Movie review: ‘The Bedford Incident’

FloridaGator80
A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

“The Bedford Incident” is a sublime, intricate Cold War thriller that doesn’t have to rely on special effects (the few in the film are good for the day, but not the focus of the film) or action in a military setting. It is pure intelligent drama with subplots that enhance and not detract from the film. “The Bedford Incident” is an exceptional film by a director who knows how to utilize the talent at his disposal and manages to get the best out of a top-shelf screenplay. With its A-list cast and purposeful storytelling, you’d be hard-pressed to find better than “The Bedford Incident.”

‘THE BEDFORD INCIDENT’
(1965; 102 minutes; rated ‘approved;’ directed by James B. Harris; starring Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier and James MacArthur)

THE COLD WAR IS THE SETTING FOR CHILLING DRAMA

(NOTE: I expanded this review on Aug. 19, 2014, and then again on March 10, 2016, by adding some opinion and trivia and the updating of links. I again expanded it on May 4, 2018. I again expanded it on Feb. 22, 2026.)

I’m the first to admit (no kidding, as if anyone else cares) that I’m not a fan of black-and-white films and most “old films” are in black-and-white. Even the Humphrey Bogart classic “The Caine Mutiny” (click here for my review) from 1954 is in color, but “The Bedford Incident” in 1965 is an exceptional thriller in B&W (it even outdoes 1962’s “The Longest Day” and is on the same level of excellence as 1953’s “Stalag 17’” – and that one won an Oscar and had two nominations).

“The Bedford Incident” offers an outstanding cast that uses the Cold War to segue from World War II to a modern-day apocalypse that doesn’t happen in real life. One key virtue of “The Bedford Incident” is that the filmmakers – especially director James B. Harris – had patience. Too many times a filmmaker will rush to make a point.

A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

So, “The Bedford Incident” takes its time and you’re never lost in what’s a very intricate plot. However, you need to pay attention since nuance that isn’t telegraphed, unlike some thrillers (take the exceptional “True Lies” from the espionage genre with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis – click here for my review).

Now, let’s take a look at the plot:

Richard Widmark, an actor with a bunch of roles of stoic characters from 1947 into the early 1990s, is the psychotic no-holds barred U.S. Navy commander “Capt. Eric Finlander” chasing a Russian submarine in the chilly waters of the very north North Atlantic. It comes down to an us-versus-the-bad guys with nuclear-tipped warheads.

Widmark, whose character is being profiled by magazine writing superstar “Ben Munsford” played by Sidney Poitier, has all his faults exposed as the film unfolds. His sidekick, a former World War II U-boat commander now on the winning side, follows him into folly and fate. The captain runs a tight ship: no sailor dares report for sick-call; the officers stay in the Navy on his ship for the action, despite lucrative private sector offers; and just about everyone is gung-ho to the breaking point.

The film picks up speed slowly, but you’ll soon find it thundering to an all-too expected climax. Further, the ending to the film is wonderful use of creative cinematography (especially for the time).

Now, here’s some specific looks at some of the cast …

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

    An Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner (not for this one), Widmark just oozes perfection in this role. His work makes you believe he is a U.S. Navy officer (albeit a bit more psycho than your average naval officer) with his commanding presence and self-assured authority. Widmark doesn’t leave any of his talent on the table in this one and he doesn’t mail in even a single moment in front of the camera. I liked Widmark in “Rollercoaster” (click here to read my review), and he was nominated for an Oscar and won the Globe for “Kiss of Death.” He is also remembered for “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Widmark died at 93 in 2008 from complications after a fall.

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

    Likewise, an Oscar winner and nominee (not for this one), Poitier delivers a top-shelf performance as he tries to uncover the real man behind Widmark’s military façade. Poitier conveys his character’s insightfulness and intelligence and it is as good a role has he’s ever accomplished. His signature role was in “To Sir, With Love,” while I liked him better in “Sneakers” with Robert Redford (click here to read my review). Poitier was also in the little-remembered “Little Nikita” with River Phoenix and he won an Oscar for Best Actor in “Lilies of the Field.” He was nominated for “The Defiant Ones” and was presented an honorary Oscar for his career work and for his representation of the film industry with style and intelligence. Poitier died at 94 of heart failure from dementia prostate cancer in 2022.

