Denzel Washington in Crimson Tide (1995)

Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington and other officers aboard the USS Alabama, image courtesy Buena Vista Pictures

Director Tony Scott and Buena Vista Pictures delivered the gripping thriller Crimson Tide to movie theaters in 1995. Gene Hackman plays the veteran submarine commander, with Denzel Washington as his executive officer.

Richard P. Henrick’s Crimson Tide

Crimson Tide is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by St. Louis-born writer Richard P. Henrick. A master of the submarine thriller, Henrick’s other works of fiction include Beneath the Silent Sea (1988), Sea Devil (1990), Dive to Oblivion (1993) and Attack on the Queen (1998).

Michael Schiffer wrote the screenplay for Hollywood Pictures and Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Tony Scott (Top Gun, Days of Thunder, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) directed. Hans Zimmer created the original music score and Dariusz Wolski served as cinematographer.

Denzel Washington (Lt. Commander Ron Hunter) and Gene Hackman (Captain Frank Ramsey) head the cast. Other players include Matt Craven (Lt. Roy Zimmer), George Dzundza (Chief of the Boat), Viggo Mortensen (Lt. Peter “Weps” Ince), James Gandolfini (Lt. Bobby Dougherty), Rocky Carroll (Lt. Westergard), Jaime Gomez (Mahoney), Lillo Brancato (Vossler), Scott Burkholder (Linkletter), Danny Nucci (Rivetti), Rick Schroder (Lt. Hellerman), Steve Zahn (Barnes) and Jason Robards (Admiral).

Crimson Tide Filmed in California

Budgeted at $53 million, Crimson Tide was filmed in California, with Chapman University in Orange serving as the setting for the Pearl Harbor inquiry. The dockside scene was shot using the USS Barbel, a conventional submarine commissioned in 1959 that was headed for the scrap yard.

An elaborate set was constructed depicting the command center of the USS Alabama which was later used in Independence Day (1996). The real USS Alabama was photographed by Tony Scott who was following the sub in a helicopter. When the Alabama’s captain learned of this development, he requested that Scott cease filming immediately. The Alabama then slipped beneath the waves, giving Scott the shot he desired.

Captain Skip Beard, who had once commanded the USS Alabama, served as a technical adviser. He also makes a brief cameo, readily identified as the bald naval officer sitting next to Jason Robards at the board of inquiry.

Crimson Tide: The USS Alabama Rolls

Crimson Tide opens in 1994, with the officers and men of the nuclear attack submarine USS Alabama summoned to their ship. Ultranationalist Vladimir Radchenko has launched a coup d’etat in Russia, seizing partial control of the country’s nuclear arsenal along with several Akula-class nuclear submarines.

As conditions rapidly deteriorate in Russia, the United States learns that Radchenko is arming his missiles for a nuclear strike. An emergency action message (EAM) is then sent to the Alabama, ordering it to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against Radchenko’s missile silos.

The Alabama is subsequently attacked by one of Radchenko’s submarines, which interrupts a second message delivered to the ship. Captain Ramsey wants to proceed with the nuclear launch while the executive officer Mr. Hunter wants to postpone it, arguing that the incomplete, fragmented second EAM may well be an order to cancel the strike.

When Ramsey tries to proceed without the executive officer’s necessary consent, Lt. Commander Hunter, as per Navy regulations, relieves the captain of his command and has him confined to his state room. Eventually, Ramsey schemes with his supporters and takes back control of the Alabama, forcing a showdown with Hunter and the sub’s wavering nuclear weapons officer.

Crimson Tide Release and Reviews

Crimson Tide rolled into movie theaters on May 12, 1995.

“This is the rare kind of war movie that not only thrills people while they’re watching it, but invites them to leave the theater actually discussing the issues,” observed Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times (5/12/95).

“The torpedoes, missiles and testosterone levels all are on red alert in Crimson Tide, the latest exercise in high-tech macho from director Tony Scott and producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer…This is a boy’s movie all the way, with enough expensive military hardware and tough-guy power plays to appeal to teenagers of all ages,” reported Variety (5/8/95).

Film Analysis: Roll Tide Roll

Crimson Tide can take its place among the elite in submarine movie thrillers, right up there with such stellar fare as Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), Das Boot (1981) and The Hunt for Red October (1990). All the military/technical lingo is present and accounted for, along with the requisite Navy hotheads, deep thinkers and tough guys.

The movie derives much of its energy from Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. Washington is the semi-green U.S. Naval Academy/Harvard graduate while Hackman is the seasoned, old-school submarine skipper. Both of their competing philosophies are put to the extreme test after they receive the authorization to launch nuclear missiles.

Crimson Tide is a thrilling motion picture, a thinking person’s film that will have the viewer on the edge of his or her seat while pondering the question: Who is right, Captain Ramsey or Lt. Commander Hunter?  The tension slowly builds in this one, as two competing forces vie for control of the USS Alabama and its nuclear arsenal, with the possible start of World War III hanging in the balance.

Crimson Tide Box Office, Oscar Nominations, Notes, DVD

• Crimson Tide grossed $91.387 million at the American box office, earning the #11 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1995.
• Academy Award nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing.
• Captain Ramsey’s dog is named Bear, as in Paul “Bear” Bryant, legendary football coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
• Cameo appearance: TV newsman Richard Valeriani aboard the French aircraft carrier Foch.
• A comic book argument erupts between two enlisted men over the Silver Surfer character.
• Least sympathetic character? Try Captain Ramsey, who bloodies the executive officer with several slaps to the face, threatens to blow off the heads of both Lt. “Weps” Ince and one of Weps’ enlisted men and attempts to launch nuclear weapons without the mandatory consent of XO Hunter. Oh, yeah, snubbing Navy regulations Ramsey also brings his mean little dog on board where it snaps at people and urinates on the floor.
• On DVD: Crimson Tide Extended Edition (Buena Vista, 2006).

“Con, Weapons. Missiles will be ready to launch in four minutes,” a nervous, sweating Weps reports.

Now hear this: Don’t miss Crimson Tide…