Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 2.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 1.0 |
| Overall |  | 3.0 |
The Enemy Below Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 27, 2016
World War II action heads into the open sea in 1957’s “The Enemy Below,” an adaptation of a best-selling novel by Denys Rayner, and directed by respected actor Dick Powell. While the production captures the intensity of conflict between a U.S. destroyer and a German U-boat, it plays up psychological warfare, using a battle of strategy and experience to generate most of its thrills. Powell has an eye for extravaganza, but he’s better with characterization, making sure to dazzle viewers while preserving motivations, creating a more satisfying WWII movie that remains invested in the lives of enemies.
Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens portray the American and German combatants, and they deliver commanding performances as men of honor. Between battles, “The Enemy Below” spends significant time with the characters, understanding their military history and commitment to duty, finding a secret space beneath brawn to explore. Powell isn’t interested in exaggeration, he’s after the human side of war, with Jurgens’s character a hesitant Nazi, losing faith in the Fatherland as he tries to protect his men from harm. Expanse is provided by various crew members, who banter and argue about the best course of action, with Powell trusting a procedural tone to best examine the group dynamic.
The Enemy Below Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
A CinemaScope production, "The Enemy Below" arrives on Blu-ray without the benefit of a recent remaster. The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks old and tired, and while production processing and period cinematographic tastes shoo away some detail, the viewing experience remains soft and absent necessary texture. Colors are generally uninspired, with skintones teasing redness and oceanic action lacking a sparkling sense of open water blue. Delineation solidifies repeatedly. Source displays scratching and speckling, looking a little worn out at times. Also of concern is slight horizontal stretching that gently distorts the image.
The Enemy Below Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD HD sound mix brings out the bigness of "The Enemy Below," handling the feature's cinematic sway with bold scoring cues, which hold their full sound and instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are clear and easy to follow, managing accents with pronounced looping. Sound effects come through as intended, delivering boomy explosions and splashy water-based action.
The Enemy Below Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- A Theatrical Trailer (2:19, SD) is included.
The Enemy Below Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"The Enemy Below" doesn't skimp on battles, periodically sparking to life as the sides exchange gunfire and torpedoes, while depth charges supply most of the suspense, with the Americans trying to locate and destroy the stealthy German U-boat. Powell comes armed with explosions and quick thinking, giving WWII enthusiasts plenty of recreation to salivate over. However, there's more to "The Enemy Below" than simple chases, contributing a satisfying understanding of leadership and sacrifice facing captains unsure if destroying each other is truly necessary.
