(MOBILE, Ala.) - World War II has always been a rich subject for the movie industry. So the producers of the new motion picture "USS Sea Viper" knew they'd have a built in audience, especially those who have a fascination with submarines.
There have been submarine movies before, but not like this one, said Tom Bowser, an actual United States Navy submarine veteran.
"This is the first and, I think, only submarine movie filmed in a real submarine," he said.
And not just any sub, the USS Drum at Mobile's Battleship Park.
"It was very exciting!" said Leslie Waters.
Both Leslie and Tom have dedicated their lives to restoring and caring for the World War II Submarine museum. They actually brought some of the vessel's working parts back to life for the production of "Sea Viper," which has it's Mobile premier Friday at the Crescent downtown.
"The movie's based on factual events that happened during the war," said Tom. "The story line is real, but the Hollywood part isn't!"
But "USS Sea Viper" could be about to face it's toughest critics of all this Friday afternoon, when a group of submarine vets in town for a conference takes in the movie at a special showing at 1 p.m. Tickets will be sold for 8 and 10 p.m. shows for the general public.
But be warned, at Tom Bowser's request, there has been one piece of the original version edited out.
"The navigator was making a run on the skipper's wife," he said, "and that wouldn't happen. He's make a run on the skipper's wife of the boat next door, not his own!"
For more information, check out
www.ussseaviper.com.
