History Film / TheHuntForRedOctober

* CaptainObvious: The ''Konavolov'' has a near-miss torpedo fly by the ''Red October'', which everyone clearly heard, while the DSRV ''Mystic'' is still attached. Ramius wants "that thing off my boat" because things are about to get hectic. The DSRV operator thinks Mancuso needs to be informed when he urgently goes to close the entry hatch.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent:
-->'''Ryan ''(sudden falsetto)'' ''': Has he made any Crazy Ivans?

* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: Inverted. The film opens with a disclaimer to the effect that, according to American and Soviet authorities, it is ''absolutely '''not''''' BasedOnATrueStory. The audience is left to draw their own conclusions.
** The sinking referred to in the opening text is almost certainly that of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-219 K-219]], a Yankee-class missile submarine[[note]]not a Typhoon, as Red October is depicted as being[[/note]] which sank in the area stated after an explosion in a missile tube and subsequent fire. Additionally, the original novel has been confirmed to have been loosely based on an incident - briefly mentioned in the novel - involving the Soviet frigate [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_frigate_Storozhevoy Storozhevoy]], in which the political officer led a mutiny in the hope of sparking a second communist revolution.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: When Captain Mancuso is preparing to destroy the ''Red October'' (while Ryan pleads his case that Ramius intends to defect) he remarks "I want full safeties, I don't want this fish coming back on us." Later [[spoiler:the Russian sub pursuing ''Red October'' is destroyed by its own torpedo]].

* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: During the first "Crazy Ivan" scene, the tense shots of the ''Dallas'' waiting to see if ''Red October'' hears them are intercut with a quiet conversation between Ramius and Borodin about their defection, with Borodin describing his aspirations for an idyllic American lifestyle, and Ramius reminiscing about fishing when he was a boy. They also talk about traveling from state-to-state within the US, with Ramius explaining that "papers" (i.e identification and authorization to travel) are neither required by or even asked for by officials. Ramius also muses about his fear over the nature of the cold war with a nuclear Sword of Damocles hanging over the world: "a war with no battles, no heroes, only casualties".

* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: During the first "Crazy Ivan" scene, the tense shots of the ''Dallas'' waiting to see if ''Red October'' hears them are intercut with a quiet conversation between Ramius and Borodin about their defection, with Borodin describing his aspirations for an idyllic American lifestyle, and Ramius reminiscing about fishing when he was a boy. They also talk about traveling from state-to-state within the US, with Ramius explaining that "papers" (i.e identification and authorization to travel) are neither required by or even asked for by officials. Ramias also muses about his fear over the nature of the cold war with a nuclear Sword of Damocles hanging over the world: "a war with no battles, no heroes, only casualties".

* CaptainObvious: The ''Konavolov'' has a near-miss torpedo fly by the ''Red October'', which everyone clearly heard, while the DSRV ''Mystic'' is still attached. Ramias wants "that thing off my boat" because things are about to get hectic. The DSRV operator thinks Mancuso needs to be informed when he urgently goes to close the entry hatch.

* DramaticShattering: Admiral Padorin drops his tea glass when he reads Ramius's letter announcing his intention to defect.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Admiral Painter tells Jack that they'll be in the CIC (combat information center). Aboard American carriers, this area is referred to as the CDC (combat direction center).

* AllForNothing: From the film, it was made very clear ''Red October'' and its revolutionary 'Catepillar Drive' was the culmination of considerable Soviet investment and innovation with the intent of creating a nuclear submarine which could bypass NATO's naval detection and defenses, making it the ultimate war-winning weapon in a global conflict with the West through its ability to sail right up the East Coast of the USA and launch a nuclear first strike before the Americans can even respond. Then Captain Ramius stole the boat on its maiden voyage, and halfway through the film a naval serviceman, sonarman Ronald Jones, managed to identify the Red October as well as its silent drive and figured out a way to track it after listening to it long enough, all of which rendered all of the Soviets' efforts moot.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: The movie raises the possibility that Ramius has gone mad and is intending to start WWIII, e.g. when he confiscates both keys [[TwoKeyedLock needed to launch the missiles]] (this is rejected early in the novel, as five officers are needed to launch the missiles, and their range is such they could have done so the moment Red October left harbour). The Soviets later claim this in order to get the Americans to sink Red October, so dramatic tension is then created by Ryan trying to convince Mancuso that Ramius is genuine.

* AsYouKnow: When Jack mentions "turbulences" during his second scene, a plane stewardes reacts with unlikely unfamiliarity upon hearing the term, prompting Jack to explain the concept in detail, showing him as analytic-minded to the audience.

* EveryoneKnowsMorse: Mancuso sends Morse messages to Ramius (watching by periscope) with a light blinker, asking for an active sonar ping to signal Ramius' agreement. Though justified, as all naval personnel are expected to be able to read and send at least basic signals, it gets discussed, as Mancuso says, "My Morse is so rusty, I could be sending him dimensions on [[Magazine/{{Playboy}} Playmate of the Month]]."

* {{Foreshadowing}}: When Captain Mancuso is preparing to destroy the ''Red October'' (while Ryan pleads his case that Ramius intends to defect) he remarks "I want full safeties, I don't want this fish coming back on us." Later [[spoiler:the Russian sub pursuing ''Red October'' is destroyed by its own torpedo]].
** In Ramius' conversation with Putin, the ship's political officer, he demands to know if there are any spies hidden aboard the vessel after he finds Putin going through his personal effects. Putin brushes him off and tells him that he sincerely doesn't know if the KGB or GRU have placed any agents onboard. Later, the caterpillar drive is sabotaged, allowing a Soviet torpedo bomber to zero in on ''Red October's'' position, confirming that Ramius' suspicions at the start were indeed correct.

* GoToSleepEnding: The film ends with Ryan asleep on a plane, having been unable to sleep on his flight earlier.

--> '''Admiral Josh Painter:''' You think he's crazy?
--> '''Captain Davenport:''' Certifiable. And no matter what his credentials, I don't care for him wearing the uniform.
--> '''Admiral Josh Painter:''' You see that ring on his finger? The Academy, Class of '72. A Marine.
--> '''Captain Davenport:''' You're kidding! How did you...
--> '''Admiral Josh Painter:''' Greer told me. Summer of his third year, he and his squad went down in a chopper accident in the Med. Bad - pilot, crew killed. That kid spent ten months in traction, another year learning to walk again. Did his fourth year from the hospital. Now it's up to you, Charlie, but you might consider cuttin' the kid a little slack.
* StockFootageFailure: During the ComingInHot scene mentioned above, the footage of the "[=F-14=] Tomcat" crashing on landing is actually of an [=F9F=] Panther, [[JustPlaneWrong an aircraft that had been retired for almost 30 years at the time the film was set]]. The crash footage had also previously been used in a number of other films.

* MarriedToTheJob: Ramius regrets he figuratively widowed his wife the day he married her.

* NeverRecycleYourSchemes: Acknowledged. After Ramius' RefugeInAudacity moment (see bellow), he mirthlessly notes that he's not going be able to use ''that'' trick again.

-->'''Jack''': "So, that's it then?"\\
'''Ramius''': Not quite. Right now, Captain Tupolev is disabling the safety features on all of his weapons. He won't make the same mistake twice."\\
(Cut to the Konavalov where we see Tupolev yelling at his crew to do just that)

--->'''Davenport:''' They're banging away with their active sonar but they're not stopping to listen.\\