Mission of the Shark

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Cast & Crew

Stacy Keach
Capt. Charles Butler McVay

Richard Thomas
Lieutenant Steven Scott

Carrie Snodgress
Louise McVay

Bob Gunton
Chaplain

Don Harvey
Kinderman

Steve Landesberg
Lipscombe

Andrew Prine
Henshaw

Stacy Keach Sr.
Charles McVay Sr.

Robert Iscove
Director

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Critic Reviews for Mission of the Shark

Audience Reviews for Mission of the Shark

• Oct 18, 2009

  <div style="width:280px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/mission-of-the-shark-12307054"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/12/30/70/12307054_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">Mission of the Shark</a></div></div> <I>Mission of the Shark</I> (1991) (TV) Directed by Robert Iscove With Stacy Keach, Richard Thomas and David Caruso. Reason #1197 not to get mixed up with the military. This rather sterilized made for TV movie is the story of the final days of the U.S.S. Indianapolis which delivered the atomic bomb dropped on Japan. It was torpedoed and sunk on its return voyage. The survivors of the sinking spent 5 days slowly dying of thirst, injuries, and being terrorized and devoured by sharks. This was due to criminally negligent incompetence and stupidity on the part of Naval administration. Of course they covered their worthless asses just as rear echelon bastards always do. This was accomplished by witch hunting and scapegoating the ship's captain, Charles McVay (Keach), in a typical kangaroo Court Martial. 316 men out of a crew of 1196 survived the ordeal, 300 having gone down with the ship. The story was treated by the press as a footnote to the end of WWII. This film only hints at the ordeal of the victims, the irresponsibility of and criminal cover-up by the Navy, and the impact the Navy's lies had on the remainder of McVay's life. TV's low budget and misguided broadcasting standards did not allow for upsetting subject matter to be graphically portrayed. Accordingly, <I>Mission of the Shark</I> did not go into much detail about the sharks and the crew's living nightmare dealing with the horror of being ripped apart and eaten alive one by one. This aspect of the disaster would be grist for a very grim remake of the movie. It is one of the most dramatic shark attacks that has made it to recorded history. Note to all you new-age shark lovers: read some interviews of the Indianapolis survivors the next time you want to pet and feel sorry for sharks. Go see <I>Jaws</I> and watch Robert Shaw's portrayal of Captain Quint recounting his experience in the water after the sinking of the Indianapolis in a chilling monologue. Idiots. For a proper dramatization of the Court Martial in detail, read or see John B. Ferzacca's play, <I>The Failure to Zigzag</I>. For more information setting the record straight, go to http://www.ussindianapolis.org/. <div style="width:280px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/ussindianaplolis-12307050"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/12/30/70/12307050_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">U.S.S. Indianapolis</a> </div></div>
  Pamela D Super Reviewer

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