Watch Operation Bikini

Operation Bikini is a World War II drama film released in 1963, directed by Anthony Carras, starring Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, and Scott Brady. The movie portrays the story of a U.S. Navy submarine crew that is sent on a mission to destroy a Japanese rocket-launching facility before it can be used to launch an attack on the United States mainland.

The movie begins with Lieutenant Morgan Hayes (Tab Hunter) being given an order to take command of a submarine crew that has been assigned to undertake a crucial mission. The mission is to locate and destroy a Japanese rocket-launching facility located on a remote island in the Pacific. The rocket, if launched successfully, could cause destruction on the U.S mainland. The crew assigned to the mission is low on morale and not motivated to undertake the task.

Lieutenant Hayes takes command of the submarine and immediately realizes that he has to do more than following orders to complete the mission successfully. The crew is untrained and inexperienced, and many of them are not willing to sacrifice their lives for the good of the country. To make matters worse, several of the crew members are eager to get rid of Hayes, who they think has taken away their rights and privileges.

Hayes is determined to see the mission through to completion and make sure that his crew comes back alive. He shares a close bond with his executive officer, Lieutenant Tony Baker (Frankie Avalon), who is more relaxed and fun-loving than Hayes. Baker and Hayes share some light-hearted moments, which break the tension that exists in the submarine.

The crew manages to reach the island, and they face challenges in finding the launch facility. However, the team perseveres and faces several enemy attacks, which results in a loss of life.

Scott Brady plays the role of Commander Craig, the mission leader. Craig is determined to see the mission through, and he is willing to make harsh decisions to achieve the desired result. Craig is ruthless and does not value the lives of his men above the mission objectives, which brings him into conflict with Hayes.

Operation Bikini stands out because it portrays the opposing viewpoints of the two main characters. Hayes value human life and his team, while Craig values the mission over everything else.

The movie's focus is not towards action scenes but rather on the interpersonal relationships of the crew members, which makes the movie an emotional rollercoaster. The movie's climax depicts the crew's struggle to get back to the submarine safely after destroying the rocket-launching facility.

The acting by the cast, especially Tab Hunter and Frankie Avalon, is commendable. The supporting cast also provides excellent performances, especially Brady, who played the role of Commander Craig.

The soundtrack of the movie adds to its charm. The music by composer Fred Steiner matches the movie's theme and complements the visuals captured by cinematographer Floyd Crosby.

Overall, Operation Bikini is a well-executed movie that portrays both the challenges that sailors must face on their mission and the personal sacrifices that such missions often require. Despite the absence of large-scale battles or action sequences that characterizes many other war movies, the movie is an excellent exploration of camaraderie, endurance, and sacrifice. It is recommended for anyone who enjoys watching WWII dramas and classic films.

Operation Bikini is a 1963 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.7.