There are some spectacular action sequences, well assembled by director George Waggner (best known for such horror films as The Wolf Man).

Some poignant moments in the action in this large-scale John Wayne war film.

No doubt Wayne was impressed by the production values that Warner Brothers were able to inject into their action movies, compared with those at Wayne's usual studio (Republic), as he made several more for them.

Patricia Neal makes a cool and believable love interest, even if her scenes with Wayne are predictably awkward in this story of the varied activities - attack, interception and rescue - of a submarine in the Pearl Harbor area.