I will start by saying that Down Periscope is one of the funniest films I have ever seen.
It stars Kelsey Grammer of Cheers and Frazier fame as John Dodge who is a brilliant seaman attempting to get command of a nuclear submarine. Unfortunately he is not what you would call a textbook officer ... Read review
Veteran skipper John Dodge (Kelsey Grammer) will never be a textbook officer, but he's a ... more
brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine. Instead, he's given the helm of the Stingray, a diesel-powered World War II sub crewed by a co...
Batten down the hatches for unstoppable hilarity that takes 200 years of naval ... more
tradition...and throws it overboard! Veteran skipper John Dodge (Grammer) will never be a textbook officer but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuc...
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Advantages: One of the funniest films I have seen Disadvantages: None at all
...will start by saying that Down Periscope is one of the funniest films I have ever seen.
It stars Kelsey Grammer of Cheers and Frazier fame as John Dodge who is a brilliant seaman attempting to get command of a nuclear submarine. Unfortunately he is not what you would call a textbook officer and that’s putting it mildly! The film opens with him playing a golf shot onto a green at a links course from the top of the submarine - ... .../>
He has been bypassed for promotion so often that the top brass of the U.S.Navy decides to set him what they think is an impossible challenge. This way he’ll fail and they can justify their decision not to promote him.
They give him command of a World War II diesel submarine which looks as though it’s only held together by the rust on it. He is given a crew of misfits, a captain’s son trying to get himself thrown ... more
I will start by saying that Down Periscope is one of the funniest films I have ever seen.
It stars Kelsey Grammer of Cheers and Frazier fame as John Dodge who is a brilliant seaman attempting to get command of a nuclear submarine. Unfortunately he is not what you would call a textbook officer and that’s putting it mildly! The film opens with him playing a golf shot onto a green at a links course from the top of the submarine - travelling on the surface of the water, obviously!
He has been bypassed for promotion so often that the top brass of the U.S.Navy decides to set him what they think is an impossible challenge. This way he’ll fail and they can justify their decision not to promote him.
They give him command of a World War II diesel submarine which looks as though it’s only held together by the rust on it. He is given a crew of misfits, a captain’s son trying to get himself thrown out of the navy, an electrician who uses himself as a conductor, a cook whose hygiene leaves a lot to be desired, a communications officer who does whale impersonations, etc. His second in command, played by Rip Torn, is loud and over zealous to say the least.
He is also given a female dive officer, played by Lauren Holly, as part of a trial to see if females will be suitable to work on submarines.
The task set for Dodge and his crew is a war game involving getting into a harbour patrolled by conventional ships and submarines and light a flare on a specified ship.
They then have to get into Charleston Harbour, which is guarded as though the crown jewels are there, and blow up an old ship there.
Before they can start they all have to work together to get the submarine seaworthy, which is a challenge in itself.
The ingenious way that the war game progresses and how Dodge and his crew approach the task in a most unconventional way is hilarious to watch, especially when the second officer is made to walk the plank.
I won’t explain exactly how they complete their task, as it would spoil the film if you haven’t already watched it. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed it so much that I could have rewound the tape and watched it again straight away.
The acting is very good with both visual humour and spoken repartee. As anyone who watches Frazier knows Kelsey Grammer is the master of the droll retort.
I have since had the tape bought for me and I watch it quite often and enjoy it every time.
Advantages: Deep sea comedy Disadvantages: If you want traditional then stay away
Introduction
=========
I am not really a person watches many war type films so when my partner put this DVD on, I quickly picked up my book. However as the film progressed I kept peaking over the top of my book to watch it. This film may be set on a submarine but my partner failed to tell me that is was a comedy, which stars Kelsey Grammer (Fraser & Cheers).
The Plot
======
Commander Tom Dodge is given the opportunity to command his own submarine ... ...is to get The Stingray back into working and capture two targets while being pursued by a nuclear submarine and the rest of the Naval army.
Dodge has also been given the crew from hell and a female dive officer (woman are not allowed on submarines) who is part of a pilot programme. The rest of the crew consist of Sonar, who has exceptional hearing skills, Stepanak who's doesn't want to be on a submarine and is just there to make trouble, Nitro is ...
kgray71 22.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Down Periscope (DVD)
Advantages: At least it is not a 3 hour film Disadvantages: Just not funny
It should have been a classic.
Kelsey Grammer so funny in Cheers and Frasier, starring in a nautical version of the excellent Airplane, Police Squad, Naked Gun, spoof, slapstic comedys.
In fact this is one of the dullest films ever made. There will probably be more cheers and applause for the end of the film than that generated from comic moments in the film.
Very disappointing
If you want to see how good this film might have been however, check ... ...Gun or Hotshots. Some of the sequels are not as good, but if done right these are some of the best films ever made. Can brighten up even the dullest of days. Often repeated on TV at 2am or something, but well worth staying up for, you won't fall asleep during these, there is too much going on. Just avoid Up Periscope! ...
biffab 04.12.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Down Periscope (DVD)
John Dodge gets his lifetime wish to command a submarine. Only this one's old, diesel-powered and the crew are a bunch of oddball misfits...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date
05/04/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
08979 DVD
Barcode
5039036016186
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD Description
FRASIER's Kelsey Grammer stars as inept Navy Lieutenant Tom Dodge, in this nautical slapstick comedy. He has been given one last chance to clean up his poor record but thanks to his nemesis, Admiral Graham (Bruce Dern), he is assigned the leadership of The Stingray, a rusty, creaky wreck of a submarine, that will play the role of the enemy in a series of practice war games. Dodge's unenviable task is made worse when he meets his crew, an eccentric, incompetent bunch that includes a flatulent cook and an accident-prone electrician. Also, as an experiment in sexual integration, a woman has come onboard to join these misfits. Dodge must find a way to shape up this motley crew, if he's ever going to prove his worth to Graham, the Navy--and himself.
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