The Frogmen (1951)
World War II drama in which Richard Widmark, as Lt. Cmdr. John Lawrence, replaces the popular commanding officer of a group of underwater demolition divers. a crew of fiercely independent studs who hang their proverbial hats in Davy Jones' locker. The martinet Lawrence tightens the discipline of the unit, making him mucho unpopular with the macho frogmen. Finally, Lawrence proves himself as more than just a stuffed white shirt, showing he has the cojones to keep up with their peculiar brand of the jones, becoming one of the team by fearlessly defusing a live torpedo at the risk of his own life.
UNCLE SAM'S UNDERWATER COMMANDOS!
Lt. Cmdr. Pete Vincent: Looks like you've got what amounts to a legal mutiny on your hands.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Silver Springs, Florida, USA
The Underwater Demolition Team, the frogmen in the film, belong to is UDT-4 (some members of the team wear utility jackets with artwork of a large number "4" and a shark on the back). The real UDT-4 in World War II saw combat in the invasions of Okinawa, Saipan, Guam, and the Philippines. Like the fictional team in the film, the UDT-4 had one of their boats hit and sunk by Japanese fire at Leyte, and left a sign on the beach at Guam to welcome the invading Marines.
Actor William Hopper, best known as Paul Drake on Perry Mason in late 50s to 60s, was a UDT frogman during WWII. It is said he had dark blonde hair which turned white from his dangerous time in the war.
This film's premiere showing was held at the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia.
Although he is prominently listed in the credits, a viewer may not notice Robert Wagner at all, since he only appears in one shot saying "Aye aye, Sir". Later, in a single group shot of the flagship's crew, he has no dialogue. This was one of his earliest films and it occurred immediately after a much more noteworthy role opposite Richard Widmark in Halls of Montezuma (1951), with Twentieth Century Fox apparently building up his extra work in this film to capitalize on the super-stardom that was on the horizon. (In fact, an uncredited Jack Warden has more screen time and dialogue than 6th-billed Wagner).
Richard Widmark wears swimming trunks while the rest of the cast wears UDT shorts which navy divers, SEAL team members and EOD still wear to this day.
Continuity
When UDT Team 4 goes into the water no railing is seen on the small boat. When they are picked up, there is a railing on the small boat.
Factual errors
The triple-tank aqualungs used by the UDT frogmen during the film's climactic mission are incorrect for the WWII period. Although 'Jacques Cousteau', an officer in the French Navy, was working with experimental aqualungs near the end of WWII, U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Teams did not have them during the war. Re-breathers, which had filters to trap carbon dioxide, were in use during this time period. Modern SEAL type units still use re-breathers because they produce no bubbles which can attract unwanted attention like they did in the movie. The Japanese divers in the movie had bubble-less re-breathers.
In most above water close-up shots, the men wear their face mask on their forehead. This is photogenic, but a good way to lose a mask. To keep the mask from falling off, it should be pulled down below the chin. This is most notable in the speed boat drop-off and pick-up scenes.
Revealing mistakes
About 20 minutes in when Lawrence scratches his leg on the coral we see blood squirt in the water. A few moments later the gash on his leg is shown, but there is no blood to be seen. Due to the size of the wound this is just not possible there should be plenty of blood visible.
Character error
After the torpedo hits the team's ship, the XO determines that they can't enter through the door as the water level in the compartment is too high. He says they'll have to "go in through the manhole in the overhead." The proper term would be to enter through the scuttle in the overhead.