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The Bedford Incident

Play trailer Poster for The Bedford Incident 1965,  1h 37m,  Adventure/ Crime/ Drama/ Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 87% 15 Reviews Tomatometer 75% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Reporter Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier) is aboard a U.S. Navy ship sailing near the Arctic Circle, on assignment to write a profile of Capt. Eric Finlander (Richard Widmark), a hardened anti-communist. Despite the concerns of Munceford, medical officer Chester Potter (Martin Balsam) and others on the ship, Finlander is shadowing a Soviet submarine on patrol in the same area, hoping to make it surface. The cat-and-mouse game, however, turns deadly serious.
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Critics Reviews

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Chris Bennion The Times (UK) Sep 20, 2023
... A thrilling Cold War drama adapted from Mark Rascovich's novel, which was loosely based on a real-life incident in 1962 and, satisfyingly, Moby-Dick. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Jul 6, 2010
Poitier does an excellent job in both the light and serious aspects of his role, and manages to leave a personal stamp on his scenes. Go to Full Review
Time Out Jan 26, 2006
Harris, Stanley Kubrick's former producer, here came up with his own Dr Strangelove variant, muting the black humour but just as incisively diagnosing nuclear insanity. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jul 19, 2026
3/4
...a solid piece of work in dire need of some serious tightening. Go to Full Review
TV Guide May 14, 2012
3.5/4
Taut and suspenseful. Go to Full Review
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Oct 20, 2005
3.5/5
The ending is a real piece of work that comes out of nowhere, and even though the film is a little repetitive up to that point, it's all worth it for the titular 'incident' in the end. Go to Full Review
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The Bedford Incident

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Cast & Crew

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James B. Harris

Director

Richard Widmark

Captain Eric Finlander U.S.N.

Sidney Poitier

Ben Munceford

Martin Balsam

Lieutenant Commander Chester Potter, M.D., U.S.N.

James MacArthur

Ensign Ralston

Wally Cox

Seaman Merlin Queffle

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The Bedford Incident

The Bedford Incident (1965) The Bedford Incident (1965) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Reporter Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier) is aboard a U.S. Navy ship sailing near the Arctic Circle, on assignment to write a profile of Capt. Eric Finlander (Richard Widmark), a hardened anti-communist. Despite the concerns of Munceford, medical officer Chester Potter (Martin Balsam) and others on the ship, Finlander is shadowing a Soviet submarine on patrol in the same area, hoping to make it surface. The cat-and-mouse game, however, turns deadly serious.
Director
James B. Harris
Producer
James B. Harris
Screenwriter
James Poe
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Adventure, Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 37m
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