Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Film / CrimsonTide

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Vandalism clean-up.


!!Tropes include:

to:

!!Tropes !Tropes include:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Hottip Cleanup


-->'''Ramsey:''' You're aware of the name of this ship [[hottip:''sic'':The correct Navy nomenclature for a submarine is actually "boat"]], aren't you Mister COB?

to:

-->'''Ramsey:''' You're aware of the name of this ship [[hottip:''sic'':The [[note]]The correct Navy nomenclature for a submarine is actually "boat"]], "boat"[[/note]], aren't you Mister COB?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


!Tropes include:

to:

!Tropes !!Tropes include:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


!!Tropes include:

to:

!!Tropes !Tropes include:



* ShoutOut
** Hunter invokes ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' to encourage Vossler to work as fast as possible.

to:

* ShoutOut
ShoutOut:
** Hunter invokes ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' to encourage Vossler to work as fast as possible.



** Hunter states to a crew member, "anyone who reads comic books knows that the [[JackKirby Kirby]] Silver Surfer is the only true SilverSurfer."

to:

** Hunter states to a crew member, "anyone who reads comic books knows that the [[JackKirby [[Creator/JackKirby Kirby]] Silver Surfer is the only true SilverSurfer.''ComicBook/SilverSurfer''."


Added DiffLines:

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* VillainousBreakdown: Hoo boy. As the film progresses, Remsey starts screaming at his men more and more, in his eagerness to launch the missiles.

to:

* VillainousBreakdown: Hoo boy. As the film progresses, Remsey Ramsey starts screaming at his men more and more, in his eagerness to launch the missiles.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Remsey.

to:

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Remsey.Ramsey.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* SinkingShipScenario: Hunter finds himself in this situation with him forced to order flooding sections sealed with men inside. It is made more bearable with the two main victims of this clearly disobeying prior orders to evacuate and then made things worse when they broke a valve they insisted on fixing and causing yet another serious leak.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* RedOniBlueOni: Remsey and Hunter, respectively.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


''CrimsonTide'' is a war film about the United States Navy's nuclear submarine USS ''Alabama'' (SSBN-731), which gets sent to the Russian Far East to deter the leader of a Russian civil war, a violent nationalist who may or may not have nuclear weapons to use against the United States.

to:

''CrimsonTide'' '''''Crimson Tide''''' is a war film about the United States Navy's nuclear submarine USS ''Alabama'' (SSBN-731), which gets sent to the Russian Far East to deter the leader of a Russian civil war, a violent nationalist who may or may not have nuclear weapons to use against the United States.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* WickedCultured: Ramsey has a Schubert piece playing in his cabin during an early scene with Hunter.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MildlyMilitary - Roughly 95% of the movie is utterly bizarre, implausible, and will reduce real submariners to hysterical laughter. Still fun to watch.

to:

* MildlyMilitary - Roughly 95% There was a lot of the movie is utterly bizarre, implausible, and will reduce real Artistic License, but RealLife submariners to hysterical laughter. Still fun to watch.actually thought the film got a [[http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950627&slug=2128502 surprising amount right.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* VillainousBreadown: Hoo boy. As the film progresses, Remsey starts screaming at his men more and more, in his eagerness to launch the missiles.

to:

* VillainousBreadown: VillainousBreakdown: Hoo boy. As the film progresses, Remsey starts screaming at his men more and more, in his eagerness to launch the missiles.

Added: 145

Changed: 11

Removed: 54

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TantrumThrowing: Remsey does this from time to time.



* VillainousBreadown: Hoo boy. As the film progresses, Remsey starts screaming at his men more and more, in his eagerness to launch the missiles.



* WorldWarIII - [[spoiler:Averted]].

to:

* WorldWarIII - [[spoiler:Averted]].
[[spoiler:Averted at the end]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Hunter invoking ''StarTrek'' to get ta radio controller to speed up repairs, lest they start WorldWarIII.

to:

** Hunter invoking ''StarTrek'' ''Franchise/StarTrek'' to get ta a radio controller to speed up repairs, lest they start WorldWarIII.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Commander Hunter makes for a competent skipper during his short stint in command.


