An interesting film which in today’s climate of tensions between NATO and Russia where only this week Russia warned NATO about a Norwegian submarine following its task force sailing through the Mediterranean shows how things can escalate. This film set at the height of the Cold War is a cat and mouse game between an American destroyer and a Soviet submarine.
Richard Widmark is a determined naval ship captain, Finlander, in "The Bedford Incident”, which also stars Sidney Poitier, Eric Portman, Martin Balsam, James Macarthur, and Wally Cox. Poitier in this film plays a journalist, and there is never any mention of his colour. This is not only remarkable but also marvellous. Martin Balsam is the ship's new doctor. Poitier and Balsam board ship together and pick up almost immediately that there is a tension on board and that their cold, tough captain intimidates the men.
The Bedford's assignment is to patrol for Russian subs and ships in the Northern waters of the Atlantic.
When they detect a submarine is in the coastal waters of Greenland area, the captain vigorously pursues the submarine to surface taking the matter too far. Portman, as a former U Boat captain and now adviser, disagrees with him. The scenes showing the grey sea and icebergs might be dated now, given what film technology is capable of, but they are no less evocative of the atmosphere.
Poitier turns in a stellar performance, which really builds as he becomes more and more concerned about the captain and the potential international situation. Martin Balsam is very good, actually providing, along with Wally Cox, a little comic relief. Also James MacArthur as Ensign Ralston who is under particular pressure by Finlander leading him towards a breakdown.
After the build-up of drama and tension, the last moments of the film are incredibly exciting - staggering even. And you'll do what I did - just sit and stare at the words "The End." A very good film.
For me, this is one of the best movies of the cold war era, up there with the likes of "Fail Safe" and "On the Beach". Extremely well directed and acted.
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