This is just a little info for all the UK fans of Adrian Paul, like myself! Some may not be able to find "Tides Of War" in UK cos here the title is "Phanton Below".
I didnt know that until I checked IMDB and saw the familiarities of his characters name on "Phanton Below" and "Tides Of War".
About the film, it isn't too bad for a B-movie but it could have been better. Adrian Paul was excellent in it as always and it was worth watching!
[deleted]
Anyone notice the Litmus Underpants in the opening sequences?
He wakes in blue, then as he dives in the pool they're red. Then back to blue again.
This is a continuity error born of haste. The movie was shot in 15 days. The financiers required a " heterosexual" version of the film in order to sell to the intolerant markets. In television there are more than you might think. The gay-themed version is called TIDES OF WAR ( I think Phantom Below would have been a much better gay title but that's just my warped sense of humor. In fact what about Pink Torpedo - The Musical? Somebody stop me...) In this version of the film, our hero comes out to the pool in a towell, drops it, swims a race naked with his long time companion, they kiss. Dissolve to breakfast in the kitchen. His companion half clothed is cooking. Our hero enters wearing the uniform of a naval commander. They wattch the news re: North Korea. Cut to them leaving the house in separate vehicles, now both in naval uniform. On board the submarine, we see his lover is in fact the XO.(Executive Officer) Thus we layer the reveal of the relationship and the military environment in which such a relationship must remain secret. There are 4 other small changes throughout the film that relate to his grief and the XO's sister knowing about it. So - long story short - the "straight" alternatives were rushed through. Mea culpa. The gay version is much better drama. And as a straight film maker I am proud to have made this message of tolerance that states that homosexuals can be just as heroic as heterosexuals.
Brian Trenchard-Smith
Producer/director - Tides of War.
Thanks, Brian for putting up a post to explain the situation of the two versions. I think once people know about it they will have more of an understanding.
Mark Sanderson
Writer of "Tides of War"
Thanks for posting the explanation Brian. I figured as much when I finally saw the DVD and noticed there was nothing "gay" in the movie.
I am in the USA and did not have Here!TV when they originally aired the movie and it has not aired since my cable net finally picked up the channel.
Do you know if there are any plans to release the full "gay" version on DVD at some point. I'd love to own a copy of the full version.
There is another movie that recently came out on DVD in two versions, once called "Deadly Skies" featuring Antonio Sabato as a gay military officer. An edited version which de-gayed the movie was also released under the title "Deep Impact". I was hoping that they had done the same with "Tides of War", but it does not seem so. Interestingly enough, this film was also made by Regent Entertainment.
Anyway, thanks for making a good movie and for including the gay content in the original version. I enjoy seeing movies that show an honest gay relationship without making it the center of the story. Showing it to be just a part of the characters life and not the focus of his/her life is much more true to life and the more we get that message out to the "straight" world, the better off the whole world will be. It's too bad the studio heads are still afraid they won't sell product if they include it.
Thanks!
Brad Lane
Kent, OH
I believe there are plans to release the TIDES version in the US soon. (Gay and straight, its's my hommage to the fifties submarine movies I saw growing up in the UK.) Regent make these dual version films to service their here! VOD network and their foreign sales company. Foreign broadcasters are the conservative stumbling block to a single gay version. These pictures cannot recoup their costs if they are rejected by foreign TV. Video alone will not return enough. Same thing happened with my lesbian Rambo flick. IN HER LINE OF FIRE became AIRFORCE TWO shorn of its sapphic kisses outside America. Pity. The lesbian version is much more fun. The whole drama has more richness with a gay central character in a macho movie. I both celebrate and satirize the conventions of each genre I attempt Perhaps you might enjoy my high camp apocalyptic melodrama OMEGA CODE TWO - MEGIDDO. Its a hoot and a holler if you're in the right mood.
bts
[deleted]
HERE TV is giving away copies of the "full gay" version, just go to their website, if the page isn't still up email them thru the contact link and they will send you a copy.
I've heard this was the version before it was edited for homophobic audiences, lol! It's not a bad movie and Adrian Paul looks pretty good as does the guy from Six Feet Under, don't know his name sorry.
I saw the straight version and it was pretty good.The dialogue was intelligent and the special effects where pretty good too.Not bad for a B movie.
share