Operation Pacific

Operation Pacific
by George Waggner

Operation Pacific
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DVD details

Actor: John Wayne, Patricia Neal, Philip Carey, Scott Forbes, Ward Bond
Director: George Waggner
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Bert Glennon
Writer: George Waggner
Editor: Alan Crosland Jr.
Producer: Louis F. Edelman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); Cantonese (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Japanese (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Taiwanese Chinese (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Reviews of Operation Pacific

DVD Review: Solid WW2 Submarine Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

John Wayne gives a strong, honest performance as the skipper of the Thunderfish. Wayne is tasked with two missions. One is to win back his wife (Patricia Neal). The second is to fix the dud torpedoes plaguing the U.S. Pacific Fleet and crippling the Navy's efforts against the Imperial Japanese Navy. The film plays well and is a classic of WW2 submarine flicks.

DVD Review: The Duke + WWII sub movie = How can you lose?
Summary: 4 Stars

Following WWII, a new subgenre of war movies appeared, the submarine movie, including Destination Tokyo, Run Silent, Run Deep, and Torpedo Run among others. But Operation Pacific with John Wayne is not often mentioned or known as a quality WWII submarine war movie, which is too bad because it's a more than solid movie. Returning from a mission that required the crew to rescue two nuns and a group of little kids off a Japanese-held island, the USS Thunderfish returns to Pearl Harbor. Back in port, Lt. Commander Duke Gifford hopes to get back together with his divorced wife, Mary Stuart, and rekindle the love they had four years before. But before he can win her back, the Thunderfish is sent back out on patrol, and with torpedoes that don't blow on impact. The rest of the movie involves the effort to fix the firing pins along with the Thunderfish's involvement at the battle of Leyte Gulf. The sub footage is excellent here as the Thunderfish goes up against everything the Japanese Navy has to offer and more. And unlike a lot of movies with forced love stories, the relationship between Duke and Mary is believable and doesn't detract from the movie overall. A good blend of action, drama and some laughs, Operation Pacific isn't a well-known WWII sub movie, but it's definitely worth a look.

John Wayne had it easy here, starring as a character with his own nickname, Lt. Cmdr. Duke Gifford. Gifford is the first officer on the Thunderfish who while trying to win his ex-wife back has to deal with some unexpected problems that arise. Patricia Neal is a good sparring partner for Wayne as Mary Stuart, his ex-wife and a nurse at Pearl Harbor. Wayne and Neal's scenes together keep the movie going instead of grinding it to a halt. Ward Bond is perfect as Cmdr. "Pop" Perry, the commander of the Thunderfish and Gifford's best friend. Wayne and Bond together were always perfect together, and here is no different. Phillip Carey plays Lt. Perry, Pop's kid brother who is trying to marry Mary which doesn't go over well for Gifford. The crew of the sub includes Scott Forbes, Martin Milner, Paul Picerni in a funny role, William Campbell, Vincent Fotre, Sam Edwards, and in maybe his meatiest part, and his best, Jack Pennick as the Chief.

The DVD is a good deal with a clean B&W standard presentation that looks pretty smooth throughout although it's fairly obvious when war footage is inserted in. Only special features here are a trailer and some brief filmographies of the cast, Wayne, Neal, and Bond. But overall, fans of submarine movies won't be disappointed here, especially with Wayne and Bond together again. Check out Operation Pacific!

DVD Review: Great for a John Wayne Fan
Summary: 5 Stars

This is one of John Wayne's best movies. I think any John Wayne fan will love it.

DVD Review: This 2003 release vs May 22,2007 release
Summary: 5 Stars

I recently bought (on 4/09/06) this DVD which notes "standard version" and "presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition." Amazon is now taking pre-orders for a new May 22, 2007 release, stating it's in widescreen. How can this be? Is part of the top and/or bottom of the film cut off?

DVD Review: .....It's Time To Set The Record Straight.....
Summary: 5 Stars

John Wayne's intrepid portrayal in this movie was taken from true life US Navy happenings that are skillfully blended for substenance for the backdrop of this story...John Wayne needs not to apoligize, either...there was...the raising of the USS Squaliss in 1939 just off the coast of Boston...there was...a US Navy rescue of Catholic Nuns and children from Guadalcanal before the 1st Marine Division's invasion of that island...there was...the sinking of the USS Corvina as noted in this film, as well as other disclosures stated by other Reviewers in here..."Operation Pacific" for whatever warts [imagined or not] is a monumental tribute to the Navy's Silent Service...I admit there were a couple of John Wayne moments, but that's to be expected, [pogey-bait time]...they didn't wrinkle my feathers one iota...I like the guy...the camera was very exquisite in the close/ups of Patricia Neal...wonderous close/ups of her adorable face in fadeout scenes...you can't tell me that these two [2] 'love/birds' maybe carried on/off screen??...Wayne and Neal generated plenty of 'steam' at those dockside scenes...look more closely...just read the know-it-all smirks [of envy] from the other male/stars at the dockside footage...that white-hot tidbit aside, a darn good Navy show and the intrinsic operation of submariner duty deep below the waves...Ward Bond was terrific, Scott Forbes made you notice his contribution, Martin Milner, as the young Ensign, came through with the impact of his declaration of sinking a Japanese submarine..."total silence on the screen"...only imprinted, what may be their lethal/fate along the way...Max Steiner's stiring music/score only adds to the heroic theme, as always...this is a well made Warner Bros' movie and a truly favorite of mine...in summation, I'm so glad we WON WW2...under the cruel sea our steadfast sailors of the US Navy's Silent Service sacrificed to preserve our heritage and the American way of life... 52 US Navy submarines were lost resulting in watery graves for 3,500 officers and enlisted men that marked the way back to Tokyo...God bless 'em all...SGGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

Description of Operation Pacific

World War II rages across the Pacific and Lt. Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford is in the thick of it. He evacuates children from enemy-held islands. Oversees the development of torpedoes at Pearl Harbor. And prowls the depths in the submarine Thunderfish for a chance to aim his improved "tin fish" - torpedoes - at the enemy. John Wayne plays Gifford in Operation Pacific. "I'm no theory man. I'm a line officer," Gifford barks. He backs it up with lots of bite in several feverish sea battles. He's also a man of heart with a loving wife at home (fellow Academy AwardO winner* Patricia Neal). Vice Adm. Charles Lockwood, World War II commander of all U.S. Pacific submarines, was technical advisor for this adventure packing real you-are-there thrills!
If not a seminal World War II submarine picture, then Operation Pacific is at least an entertaining one. John Wayne stars as "Duke" Gifford, first officer of the submarine Thunderfish. Patricia Neal is Duke's ex-wife, and when they meet again after four years, the couple tries to recapture "that old zing." Complications arise when Duke goes on a mission with dud torpedoes, and his best friend's younger brother goes after Neal. Fans will be pleased with Wayne's role, as the Gifford character is one of Wayne's simplest, but most honest performances. Wayne regulars Ward Bond and Jack Pennick are on hand as well; Bond plays sub captain "Pop" Perry, and Pennick the sub's Chief. The scene in which Pop tells his crew to "Take 'er down!" came from real life; a sub skipper uttered the famous command during a desperate surface action. --Mark Savary

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