Watch The Bedford Incident

The Bedford Incident is a 1965 thriller based on the novel by Mark Rascovich. The movie is set on a U.S. Navy destroyer, the U.S.S. Bedford, during the Cold War. The captain of the destroyer, Eric Finlander (Richard Widmark), is a hard-nosed, by-the-book commander with a singular focus on his mission to locate and track Soviet submarines. When the Bedford encounters a Soviet sub in the North Atlantic, Finlander becomes obsessed with the prey, even as the tension between the two vessels escalates.

Sidney Poitier co-stars as Ben Munceford, a photojournalist who is on board the Bedford to report on its mission. Munceford is initially impressed by Finlander's dedication to duty, but becomes increasingly disturbed by the captain's escalating aggressiveness and willingness to risk the lives of his crew. James MacArthur plays Ensign Ralston, a young officer who is torn between his loyalty to Finlander and his sense of responsibility to his crewmates.

The tension between the two vessels reaches a boiling point when the Soviet sub fires a torpedo at the Bedford. The crew manages to evade the torpedo, and the Bedford responds by firing a depth charge at the sub. This act of aggression leads to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse between the two vessels, as Finlander becomes more and more fixated on destroying his enemy.

The Bedford Incident is a tense, claustrophobic thriller that explores the dangers of unchecked aggression and the risks inherent in Cold War brinksmanship. The acting is strong across the board, with Widmark giving a particularly intense and compelling performance as the obsessed captain. Poitier and MacArthur provide effective foils to Widmark, with Poitier's calm, measured presence standing in stark contrast to Widmark's fevered intensity.

The movie is shot in black and white, which adds to the atmosphere of tension and claustrophobia. Director James B. Harris expertly uses the limited space of the ship to create a sense of confinement and isolation, as the crew becomes increasingly trapped in their own escalating conflict. The tension is heightened by the spare, moody score by composer Jerry Goldsmith.

The Bedford Incident is a thought-provoking movie that raises important questions about the nature of power and the dangers of unchecked aggression. It is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Highly recommended for fans of classic suspense movies.

The Bedford Incident is a 1965 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.