The Growler Story
The Growler Story
ON PREVIEW CASSETTE #201010 A very colorful film, the story of the USS Growler, an American submarine involved in the Pacific Theater of World WarTwo. "Dedicated to that dedicated woman, the navy wife". Opens with great shot of the Growler breaking the surface (cam mounted on deck). LS's of the crew jumping to deck in their boxer shorts, leaping from deck for a well-deserved (needed) swim, er, bath. Diss to Growler Captain at home in Pearl Harbor, saying goodbye to his wife and two kids. Cut to the Growler's Second saying goodbye to his wife and their eight (!) kids... the 2nd runs his home as militantly as he runs his ship. Great montage of the submarine leaving port: CU's and MS's of waving and/or weeping wives and children; LS's of navy band playing a farewell song (excellent colors, here, fantastic cinematography); montage ends with LS of the sea, the American flag flying off of the sub in FG. Mission One: MS's and CU's of sailors peering through periscope, bringing it up and down; LS's (underwater and on surface) of torpedo being fired; LS of an enemy ship taking a direct torpedo hit, as seen through the periscope. Mission Two: rescue 2 downed aviators; LS's of injured pilots in life raft, getting saved by sailors; subjective shot of sub submerging; great underwater shots of depth charges being released by enemy, exploding; MS of 2nd giving his own blood to one of the injured pilots, and complaining about it. Mission Three: engaging the enemy. LS's of enemy ships getting pummeled by Growler fire; dim shots of enemy attacking the Growler at night, the Captain and a midshipman getting killed; CU of the hatch being sealed; CU of the 2ng making the sign of the cross; MS of the Captain's body still on deck as the sub submerges. Back at Pearl Harbor: MS's and LS's of Captain's wife (widow) being presented the Congressional Medal of Honor; those in attendance are in their dress uniforms; all give salute. The Growler, back at sea: 2 midshipsmen and the 2nd walk onto the windy deck to place a wreath; zoom to MS of the wreath as the crew and sub submerge, the tide carrying the wreath away.