Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and Lt. Commander Hunter (Denzel Washington) clash aboard the USS Alabama in director Tony Scott's 1995 thriller, Crimson Tide.

Nationalist rebels in the Russian Republic threaten to ignite World War III, with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington thrown into the chaos while serving aboard the nuclear-armed submarine USS Alabama in Buena Vista's Crimson Tide. Go Bama! Roll Tide!

Richard P. Henrick Novel

Crimson Tide was based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Richard P. Henrick. A native of St. Louis, Henrick is duly recognized as a master of submarine adventure stories. His other novels include such naval fare as Silent Warriors (1985), Beneath the Silent Sea (1988), Cry of the Deep (1989), Sea Devil (1990), The Golden U-Boat (1991), Sea of Death (1992) and Attack on the Queen (1998).

Production and Filming

The movie rights to Crimson Tide were bought by film producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. Writing the screenplay was Michael Schiffer, with Robert Towne, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Zaillian contributing as well in an uncredited capacity. It was Towne who wrote the so-called "von Clausewitz" scene, in which Captain Ramsey and several of his junior officers debate the nature of war.

Budgeted at a healthy $53 million, Crimson Tide utilized several real-life props during filming. One was the conventionally-powered submarine, USS Barbel, commissioned in 1959, which served as the Alabama at dockside. Another was the actual nuclear-powered submarine USS Alabama, which can be seen submerging after leaving dock. This scene was shot by director Tony Scott who had been following the sub in a helicopter, prompting the Alabama's captain to issue a cease filming request.

Serving as the film's principal technical advisor was Captain Skip Beard (USN, Ret.), who had actually commanded the real USS Alabama. Beard also appears in a cameo role, playing the bald naval officer seated next to Jason Robards during the Board of Inquiry at Pearl Harbor.

USS Alabama, Roll Tide!

Crimson Tide opens aboard the French aircraft carrier Foch, where American TV newsman Richard Valeriani (himself) is reporting on the tense political situation unfolding in the Russian Republic. Ultranationalist rebels led by Vladimir Radchenko have seized a nuclear base, and now control at least four nuclear-powered submarines as well.

With the United States and its allies now threatened by the rebel insurrection, the USS Alabama is called into action. Commanding the nuclear-armed submarine is Captain Ramsey (Hackman), a veteran, by-the-book skipper whose best friend appears to be his omnipresent Jack Russell Terrier dog, Bear. Serving as his new executive officer (XO) is Lt. Commander Jim Hunter (Washington), an Annapolis and Harvard graduate who is one of the Navy's rising stars.

Emergency Action Message

As the situation in Russia spirals out of control, the Alabama receives an Emergency Action Message (EAM), ordering Captain Ramsey to prepare to launch the ship's nuclear missiles. A deadly encounter with an Akula-class Russian sub then takes place, knocking out communications and interrupting a subsequent EAM.

Armed with the partial EAM, Commander Hunter argues that they should wait on the missile launch. When Captain Ramsey disagrees and insists on going ahead without his XO's necessary agreement, Commander Hunter, per Navy regulations, has the Chief of the Boat (George Dzundza) relieve Ramsey of his command.

The situation on the Alabama goes critical, with two factions vying for control, those loyal to Captain Ramsey and those supporting Executive Officer Hunter. Meanwhile, the Russian missiles are being fueled in their silos, preparing for a possible nuclear strike within the hour...

Release and Reviews

Crimson Tide hit movie theaters on May 12, 1995. Giving the film a thumbs up was Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who reported: "This is the rare kind of war movie that not only thrills people while they're watching it, but invites them to leave the theater actually discussing the issues."

Oscar Nominations, Box Office Numbers

Crimson Tide, which also featured James Gandolfini, Matt Craven, Viggo Mortensen and Rick Schroder, garnered three Oscar nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing.

Placing #11 on the list of Hollywood's top moneymaking films of 1995, Crimson Tide -- reminiscent of a previous nuclear nightmare thriller, 1964's Fail Safe -- grossed $91.37 million at the box office.

"Gentlemen, we are at DEFCON 3, war is imminent. This is the captain. That is all," Ramsey announces to the Alabama crew.

Isn't that enough?