Added DiffLines:

** Nevertheless, the men have a near fanatical devotion to Ramsey.
* {{Foreshadowing}} - In the opening, the Captain comments that Jack Russell Terriers, like his dog, are the smartest animals alive. Bear, the dog, seems to take to Commander Hunter, approving of him. Turns out, the dog made the right call.
** In a coffee break in the officer's mess, the Captain, his XO, and several officers discuss Von Clausewitz and his musings on war. Commander Hunter's assertion that the true enemy is war itself foreshadows how he eventually wins a nuclear war, by not starting one.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Hunter invoking ''StarTrek'' to get ta radio controller to speed up repairs, lest they start WorldWarIII.
** The scene in the officer's mess, wherein they discuss the nature of war and politics.


Added DiffLines:

***See {{Foreshadowing}} below.


Added DiffLines:

* MyMasterRightOrWrong - Several ''Alabama'' crewmembers demonstrate that even when they don't understand the logic of his decisions, they'll follow Captain Ramsey loyally to the bitter end. Part of the friction with Commander Hunter is that he is slightly less willing to follow the Captain all gung-ho.
** One gets the impression that if the ''Alabama'' had launched an unconfirmed strike and triggered a world ending nuclear war; if the crew stood trial (if anyone was left to try them) they'd ''still'' defend their commander's orders.


Added DiffLines:

* NotSoDifferent - As much as the movie plays up the differences between them, in many ways Hunter is a younger Ramsey. Like the Captain, Commander Hunter has no qualms sacrificing the lives of three crewmen if it means saving the ship. As "cultured" as Hunter is, if you pay attention, you'll notice that in his state room, Captain Ramsey always has some sort of classical or opera music playing. Additionally, each man is capable of rallying various crew to their cause with little more than a word.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Remsey.


Added DiffLines:

* TantrumThrowing: Remsey does this from time to time.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* HeyItsThatGuy: [[LordOfTheRings Aragorn]] is friends with Film/MalcolmX whom [[Series/TheSopranos Tony Soprano]] would love to shoot. [[Series/{{NCIS}} Director Vance]] is standing by and not sure what to do.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* BackedByThePentagon - Averted, as they refused a script involving a mutiny. The newscaster had to speak from the french carrier Foch instead of the originally planned american one.

to:

* BackedByThePentagon - Averted, as they refused a script involving a mutiny. The newscaster had to speak from the french French carrier Foch instead of the originally planned american American one.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* GeneralRipper: Ramsey is all too eager to launch the nukes when the order arrives and is unwilling to wait for the counter-order that was cut off during a comms blackout.

to:

* GeneralRipper: Ramsey is all too eager to launch the nukes when the order arrives and is unwilling to wait for the counter-order that was cut off during a comms blackout.



-->'''Hunter''': If I'm wrong, then we're at war. God help us all.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[LordOfTheRings Aragorn]] is friends with Film/MalcolmX whom [[TheSopranos Tony Soprano]] would love to shoot. [[Series/{{NCIS}} Director Vance]] is standing by and not sure what to do.

to:

-->'''Hunter''': If I'm wrong, then we're at war. God help us all.
all.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[LordOfTheRings Aragorn]] is friends with Film/MalcolmX whom [[TheSopranos [[Series/TheSopranos Tony Soprano]] would love to shoot. [[Series/{{NCIS}} Director Vance]] is standing by and not sure what to do.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Lt. Dougherty persecutes a poor seaman on the bus because he didn't address him correctly. He demands the crewman answer an obscure question from an old submarine film and makes him [[PhysicalFitnessPunishment drop and give him 20]] when the crewman fails to answer.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Already covered.


* TheNeidermeyer: Ramsey is this even during normal day-to-day operations. When informed by Hunter that crew morale is low and that they might need some words of encouragement from their beloved captain, Ramsey takes the opportunity to chew them all out over the intercom for being lazy and feckless. He becomes a full blown GeneralRipper when he receives orders to launch and the later counter-orders are lost in a comms blackout.

to:

* TheNeidermeyer: When he's not being a ColonelKilgore to his officers, talking about how "war is the continuation of politics by other means", Ramsey is this even TheNeidermeyer to the crew during normal day-to-day operations. When informed by Hunter that crew morale is low and that they might need some words of encouragement from their beloved captain, Ramsey takes the opportunity to chew them all out over the intercom for being lazy and feckless. He becomes a full blown GeneralRipper when he receives also orders a missile drill in response to launch and news of a fire breaking out in the later counter-orders are lost in a comms blackout.ship's kitchen, just to test the crew's readiness.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* GeneralRipper: Ramsey is all too eager to launch the nukes when the order arrives.

