Above is a tense scene from the 1995 submarine film Crimson Tide between the lead characters played by Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington.
So, press the top left play button on the above feature image to watch the nearly 6-minute scene.
In Crimson Tide, Hackman plays Captain Frank Ramsey, the commanding officer of the U.S. nuclear submarine USS Alabama—a hardened, old-school Navy veteran who believes in strict adherence to military protocol and chain of command.
The film’s central conflict arises when Ramsey and his executive officer, Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Washington’s character), clash over whether to launch nuclear missiles.
A partial radio message suggests that their previous order to launch may have been rescinded, but without confirmation, Hunter insists on waiting, while Ramsey, following standard protocol, wants to proceed with the launch.
This leads to a tense battle of wills between the two men, with the crew caught in the middle.
Box Office Hit
Crimson Tide performed well at the box office. It debuted at number one in the United States, earning $18.6 million during its opening weekend. It went on to gross approximately $91 million domestically and an additional $66 million internationally, bringing its total worldwide earnings to around $157 million.
Directed by Tony Scott and flavoured with some writing by Quinten Taratino Crimson Tide had an estimated production budget of $53 million.
R.I.P. to Hackman, who died in February this year, along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe home by investigators. Arakawa’s death was attributed to hantavirus infection, while Hackman died from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s.
See below a JoBlo Originals video about Crimson Tide: Remembering Gene Hackman’s Iconic Performance.
One of Hollywood’s Finest
Hackman is widely regarded as one of the finest actors in Hollywood, with a career spanning over five decades. Born in San Bernardino, California, in 1930, Hackman served in the U.S. Marine Corps before pursuing his passion for acting.
His breakthrough came with The French Connection (1971), where he portrayed the tough, relentless detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. The film was a massive hit, earning Hackman an Academy Award for Best Actor and cementing his reputation as a leading man in Hollywood.
Hackman’s career trajectory continued to rise in the 1970s and 1980s with a series of memorable performances. He earned another Oscar nomination for his role in The Conversation (1974), where he played Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who becomes entangled in a moral dilemma.
His role in Mississippi Burning (1988) as a determined FBI agent investigating racial violence earned him yet another Academy Award nomination.
Hackman also found success in the 1990s and 2000s. He starred in Unforgiven (1992), Clint Eastwood’s revisionist Western, where his portrayal of sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett earned him his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2004, Hackman announced his retirement from acting after completing Welcome to Mooseport, though he continued to stay active in other creative fields, including writing.
