariners, probably know that this picture in 1985 appeared a two-part sequel. A film called "Listen in the Compartments" tells about the everyday life of Soviet sailors. During the planned exercises, one of the submarines is in the same trap as the "Happy Pike" during the Great Patriotic War. A new generation of submariners is proving themselves worthy of the glory of their fathers.
Secret Channel
This Soviet mini-series was released in 1986. It is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Leonid Platov and talks about events that simultaneously unfold during the Second World War and in the late 40s of the 20th century.
The hero of the picture - the commander of a Soviet torpedo boat Boris Shubin - accidentally finds himself on board the German submarine "Flying Dutchman" and tries to unravel its secret, simultaneously becoming an eyewitness to Nazi crimes.
"The shores of my dreams"
A mini-series with the same name, dedicated to Russian sailors, appeared in 2013. He talks about two generations of submariners. The hero of the picture, who has recently put on officer epaulets, will have to unravel the complex tangle of family secrets. Over the course of 12 episodes, he must find out if his own father was a traitor to the Motherland, and how secret equipment intended for the USSR submarine fleet turned out to be in the United States.
"Convoy PQ 17"
Like many other series about submariners (Russians), this television project is dedicated to heroes-sailors who fought with the enemy during the Great Patriotic War. The first episode begins in June 1942, when a caravan of ships called PQ-17 comes out from Reykjavik to Arkhangelsk. Ships carry goods for the USSR along the route passing through the North Atlantic. There the caravan is already waiting for German submarines and bombers. In addition, the Nazis sent the battleship Tirpitz to intercept the humanitarian convoy. The announcement of his appearance forced the English Admiralty to withdraw its ships guarding the caravan. The audience will have to find out if the sailors can reach Arkhangelsk, and who will help them overcome the dangerous route.
“Below us is the enemy”
This harsh film was shot in 1957 and is dedicated to the events of the Second World War. According to the plot of the picture, the US Navy destroyer and the German submarine play cat and mouse in the South Atlantic. Director Dick Powell invited actors Robert Mitchem, David Hedison, Kurd Jurgens, Russell Collins, and Theodore Bickel to the film. The picture was shot only 12 years after the end of World War II, when its creators and spectators had fresh memories of terrible events that left an indelible mark on the fate of an entire generation of inhabitants of the earth.
“The hunt for Red October”
Those who like to watch TV shows about submariners should definitely watch this picture, which received the prestigious Academy Award. She talks about the commander of the Soviet submarine Marco Ramius, who decided to surrender his submarine to the Americans. He kills the political commander Ivan Putin and begins to misinform the crew, reading to his members the false orders of the higher command.
The leadership of the Northern Fleet becomes aware of Ramius' plans, and an order is received to drown the Red October, on board of which there is a secret weapon that should not reach the Americans.
This film is worth watching, if only to understand what stereotypes regarding Russians were in the minds of US citizens immediately after Perestroika.
"Go quiet, go deep"
At one time, this picture gathered full halls in all corners of the United States. Spectators were attracted by the interesting plot and the workshop of the incomparable Hollywood heartthrob Clark Gable. The actor managed to create a colorful image of Captain Richardson, whose submarine was sunk by the Japanese destroyer Akikazu. He manages to get a new assignment to a submarine such as sockeye salmon and begin the hunt for his "iron" enemy.
"72 meters"
Not a single article devoted to films and series about submariners can be complete without a story about this picture, which immediately became a cult. It was played by the most famous stars of Russian cinema of the early 2000s - Marat Basharov, Sergey Makovetsky, Andrey Krasko, Chulpan Khamatova, Vladislav Galkin and others.
K-19
A Hollywood picture with this name will surely appeal to those who like to watch TV shows about submariners. Russia and the Soviet Union in films of overseas directors for decades exhibited a concentration of world evil. K-19 was one of the few exceptions to this rule, as it pays tribute to the exploit of Soviet submariners who did everything to shut down their submarine’s nuclear reactor and prevent a massive environmental catastrophe. The main role in the film was played by Harrison Ford, who created a true and respectful image of the Soviet commander, trying not to change the oath and at the same time save the life of his crew.
Now you know the most interesting feature films and series about submariners. Such paintings evoke a sense of respect for people who have chosen a difficult profession and risk their lives every day, protecting the sea borders of their homeland.