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

    The best supporting cast role is from James MacArthur, who plays “Ensign Ralston,” who is as fidgety as a Chihuahua-on-a-freeway junior officer trying to be perfect for his perfectionist captain. Let’s just say it isn’t surprising that he fails in the most spectacular way possible. MacArthur, who did “The Bedford Incident” before his signature “Hawaii Five-O” turn, also did “Hang ‘Em High” with Clint Eastwood as well as doing a solid job in the war classic “Battle of the Bulge” (click here to read my review) and even did an episode of TV’s “The Love Boat” ( click here for my look at that wonderful series – thanks, Dan-O!). MacArthur died at 72 in 2010.

Other supporting cast members of note include:

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

    An Oscar winner (not for this one), Martin Balsam plays the insightful new medical officer “Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter.” Balsam plays victim to Widmark’s bully with ease and the younger actors on the set could have learned a lesson from his work here. Balsam was also in “12 Angry Men,” “Psycho” and “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (click here to read my review). He won his Oscar for supporting work in another 1965 film: “A Thousand Clowns” and was also in “The Anderson Tapes” with Sean Connery (click here to read my review), the original “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (click here to read my review) and as a Washington Post editor in “All the President’s Men” (click here to read my review) with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. He died at 76 in 1996 of a stroke.

  • A promotional still photograph from the movie “The Bedford Incident.”

    Two-time Primetime Emmy nominee and film veteran Wally Cox plays stressed-out sonar operator “Seaman Merlin Queffle.” He uses his high-pitched signature voice to perfection here and it isn’t one of his whiny roles, as the captain depends on him until he hits the breaking point. Cox was also in “The Barefoot Executive” and a string of TV roles. He died in 1973 at the young age of 48 of a heart attack. He was nominated for “ Peepers” 1954 and for the category “Best Comedian” in 1953.

  • Eric Portman is solid as “Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke,” a former World War II U-boat captain who advises Widmark on submarine tactics. Portman does a yeoman’s like job (no pun intended) by never overplaying his character or trying to take command of a scene. He does a superb job with this one. He was also in the WWII movie about POWs called “The Colditz Story.” Portman died at 68 in 1969 of a heart ailment.

“The Bedford Incident” is an exceptional motion picture. Book it, Dan-O! Oh, yes, I forgot to mention until now that the title of the film is because the U.S. warship in the film is the “Bedford.” Click here to read Wiki’s detailed entry about the plot.

The film’s “approved” rating comes from, according to an Internet source, “Under the Hays Code, films were simply approved or disapproved based on whether they were deemed ‘moral’ or ‘immoral.’”

For 1965, I couldn’t find in a short internet search where “The Bedford Incident” ranked with ticket sales. The No. 1 film was the incomparable “The Sound of Music” with $163.2 million and “Doctor Zhivago” was second with $111.7 million. The No. 3 film was the legendary 007 classic “Thunderball” at No. 3 with $63.5 million (click here for my review). Here are all the films from 1965 that I’ve reviewed:

Additional cast and film notes from IMDb.com:

  • Widmark’s middle name was Weedt (yes, Weedt is spelled that way); MacArthur’s middle name was Gordon; and Cox’s birth name was Wallace Maynard Cox.
  • Star-to-be Donald Sutherland has a small part as a sickbay orderly in this one. Blink and you’ll miss him! Sutherland died at 88 in 2024. His middle name was McNichol and he wasn’t one of Hollywood’s micromen: He stood 6-foot-4 (by comparison, Cox was 5-foot-4).
  • Directly from IMDb.com: “Although by this point Sidney Poitier had been making films for 15 years, this was the first film he made in which his race was neither mentioned nor relevant.”
  • The film was originally set to star distinguished British actor and three-time Oscar nominee James Mason. Thankfully, it didn’t. I just can’t see Mason in this film in the context of the characters as presented in the final cut.
  • “Woody Allen was offered the part of “Seaman Merlin Queffle” (ultimately played by Cox) but turned it down.” Just one look at the two actors will show why Cox was best cast in a role where the director should have known better than to cast a weirdo such as Allen. Cox is simply perfect and was worthy, but did not receive, an Oscar nomination.
  • Interior scenes were filmed aboard a British warship. You can spot British-type equipment during the film.
  • Finally and directly from IMDb.com: “Second of three movies which Sidney Poitier made with Richard Widmark, the other two being ‘No Way Out’ in 1951, and ‘The Long Ships’ the following year.”

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1 Comment

  1. anybody who says they are not fans of black and white films should not be writing about movies. it is just a statement of ignorance. Like an art critic who will only look at colour paintings and not an ink drawing

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