"Victory at Sea" (1952) TV series 1952-1953

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

26 October 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Plot:

Twenty-six episode series about naval combat during World War Two. Famous for its music score, eloquent narration and combat footage.

Plot Keywords:

Ship Sinking | Submarine | Navy | United States Navy | Naval Battle

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Leonard Graves

...

Narrator (26 episodes, 1952-1953)

Runtime:

30 min (26 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Although this series had only 26 episodes that ran from 1952 to 1953, the score by Richard Rodgers (with Robert Russell Bennett conducting the NBC Orchestra) was such a hit that soundtrack recordings have been almost continually available. Over a half century after the original broadcast, the soundtrack score is available digitally remastered on compact discs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frost/Nixon (2008)

Soundtrack:

Song of the High Seas

Victory at Sea - a British perspective

This is a beautiful piece of TV. I would not shell out on a 6-vol DVD if I thought otherwise. I saw it on BBC in 1960-61. But, looking at it 45 years on I feel it should be re-titled 'Victory in the Pacific' - I mean, there was some sort of war going on prior to Dec 41, and a lot of it at sea! OK, so the program makers did give that 25 minutes, but then gave Pearl Harbour another 25 minutes. And - those planes look a little like US planes with a 'rising sun'painted on. And one of those ships that blew up off Guadalcanal seems to be the same one that was hit by stukas 5 miles off Dover. He was also one of those that was hit off Anzio! That captain must be getting real sick! And all that underwater salvage work at Pearl Harbour gives the real impression that the fleet was salvaged (phrases such as 'raised from the deep'). Whatever the case, the Arizona wasn't one of them. For all this, it is beautiful TV. As history, may be 6/10. But, then for entertainment, watch the film. For accurate history, read the books!

Nick Baker, South Darenth, Kent UK