The Hunt for Red October

The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 motion picture about captain Marko Ramius, the Soviet Union's premiere submarine captain, and his quest to defect to the United States with the USSR's new nuclear submarine, the Red October. The submarine in a new weapon that uses a top-secret propulsion system that allows it to run nearly silent. The plot thickens as the United States has to decide if Ramius, who is speeding to the US, is defecting or planning to attack.

The movie has many subplots, or motifs. Jack Ryan, a CIA analysts, discovers what he believes to be revolutionary battle submarine in a spy photograph. A considerable amount of the early portion of the movie is dedicated to Ryan convincing others of the significance of what he has found. When learning the Soviet naval fleet is chasing down Ramius' submarine at a Washington briefing, most believe that Ramius and his officers are acting alone and plan to attack the United States. It is Ryan, who has studied Ramius, that believes his is trying to defect and convinces the national security adviser to look into this possibility before aiding the Soviets in hunting down the Red October.

Another motif of the film is Ryan's quest to convince US Naval officers to give consideration to his theories. He goes a long way to demonstrate his passion for the matter when he cuts the line that he is dangling from while trying to board a US submarine and plunges into icy cold ocean waters. He later catches a break when Ramius turns the Red October in what US Naval operators call a “Crazy Ivan”. Ryan said that Russian submarine captains turn to the starboard at the bottom of each hour to check what his behind them. There is no such routine practiced by Ramius but Ryan's correct guess gives him at least temporary credibility with the submarine’s captain. Ryan is ultimately successful in convincing the USS Dallas to make contact with and eventually board the Red October.

A third motif involving both main characters is Ryan's pursuit of Ramius' respect when the two finally meet inside the Red October. Ryan initially impresses Ramius with the fact that he speaks Russian. However Ramius questions Ryan's conclusions of a book Ryan wrote about another naval operator. Ramius eventually accepts Ryan and they work together to bring Ramius' defection to fruition.

Even though the main plot and motifs are the primary focus of the movie, the movie has elements dedicated to ideals. Ramius realizes that the Soviet submarine was built with the primary intention of traveling to within miles of the United States by stealth and launching a nuclear attack. This has moral implications for Ramius. The loss of his wife has lead him to realize that he no longer condones such destructive strategies. Ramius sets out to deliver the Red October to the United States so that they will understand its technology and be able to plan defenses against it.

The conflicting ideals at odds in this movie are that of a rigid Soviet communist society and the freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United States. The truth of human nature and struggle for human dignity is evident. Humans seek freedom from tyranny and the ability to choose their own destiny. This is most effectively demonstrated by Ramius' first office, captain Borodin. In the early part of the film Borodin talks of his dream of traveling from State to State “without papers” and speaks with fond aspiration of his dream to live in Montana. His dying comment after being shot on the Red October is, “I would loved to have seen Montana.”

The Hunt for Red October has an identifiable texture to the film as well. Most of the film is shot on submarines, either the Soviet Red October or USS Dallas. The Red October is presented as a shiny vessel with all the latest technology. The confined spaces in which much of the movie and action is filmed limits the ability of the viewer to get distracted by external elements. More than average close-ups allows the viewer to focus their on interaction among the movie's characters.

Ramius is ultimately successful is avoiding the Soviet submarine fleet and turning over the Red October to the United States. The final scene of the movie shows Ramius and Ryan traveling on the Red October in the Penobscot River in Maine speaking fondly of the past fishing memories of their grandfathers. As the movie draws to a close, Ramius quotes Christopher Columbus, “and the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home.” Ryan replies, “welcome to the new world.”