In Submarine Command (1951), Holden is joined for the fourth and final time by his frequent co-star Nancy Olson, playing his long-suffering wife. The two were most memorably cast together as ill-fated lovers in Sunset Boulevard (1950).
The working title of the film was "The Submarine Story." According to news items and Paramount publicity materials, the picture was originally set to star Alan Ladd, with John Lund taking on the role eventually played by Don Taylor. Holden and Taylor became good friends and drinking buddies on the set (in fact, Holden later said he remembered so little about filming Submarine Command because he was drunk the entire time). Their antics caused some consternation for director John Farrow (husband of Maureen O'Sullivan and father of future actress Mia Farrow). Holden said the only thing about the shoot he remembered was when he and Taylor jumped off a ship and swam to the submarine instead of allowing their doubles to do it as required, a "joke" on Farrow that the director did not appreciate, especially since as the uncredited executive producer he was essentially the money man behind the production as well.
Holden and Taylor also wandered down to the set of a South Seas picture starring their mutual pal Ronald Reagan. Dressed in the Navy uniforms, the two turned up in a crowd scene. The assistant director told them their inadvertent appearance required them to be paid extra checks and asked Holden if he wanted his sent to charity. "Yes," Holden reportedly answered, "my favorite charity-Bill Holden."
Location shooting on Submarine Command took place in and around San Diego and the Mare Island Navy Base in Vallejo, California. The aircraft carrier used in the film, the USS Boxer, never received any major modernization and retained the classic appearance of a World War II Essex-class aircraft carrier ship during its 24-year career (1945-1969). In 1948, the ship was the site of the first landing of a Navy jet aircraft aboard a carrier. The Boxer was also scheduled to be the prime recovery vessel for the Gemini 8 mission in March 1966 but missed the opportunity when the space flight had to make an emergency landing in the Western Pacific.
Holden recreated his role in Submarine Command for a November 1952 Lux Radio Theatre version of the story. Alexis Smith took on Olson's role as his wife for that broadcast.
Director: John Farrow
Producer: Joseph Sistrom
Screenplay: Jonathan Latimer
Cinematography: Lionel Lindon
Editing: Eda Warren
Art Direction: Henry Bumstead, Hal Pereira
Original Music: David Buttolph
Cast: William Holden (Lt. Cmdr. Ken White), Nancy Olson (Carol), William Bendix (CPO Boyer), Don Taylor (Lt. Cmdr. Peter Morris), Arthur Franz (Lt. Carlson).
BW-87m.
by Rob Nixon