to:

* GeneralRipper: Ramsey is all too eager to launch the nukes when the order arrives.arrives and is unwilling to wait for the counter-order that was cut off during a comms blackout.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* BloodKnight/ColonelKilgore: In an early dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.

to:

* BloodKnight/ColonelKilgore: BloodKnight / ColonelKilgore: In an early dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Bloodknight: In an early dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.

to:

* Bloodknight: BloodKnight/ColonelKilgore: In an early dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TheNeidermeyer: Ramsey is this even during normal day-to-day operations. He becomes a full blown GeneralRipper when he receives orders to launch and the later counter-orders are lost in a comms blackout.

to:

* TheNeidermeyer: Ramsey is this even during normal day-to-day operations. When informed by Hunter that crew morale is low and that they might need some words of encouragement from their beloved captain, Ramsey takes the opportunity to chew them all out over the intercom for being lazy and feckless. He becomes a full blown GeneralRipper when he receives orders to launch and the later counter-orders are lost in a comms blackout.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Bloodknight: In an earlky dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.

to:

* Bloodknight: In an earlky early dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* Bloodknight: In an earlky dinner table conversation, Ramsey is obviously enamoured with the glory of war and destroying the enemy in the line of duty.


Added DiffLines:

* GeneralRipper: Ramsey is all too eager to launch the nukes when the order arrives.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* TheNeidermeyer: Ramsey is this even during normal day-to-day operations. He becomes a full blown GeneralRipper when he receives orders to launch and the later counter-orders are lost in a comms blackout.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[quoteright:290:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/CrimsonTide.jpg]]
->''"The three most powerful men in the world: the President of the United States of America; the President of the Russian Republic; and the Captain of a United States ballistic missile submarine."''
-->-- OpeningMonologue

''CrimsonTide'' is a war film about the United States Navy's nuclear submarine USS ''Alabama'' (SSBN-731), which gets sent to the Russian Far East to deter the leader of a Russian civil war, a violent nationalist who may or may not have nuclear weapons to use against the United States.

The main conflict occurs between the boat's executive officer, Ron Hunter (DenzelWashington), and TheCaptain, Frank Ramsey (GeneHackman). Their personalities openly clash, Hunter being the modern CulturedWarrior and Ramsey having similarities to the old-fashioned SergeantRock. When their orders are LostInTransmission, Hunter argues that they should not launch their nuclear weapons until they can confirm the orders. Ramsey fears that would be too risky.

Note on the title: "Crimson Tide" is the nickname for the sports teams at the University of Alabama.

----
!!Tropes include:

* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: Near the end when the two commanders refuse to back down, and just sit around hoping the radio gets fixed... and start having a conversation about leadership, thinly disguised as a discussion on horses, of all things.
* AsYouKnow: During the attacks by the Akula submarine, one crew member repeatedly asks another what basic combat terms mean. In fairness, this is lampshaded when another crew member asks "Who did you fuck to get on this boat?!".
* BackedByThePentagon - Averted, as they refused a script involving a mutiny. The newscaster had to speak from the french carrier Foch instead of the originally planned american one.
* BadassCreed -- This exchange, between the captain and the chief of the boat, spoken to the crew before they board as a sort of creed:
-->'''Ramsey:''' You're aware of the name of this ship [[hottip:''sic'':The correct Navy nomenclature for a submarine is actually "boat"]], aren't you Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Very aware, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' It bears a proud name, doesn't it Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Very proud, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' It represents fine people!
-->'''Walters:''' Very fine people, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' Who live in a fine, outstanding state!
-->'''Walters:''' Out''standing'', sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' In the greatest country in the entire world!
-->'''Walters:''' In the entire world, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' And what is that name, Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Alabama, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' And what do we say?
-->'''Ramsey/Walters:''' Go Bama!
-->'''Crew:''' Roll Tide!
* BrokenAesop - See Discussion.
* TheCaptain - It may be the Commander-in-chief's Navy, but it's his boat--and if you can't keep up, that strange sensation you feel in the seat of your pants is his boot in your ass.
* ChekhovsGun - Many many times. We get a weapons drill followed by the real thing, a mutiny and counter-mutiny (and counter-counter-mutiny), the EAM, the conversations about horses...
** Averted with the dog. Thank god.
* CulturedWarrior - Hunter went to Harvard, and likes to ride horses.
* AFatherToHisMen - Hunter leads from the bottom up, contrasting with Ramsey's lead from the top style.
* GodHelpUsAll - TheCaptain, Ramsey, believes they should launch their nuclear missiles immediately to obliterate the terrorist faction in Russia. Hunter argues that they should get confirmation before starting a nuclear holocaust.
-->'''Ramsey''': God help you if you're wrong.
-->'''Hunter''': If I'm wrong, then we're at war. God help us all.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[LordOfTheRings Aragorn]] is friends with Film/MalcolmX whom [[TheSopranos Tony Soprano]] would love to shoot. [[Series/{{NCIS}} Director Vance]] is standing by and not sure what to do.
* HotSubOnSubAction - The ''Akula'' class. Or is it? Bum bum bum.
* InterserviceRivalry - "I expect and demand your very best. Anything less--you should have joined the Air Force!"
* LostInTransmission -- The main conflict revolves around the differing opinions of the captain and the executive officer after they receive an interrupted emergency message that begins "Nuclear missile laun...". Having previously been ordered to launch their nuclear weapons, and being unable to reestablish communications, the captain feels they must ignore the incomplete transmission (which due to this trope has no authentication code) and launch immediately, as per their orders in hand, while the executive officer wants time to ask for confirmation before they start a nuclear holocaust.
-->'''Weaps''': If they order him to launch, we'll launch, and we'll blow 'em all to hell. But I'd rather go down myself than get this one wrong.
* MildlyMilitary - Roughly 95% of the movie is utterly bizarre, implausible, and will reduce real submariners to hysterical laughter. Still fun to watch.
* MilitaryMaverick - Captain Ramsey.
* MnogoNukes
* TheMutiny
* NewMeat - Subverted: Hunter is new to ''this'' boat, but is very experienced.
** Experienced on non-combat situations that is. A major part of the conflict is that Hunter is experienced but too young to have seen real action, whereas Ramsey is stated to be one of the last officers in the Navy with experience of war.
* NewscasterCameo - Richard Valeriani, a long-time White House correspondent, played himself reporting the backstory leading to the plot.
* ANuclearError - The captain of a US nuclear submarine was, until recently, permitted to release his nuclear weapons if he could not communicate with the President after the order to arm the warheads was given. In 1995, this was also the Russian policy for sub commanders.
* PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower - "We're going over there, and bringing the most lethal killing machine ever devised. We're capable of launching more firepower than has ever been released in the history of war. For one purpose alone: to keep our country safe."
* RaceAgainstTheClock -- For the captain this trope is literal. The Russians have begun fueling their missiles and so they will be ready to launch in one hour. If that's correct, then he needs to launch preemptively.
* RousingSpeech -- Subverted when Hunter tells the Captain that the crew may need a pat on the back to improve morale, the Captain makes an immediate boat-wide speech that essentially says "man up or get off the boat".
-->'''Ramsey''': May I have your attention, please. Mr. Hunter has brought it to my attention that morale may be a bit low, that you may be a bit... 'on edge'. So I suggest this: Any crewmember who feels he can't handle the situation can leave the ship ''right now''. Gentlemen, we're at Defcon 3. War is imminent! This is the captain. That is all.
-->'''Hunter''': Very inspiring, sir.
** The Captain had played this straight before the crew boarded, but did promise a boot in the ass of anyone who couldn't keep up.
* RussiansWithRustingRockets
* SeinfeldianConversation -- These [[ShoutOut pop culture conversations]] were apparently added by QuentinTarantino, who was a script doctor for this film:
** Rivetti gets into an argument over which Silver Surfer is the best one.
** Dougherty and some other officers talk about submarine movies, including ''TheEnemyBelow''.
* ShoutOut
** Hunter invokes ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' to encourage Vossler to work as fast as possible.
-->'''Hunter''': Well I'm Captain Kirk, you're Scotty, I need more power.
** Hunter states to a crew member, "anyone who reads comic books knows that the [[JackKirby Kirby]] Silver Surfer is the only true SilverSurfer."
* ThisIsNotADrill - When they really ''do'' get the order to be on standby. Played with as there ''was'' a drill before.
* WarIsHell -- Espoused by Hunter. "In my humble opinion, in the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself."
* WithDueRespect
* WorldWarIII - [[spoiler:Averted]].

----

Top