By Steve Crum

During WWII and for at least a decade thereafter, there were dozens of movies set aboard a submarine or destroyer—often featuring both as adversaries. Since then, 1981’s Das Boot is definitely the most celebrated U-boat film. Now comes Greyhound, a fact-based, above average WWII adventure pitting a destroyer vs a sub. 

Based on C. S. Forester’s book, The Good Shepherd, Greyhound centers on the USS Keeling, a Fletcher-class destroyer (with radio call sign “Greyhound”), helmed by Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks) of the U. S. Navy. Greyhound is one of four destroyers charged to escort and protect 37 Allied troop and supply ships heading to Liverpool. Commander Krause is also in charge of the other escort ships, even though this is his first wartime command. He accepts the challenge with humility, respect, and his Christian faith. (He often quotes scripture.) 

It is a fine performance which Hanks effectively underplays. Note that Hanks also wrote the screenplay adaptation. Aaron Schneider (Two Soldiers; Get Low) directed. 

The unique visualization is credited to cinematographer Shelly Johnson, whose rather tricky balancing is realized by editors Mark Czyzewski and Sidney Wolinsky. By that I mean the obviously digitalized rough Atlantic waters with the convoy ships have to seamlessly blend with Krause and his crew onboard the Greyhound. Critics have complained of the computer game look, but it works well. The far away overview of grim sky just adds to the flint-gray look of ships amongst churning sea water. 

When the convoy enters the “Black Pit,” unprotected waters minus any air support, the film’s action ensues. It becomes the escorts versus the wolfpack of German submarines—seven of them. It is the proverbial cat and mouse game: depth charges, torpedoes, maintaining silence to avoid Sonar, heavy artillery, and widespread destruction. We have seen this before in naval war flicks, but Greyhound is an exception. We get to know the Greyhound’s officers and men. However, we never see anyone connected to the submarines. 

Greyhound is a single-viewpoint tale. I kept thinking of 1957’s classic Robert Mitchum/Curt Jürgens destroyer/submarine film, The Enemy Below, wherein there is a juxtaposition of the American and German captains and crews. The two captains even meet face-to-face at the end!

Featured in the Greyhound cast are Stephen Graham as Krause’s Executive Officer, and Rob Morgan as the Mess Attendant. Elisabeth Shue is briefly shown in a couple of flashback sequences, portraying Krause’s love interest back home. 

Running a tight 91 minutes, Greyhound is a tense, nearly non-stop actioner. 

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GRADE on an A-F Scale: B