Assault on the Wayne (1971 TV Movie) User Reviews (6)

Not Spock

[zeppo-2 · 7/10 · 7 October 2010]

It must have been nice for Leonard Nimoy to lose the ears and not play Spock in this made for TV movie. He's the commander of a submarine with enemy agents on board,fighting both sabotage and ill health,this is a neat little suspense story which rattles along entertainingly to the end.

And it's to Nimoy's acting ability that after a while you stop thinking of him as Spock and just see him as the sub's commander.

Surrounded by other familiar faces from TV films/series, it's good ensemble work from all concerned. Just wish today's film makers could learn that brevity can be a plus and not a minus and not every film has to be over three hours!!

Short and suspenseful

[Uffe-13 · 6/10 · 5 December 2000]

Many recent moviemakers should study some of the TV-movies that were made for American television back in the 1970´s. This one is, like many other of its kind, only about 72 minutes long, which means that the story has to pick up speed straight from the beginning.

There is no time for longeurs and too many subplots, which means that the film is very effective and straightforward in its storytelling.

"Assault..." is an exciting and well-made little suspensor, with plot twists and a couple of famous actors, which makes it satisfying entertainment.

So-so submarine drama

[Renaldo Matlin · 9 April 1999]

Average TV-thriller takes place aboard the nuclear submarine USS Anthony Wayne. It's commander (a sturdy Leonard Nimoy) is leading the Wayne to an unknown destination for a top secret mission, but on their way his recurring headaches and seemingly ill health (and psyche) worries the crew. At the same time some major plot involving sabotage is under way... As a product of television, not bad, but it offers nothing new except maybe the enjoyement of seeing Keenan Wynn as a real good-natured hero!

Keep your ears alert, commamder!

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 21 April 2020]

During World War II, movie audiences were barraged with dozens of films involving submarine adventures in battle. these b films were exactly the length of his TV movie which stars Leonard Nimoy, Joseph acotten and Keenan Wynn in a cold war story that has Russian spies aboard trying to steal secret plans. It's a different type of role for Nimoy, but he plays it exactly like Spock, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Wynn brings on the comic relief as an old seadog who somehow is the only one whom Nimoy seems to have any type of affection for, simply because he's a veteran sailor apparently on his last mission, and Nimoy, a character with many internal emotional problems, is obviously amused by him but irritated by everybody else. Joseph Cotten is the admiral, commanding as usual, as for the villains, they are revealed slowly throughout the film, although it is made clear in the very first scene when a naval officer is murdered so a Russian spy can take his place. It's an enjoyable time filler but like those programmer bottom of the bill B movies from decades before, instantly forgotten.

Really original and tense....

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 2 March 2017]

The cast in "Assault on the Wayne" is very impressive for a made for TV movie. It stars Leonard Nimoy and he's supported by the likes of William Wyndom, Sam Elliott, Malachi Throne, Keenan Wynn as well as Joseph Cotten in a small role. And, to save money, the sets and some of the footage from "Ice Station Zebra" were used.

Nimoy is the Commander of a nuclear submarine. He has some sort of top secret orders and he's running an extremely tight ship. However, it soon is apparent that something is going on...and there are some spies aboard the ship waiting to do something really evil. But what, exactly, is going to happen? See the film and find out for yourself...suffice to say, it AIN'T good!!

The plot for this film is exceptionally good...and very taut and original. My only problem is that twice, folks are fighting with evil saboteurs...and NEVER call out for help!! It happens with both Keenan Wynn AND Leonard Nimoy's characters. This is a very commonly used movie cliché...so I won't fault the film too much. Otherwise, a terrific film...far better than I'd expected. I'd say more but I don't want to spoil the suspense!!

When You Are Underwater, Trust No One!

[cutterccbaxter · 25 January 2024]

Dramatically, I enjoyed how Assault On The Wayne kept revealing bad guys. Just when you think you know all the bad guys, you find out the guy (Lloyd Haynes) from Room 222 is a bad guy too. Nice!

I liked how this made for TV movie was cast because Malachi Throne (the sweater he wore made me suspicious of him) could have easily been a bad guy. But he wasn't. Same for Keenan Wynn. Wynn even gets to wrestle and defeat one of the bad guys, "False Karp." (played by Fairbault, Minnesota's Gordon Hoban).

Apparently Hoban asked the director if it was okay for him to smile every time he had a close-up.

The director said, "Sure, the audience knows you are a bad guy from the get-go, so smile to your heart's content. Just don't smile when you tangle with Keenan Wynn during the final act."

I thought Nimoy did a nice job of acting ill, and the make-up department applied just the right amount of sick looking make-up to his face. And they really went all out covering Keenan Wynn's face with blasting powder. It was like he was in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.