Product Description

Everyday, American submariners go below the waves for months at a time on submarine patrols. Steel Boats – Iron Men is the only film where the US Navy allowed filmmakers to go down with them. The film presents a never before seen look inside a state of the art nuclear powered submarine on patrol. It shows, in extraordinary detail, the daily ordinary and extraordinary lives of submariners. You will see things in this film that you have never seen before. The filmmakers also spent time trying to understand the character and personality that allows someone to become a submariner. They looked at training, family life, background, etc. The viewer visits a " wet trainer" at Sub School to see what these submariners must endure before they ever climb inside one of these remarkable ships. Who are these men, who live confined in a steel tube deep in the ocean for months at a time, surrounded by a hostile environment, in constant danger? What do they do and why do they do it?

Steel Boats: Iron Men ran on primetime public television and received one of the highest ratings of the year. Now you can enjoy this experience at home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45289 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-05
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 56 minutes

Captain John Vick, USN Submarine Captain (Retired)
"This film captured the essence of submarining. A most enjoyable film, appealing to all ages in all walks of life."

Video Review Magazine, Ellen Mandel
"The filmmakers powerfully convey the confinement and brotherhood on board. This production fascinates and informs."

About the Actor
David Hoffman has been making documentaries for all types of audiences and for every available venue for more than 38 years. He has made 88 prime-time PBS specials and series, 4 documentary style feature programs, hundreds of network television commercials, dozens of corporate sponsored documentary style programs, and educational programs for children of all ages. He has won multiple Emmys, a Peabody award, the Cannes Film Festival Critics Prize, top prize blue ribbons at festivals in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, and numerous international festivals.

Customer Reviews

Good documentary
Although it is a bit short in length, this is a good documentary on subs, including some discussion of strategy.

A Good Introduction Into the Modern Silent Service
This short documentary of just under an hour gives you a very brief history of the submarine service and an introduction into what it takes to become and live on a US. Nuclear submarine. There is some filming of the crew and operations with a couple of drills on a SSN. This brief glimpse is amazing considering how the service does not wish to share information on a weapon system that relies on secrecy. Having been on a nuclear submarine I can tell you that they filmed on an actual boat and if you are interested in modern submarines this is worth watching for the brief glimpse into that world.

Intro to nuclear submarine life
This video is a basic introduction to life on & in a nuclear submarine. It does touch & I mean touch lightly upon the earlier WW subs & some basic statistics about how they performed such a great part in the war against japan. If you are interested in a light glimpse into the nuclear sub except where only the priveledged are allowed then buy this dvd.