AllMovie

A crackling good war yarn, The Frogmen's basic story -- tough new commander alienates his men but wins them over when they see how courageous he is -- is certainly familiar, but it's told with zest by director Lloyd Bacon and writers John Tucker Battle and Oscar Millard. And while Frogmen's story is not overly original, the focus on a Underwater Demolition Team does give some novelty to the proceedings. More importantly, however, is the fact that the creative team treats the plot as if it were fresh and newly minted. The screenplay is tight and places a heavy emphasis on the action sequences, but when it pauses to focus on its characters, it does so in a manner that is efficient and spare yet which still provides enough detail to make the roles seem more human than stock. Clearly, matters are helped by a solid cast. Richard Widmark turns in a compelling and utterly convincing performance as the new commander, and he's well matched by Dana Andrews in top form. Jeffrey Hunter is also good and even Gary Merrill makes the most of his part. Only Harvey Lembeck is a bit off the mark, and that is due more to the character than to his performance. Special effects are good and Norbert F. Brodin's cinematography is exceptional.