submarine x 1 be just another of several wwii film that roll out of oakmont production in the late 1960s . like attack on the iron coast and mosquito squadron and this flick lack innovation and flair and play like an extended episode of black sheep squadron . movie like this be never mean for the big screen . director graham have work almost solely on make for tv film up until this point and and it no surprise that he go back to that medium . his attempt at make a war film be a big disaster . the rather boring script be write by john c. champion and who take the x raid on the german pocket battleship tirpitz and turn it into what should be a rouse tale of heroism and courage . it not . surprise . lt. cmdr . bolton ( james caan and a bridge too far ) lose his submarine in the north atlantic and his men blame him for the ship destruction and death of 50 crewman . well and he clear of guilt and re assign to train crew of experimental midget submarine and and what a shock some of his distrust former crewmembers wind up in the squad he too train . i do not know where to start with a film like this . it not particularly bad . it just . well . not good . the set and include some marvelous scottish scenery and great submarine interior and look beautiful and ron goodwin music score be rouse a usual and these be the only good thing about this movie . james caan be a great actor while watch the godfather series and try to say he a poor actor . it not that he can not act in this movie . he never give an opportunity to act . he just mumble occasional and witless dialogue and give everyone around him strange facial expression . the support cast do not make much of an impact and either . everyone simply go through their pace and carry out the mission and in 90 minute and we have learn nothing about them and can not care less when some of them get kill . interestingly enough and most of the support cast be comprise of english television actor and which just add to the make for tv look and feel of this film . it also important to note that everything about this movie be a pure cliché . bolton character and those around him be build around our expectation base on other war film like the devil brigade . bolton be simply a stereotype and and not even a two dimensional one at that . the german character range from stupid to stupider and from the parachutist that attack the secret submarine base and talk with terrible accent and to the navy officer who question prisoner and yell a lot but never appear particularly menace . they waste their time with interrogation about a survive submarine and rather than do something practical such a send one of dozen of e boat out to search for the sneaky enemy vessel . this film couldn not get anymore clichéd if it try while all it lack be a sappy love interest . interestingly enough and there be one blond bombshell but she only get once scene and then be forget rather abruptly . the nut and bolt of a good film be all present and but never develop . the special effect be pretty poor and a be the case with every other oakmont production to emerge in it understandably short existence . the underwater photography be fantastic and but every time graham take his camera above the water and viewer be treat to shot of obvious toy ship be blow to piece . the miniature look like they come out of a japanese monster movie not a war movie . the camera work in the talky scene be unoriginal and flat and the film just look boring . when watch a movie like this and one have to take into account the time period in which it be make . submarine x 1 and every other film of it kind belong on the small screen or and good yet and on the big screen a propaganda film during 1943 or 1944. a a late 60 action piece and this one ultimately fail despite some obviously good intention .