A few gaffs

I'm also no expert, but I believe there are different modes of sonar: active and passive. Passive sonar can use sounds that already are present in the ocean to locate certain things, whereas active sonar means putting a sound out there which bounces off things to create a detailed map of all your surroundings. This sound is easily picked up by other vessels.

I imagine that apart of silent running would be switching to passive sonar, however I don't know how affective that would be in determining your distance from something inert like a reef.

So basically, I'm no help at all. Sorry!

Good spot on the blackbird by the way - I'd never have noticed that. It reminds me of a story I heard, that claims out of the thousands of species of frogs in the world, only one actually makes the "ribbit" sound we attribute to all frogs. That's the Southern Pacific Tree Frog which is native to LA. Therefore any film requiring the sound of frogs croaking uses stock sound effects recorded in Hollywood, despite its setting.

That's the kind of thing I find really interesting, which probably means I should find a hobby or get out more or something...

It might not be a gaffe, but at the bar, James Garner gets served a half glass of black stuff, but on close-up he is drinking a full glass of what looks like beer.

When the sub is crash diving to avoid a strafing attack, the crew hustles below and leaves the Browning M-2 50 caliber machine guns still attached to their mounts on the conning tower. These guns were definitely not designed to be submerged in salt water. They would have been detached and taken below with the crew.

Maybe not a goof, or gaff, but at one point when the plane is strafing them and the destroyer is after them, the camera does a quick sweep of the ocean, and you can make out a small island nearby. I thought they were supposed to be out in the middle of the Pacific by then, in transit to their op area.

Also, at one point when the command to dive the boat is given, one of the officers says "Dive!" three times. I learned from some other sub movie that the correct verbal order for "Dive" is to say "Dive" twice, not three times.

Also, in the IMDb cast list, Alan Hale, Jr.'s character is listed as Lt. Pat Malone, which would denote a rank of full lieutenant. IIRC, in the movie, he was promoted (after 15 years!?) from the rank of Ensign to Lieutenant j.g., not to full Lieutenant.


But of course these are minor quibbles. The important thing to look for in the movie was Andra Martin in a bathing suit.

How about the banging on the pipes to lead Garner back to the sub? that noise would attract every Japanese sub and ship within 200 miles.

Also, when he lands on the island and runs across the beach - it is the same beach that he and Andra Martin as Sally Johnson are on in the opening scene of the movie

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Yeas it did look familiar.

Also:

I am not an expert on Island topography, but the sub was on the bottom of the lagoon. Garner swam out from the sub from that location.

So was does he land on the island from the sea?

ae36