When "The Phantom Submarine" appeared in theaters at the end of July 1940, Europe had been embroiled in World War II for more than a year. France fell to Germany the previous month. Japan would not sign into the Axis with Germany and Italy for another two months. But, its invasion of China in the early 1930s and subsequent conquests (the Rape of Nanking Dec. 1937 – Jan. 1938) had Japan at odds with the U.S.
So, Columbia promoted this film around a shroud of intrigue and mystery – based on the notion of another foreign power active in the south Pacific. That no doubt heightened the interest in the film. Columbia Pictures was not one of the Hollywood Big Six studios, but it was respectable with some very good films. This happened to be a second tier or "B" film with lesser known leads and cast.
The lower film quality is quite surprising, and one can see some rough production notes in the filming and editing. In places, the lighting and other qualities aren't very good. But, the plot is interesting and provides some intrigue. And, most of the cast are very good. Bruce Bennet as Paul Sinclair, Anita Louise as Madeleine Neilson and Pedro de Cordoba as Henry Jerome especially are good in their roles.
This film was quite bold in its intimation of hostilities with Japan more than a year and a half before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. It's writing, casting and shooting were all done in the spring of 1940. Although it never mentions Japan by name, the implication was all too apparent to people of that day who watched the movie.
For the interesting and timely plot and some quite good acting, "The Phantom Submarine" should be enjoyable to most people.
What seems like a small goof in the film, may instead just be a case of bad character outline. When Madeleine becomes suspicious of the activity, she sees at night from her room in Jerome's villa, she turns off her light and locks the door. Then she opens the top dresser drawer and takes out a flashlight to go snooping. If it's not a plot goof (that she would know right where to go to find a flashlight), then she was a very unusual reporter who carried a flashlight around with her in her luggage.
On the other hand, after that we see something that would say she's not an accomplished snooper at all. She goes down the scaffolding and walks on the ground and rock path wearing high heels. I think anyone who was used to snooping would have a pair of tennis shoes or flat, low cuts to wear for such outings. She should have had tennis shoes to wear on the ship, so this seems to be a glaring oversight on the part of the director.
The film also is a light romance with some comedy. Here are a couple of my favorite lines. For more funny dialog, see the Quotes section on this IMDb Web page of the film.
Madeleine, "What are you gonna do about it?" Paul, "What am I gonna do about it? I'd throw you in the drink, only it's 10 to 1 you know how to swim."
Paul, "Oh, lady. We both talk English, but it's not the same language at all."
Paul, "Don't you ever say yes?" Madeleine, "Sometimes." Paul, "Would I like to be around one of those times!" Madeline, "Who can tell? Maybe you will."
So, Columbia promoted this film around a shroud of intrigue and mystery – based on the notion of another foreign power active in the south Pacific. That no doubt heightened the interest in the film. Columbia Pictures was not one of the Hollywood Big Six studios, but it was respectable with some very good films. This happened to be a second tier or "B" film with lesser known leads and cast.
The lower film quality is quite surprising, and one can see some rough production notes in the filming and editing. In places, the lighting and other qualities aren't very good. But, the plot is interesting and provides some intrigue. And, most of the cast are very good. Bruce Bennet as Paul Sinclair, Anita Louise as Madeleine Neilson and Pedro de Cordoba as Henry Jerome especially are good in their roles.
This film was quite bold in its intimation of hostilities with Japan more than a year and a half before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. It's writing, casting and shooting were all done in the spring of 1940. Although it never mentions Japan by name, the implication was all too apparent to people of that day who watched the movie.
For the interesting and timely plot and some quite good acting, "The Phantom Submarine" should be enjoyable to most people.
What seems like a small goof in the film, may instead just be a case of bad character outline. When Madeleine becomes suspicious of the activity, she sees at night from her room in Jerome's villa, she turns off her light and locks the door. Then she opens the top dresser drawer and takes out a flashlight to go snooping. If it's not a plot goof (that she would know right where to go to find a flashlight), then she was a very unusual reporter who carried a flashlight around with her in her luggage.
On the other hand, after that we see something that would say she's not an accomplished snooper at all. She goes down the scaffolding and walks on the ground and rock path wearing high heels. I think anyone who was used to snooping would have a pair of tennis shoes or flat, low cuts to wear for such outings. She should have had tennis shoes to wear on the ship, so this seems to be a glaring oversight on the part of the director.
The film also is a light romance with some comedy. Here are a couple of my favorite lines. For more funny dialog, see the Quotes section on this IMDb Web page of the film.
Madeleine, "What are you gonna do about it?" Paul, "What am I gonna do about it? I'd throw you in the drink, only it's 10 to 1 you know how to swim."
Paul, "Oh, lady. We both talk English, but it's not the same language at all."
Paul, "Don't you ever say yes?" Madeleine, "Sometimes." Paul, "Would I like to be around one of those times!" Madeline, "Who can tell? Maybe you will."
