The Bedford Incident
Seen it?1965 | 102 min | Drama, Thriller, War
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Greyhound or Lifeboat, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 42 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
During a routine patrol, a reporter is given permission to interview a hardened cold-war warrior and captain of the American destroyer USS Bedford. The reporter gets more than he bargained for when the Bedford discovers a Soviet sub and the captain begins a relentless pursuit, pushing his crew to breaking point.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 63K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by James B. Harris
- Richard WidmarkCaptain Eric Finlander, U.S.N.
- Sidney PoitierBen Munceford
- James MacArthurEnsign Ralston, U.S.N.
- Martin BalsamLieut Cmdr. Chester Potter, M.D., U.S.N.
- Wally CoxSeaman Merlin Queffle
- Eric PortmanCommodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine
- Michael KaneCommander Allison Executive Officer - Bridge
- Gary CockrellLieutenant Bascombe U.S.N. - C.I.C.
- Phil BrownChief Hospitalman Mckinley - Sick Bay
- Brian DaviesLieutenant Beckman U.S.N. - Communications