Assault on a Queen

Assault on a Queen

Year: 1966

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Donohue

CrimeAdventureThriller

An audacious crew salvages a sunken World War II German U‑boat, refits it, and plots an elaborate heist: using the submarine to stealthily approach the RMS Queen Mary in the mid‑Atlantic and commandeer the lavish liner on the high seas.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Assault on a Queen (1966)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Assault on a Queen (1966). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-1960s

Set in the mid-1960s, the film blends postwar criminal schemes with the era’s glamorous ocean liners. The mood is tense as criminals improvise a high-stakes heist on a ship while war memories linger. A Coast Guard response and naval maneuvering anchor the chase in this period.

Location

Bahamas, RMS Queen Mary, Atlantic Ocean

The story unfolds on and around the luxury RMS Queen Mary during an Atlantic crossing. The Bahamas provide the initial backdrop where a recovered German submarine is retrieved. The core action shifts between the ship and the sea, with the submarine’s concealed plans looming above the public rooms of the liner.

🏝️ Bahamas 🚢 Ocean liner setting 🧭 Transatlantic voyage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Main Characters – Assault on a Queen (1966)

Meet the key characters of Assault on a Queen (1966), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mark Brittain (Frank Sinatra)

A wealthy, daring organizer who orchestrates the heist and returns the submarine to service. He is confident and pragmatic, willing to take big risks to secure the payoff. His leadership is coupled with a keen sense for timing and leverage.

🎭 Charismatic mastermind 🧭 Resourceful 🗺️ Planner

Linc Langley

Brittain’s partner, a capable diver who helps execute the plan with steady, loyal pragmatism. He navigates danger with a calm, practical approach and shows loyalty even when the plan goes awry.

🧭 Loyal ally 🚢 Maritime expert 🗺️ Steady presence

Vic Rossiter

A wealthy partner whose ambition and volatility push the crew toward violence. He is bold and reckless, quick to threaten, yet his fate hints at the consequences of unchecked greed.

💥 Hot-tempered 🧭 Impulsive 💎 Greedy

Eric Lauffnauer

A former U-boat officer who masterminds the technical aspects of the heist. He uses his technical prowess and calculating mindset to push the plan forward, often clashing with Brittain.

🧭 Technical genius ⚔️ Calculating 🗡️ Ruthless

Rosa Lucchesi

Wealthy partner driven by the lure of riches and power. Her cold, strategic mind partners with the others to push the scheme ahead, displaying resolve even in dangerous moments.

💎 Wealth-driven 🕵️‍♀️ Calculating 🧭 Strategic

Tony Moreno

A war hero and engine expert who joins the crew’s plan. His competence is matched by a stubborn streak, and his involvement heightens the film’s tension as loyalties shift.

🧭 Engine expert 🗺️ Tactical 🗡️ Loyal yet conflicted

Trench

A member of the gang, involved in the operation and its perilous execution. He contributes to the escalating danger and the film’s volatile dynamics.

💣 Gang member 🧭 Opportunist 🗺️ Unpredictable

Captain

The ship’s captain who faces the crew’s threat with authority and restraint. His decisions amid coercion shape the crew’s response and the plot’s direction.

👨‍✈️ Ship captain 🛡️ Authority under pressure 🌀 Calm under crisis

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Major Themes – Assault on a Queen (1966)

Explore the central themes of Assault on a Queen (1966), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives Rosa Lucchesi, Vic Rossiter, and their disguises as they plot to seize cash aboard the Queen Mary. The lure of wealth eclipses loyalty and justice as plans unfold. The heist exposes how far people will go when money is at stake.

🎭 Deception

Disguises as British submarine officers create a web of lies that masks true intentions. Characters bluff their way through authority, while trust frays among the crew and criminals alike. The tension hinges on whether appearances can coexist with real motives.

⚓ Nautical thriller

The setting aboard a liner under threat creates a claustrophobic, sea-bound chase. The Atlantic backdrop and submarine maneuvering escalate peril and suspense. The final reckoning comes from a mix of ingenuity, risk, and a sudden turn of violence at sea.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

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Claustrophobic Heist Thrillers like Assault on a Queen

Tense thrillers about ambitious crimes that turn into desperate fights for survival.If you enjoyed the tense, submarine-set heist of Assault on a Queen, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar high-stakes crime stories where ambitious plans unravel in confined spaces, leading to desperate scrambles for survival and often bittersweet outcomes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a volatile crew united by greed to execute a technically complex plan in a dangerous, enclosed setting. The story builds tension from the precariousness of the environment and the fragility of alliances, culminating in a chaotic climax where the original goal is abandoned for the sake of escape.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on high-tension, physically constrained criminal enterprises. They blend the meticulous planning of a heist with the relentless pressure of a survival thriller, creating a specific, nerve-wracking viewing experience defined by claustrophobia and escalating stakes.

Gritty Naval Adventures like Assault on a Queen

Sea-faring tales where ambition on the open water leads to moral compromise and pyrrhic victories.For viewers who liked the high-seas suspense and moral conflict of Assault on a Queen, this list highlights similar movies about ambitious and dangerous ventures on the ocean. These stories focus on tense, plot-driven narratives where characters grapple with the consequences of their greed amid the perilous isolation of the sea.

adventuroustensegreed-drivenmoral conflictsurvival at seadesperatesuspenseful

Narrative Summary

The narrative revolves around a crew undertaking a perilous maritime mission driven by ambition or desperation. The journey is marked by tense planning, the inherent dangers of the sea, and internal conflict, leading to an outcome where the characters may survive but are ultimately hollowed out by their experiences, escaping with little more than their lives.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their ocean-bound settings and their focus on morally grey, high-stakes endeavors. They share a tense, adventurous vibe that is undercut by a sense of desperation and often concludes with a bittersweet resolution, emphasizing the cost of survival over the thrill of victory.

Unlock the Full Story of Assault on a Queen

Don't stop at just watching — explore Assault on a Queen in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Assault on a Queen is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Assault on a Queen Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Assault on a Queen, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Assault on a Queen Summary

Assault on a Queen Timeline

Track the full timeline of Assault on a Queen with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Assault on a Queen Timeline

Assault on a Queen Spoiler-Free Summary

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Assault on a Queen Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Assault on a Queen

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Assault on a Queen: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Assault on a Queen

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