Tom Clancy on Writing The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt For Red October airs Sunday 11/4, 5pm |4 C - stay tuned for the enhanced DVD TV version 8pm | 7 C.
Tom Clancy attributes his success as a novelist to equal parts dogged persistence and deep research. "You learn to write the same way you learn to play golf," Clancy said. “You do it, and keep doing it until you get it right. A lot of people think something mystical happens to you, that maybe the muse kisses you on the ear. But writing isn’t divinely inspired – it’s hard work.”
When Clancy’s first novel, The Hunt for Red October, was published, one former Soviet-watching intelligence officer conjectured that Clancy must have had inside information from U.S. intelligence personnel who intercept Soviet communications. “That’s a lot of crap,” Clancy replied. In fact, his basic sources were hundreds of books with dry titles like The World’s Missile Systems, Guide to the Soviet Navy and Combat Fleets of the World. Clancy also learned a great deal from a war game called "Harpoon", which the Navy used as an instruction manual for ROTC cadets.
However, Clancy claims that most of his research involves talking endlessly to the types of people he wants to write about....
For Red October, he interviewed former submariners who were operating the Baltimore Gas & Electric nuclear power plant near his home in Huntingtown, MD. At his publisher’s request, the finished manuscript of Red October was read by two submarine officers, who found only a few mistakes. For example, Clancy had put valves on the bottom of the ballast tanks, rather than the top.
Clancy said that the only real blueprint he used when writing Red October was a time-motion chart which kept track of where each character was as the plot unfolded. “Fundamentally, I think of myself as a storyteller, not a writer,” Clancy said. “I think about the characters I’ve created and then I sit down and start typing and see what they will do. There’s a lot of subconscious thought that goes on. It amazes me to find out, a few chapters later, why I put someone in a certain place when I did. It’s spooky. It can be agonizing, too, but god, it can be fun. When it goes right, this can be so much fun that it’s just not work.”
That’s a good thing, because Tom Clancy’s reward for The Hunt for Red October’s success was a three-book, $3 million contract with Putnam. The second book Clancy would produce under that deal was a prequel to Red October, also featuring ‘Jack Ryan’ – the 1987 bestseller Patriot Games.
“What happened to me was pure dumb luck – I’m not the new Hemingway,” Clancy said. “Of course, fortune does favor the brave. In battle, you forgive a man anything except an unwillingness to take risks. Sometimes you have to put it on the line. What I did was take time away from how I earned my living. My wife gave me hell – ‘Why are you doing this?’ – but she doesn’t complain anymore. I wanted to see my name on the cover of a book. If your name is in the Library of Congress, you’re immortal.”
In 1988, Wanda Clancy wryly recalled the days before her husband became a bestselling author. “He was writing at home every weekend. I told him he should go back to selling insurance – I’ve eaten those words a few times. But once I read the book, I changed my mind. Tom said he’d be happy if it would sell 5,000 copies, but I told him not to worry – it’d sell a lot more than that.”
Clancy’s popularity with the military brass opened the way for him to tour nuclear subs, examine new aircraft carriers, spend a week aboard a Navy frigate, drive an M-1 tank and shoot anti-tank missiles at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Clancy spoke about the book at the Naval Academy and even addressed the CIA at their headquarters in Langley, VA about how he did his research.
For Tom Clancy, celebrity wasn’t a burden. “It’s like being cured of leprosy,” he said. “Before, it was always, ‘Oh, no, here comes Clancy, that insurance agent.’ Now it’s, ‘Oh, here comes Tom Clancy, bestselling author.’ But I’m still the same basic middle-class slob.”
Related Links:
VIEW BEST SUBMARINE MOVIES PHOTO GALLERY >>
Things You Didn't Know About Red October
I enjoy the running commentary during the movie but noted one possible error. In the scene just after the political officer is killed you comment on Tim Curry being cast in the movie. You note that he also brought Mozart to the world as Amadeus when in fact it was Tom Hulce.
The commentary is interesting but provides much liberal nonsense. Referring to Gorbachev fondly as "gorby" and giving him credit for ending the cold war, yet NOT even mention President Reagan is historical revisionism at its worst....
Will the DVDtv version with commentary be shown again?
I TiVo'd the 5:00PM showing thinking it was the commentary version.
Grrrrrrr
I just read where they said Ryan never boarded the Dallas in the book. Now, it's been a few year since I read it, but I'm pretty sure he had to board it to bluff on the crazy Ivan with the captain later on as well as gettin aboard the soviet sub.
I was recording on DVR "The Hunt For Red October" until I saw all the other junk you but on the screen with the movie. What a complete waste for a good movie....
I wish the DVD commentary stayed on the screen longer, it's tough to read the comments and concentrate on the movie at the same time.
What a total waste of a great movie! What's with all the commentary? Total junk which ruined the movie.
I'm not positive, but the "crash" on the carrier was not an image from the Korean War; rather, a more modern piece of footage. The "commentary" got it wrong.
I find the DVD thing on AMC irritating. I would prefer a full screen viewing. A more interactive approach with choice in the mix would be the better way to go.
The commentary added a great deal to the movie, especially to true fans. Maybe this is the first time you are viewing Hunt For Red October?
BTW, Baldwin was the best "Jack Ryan". Whenever I am reading Clancy's Jack Ryan books, I picture Alec Baldwin. He fits the written description so much better than Harrison Ford played Ryan. Ford was a bit too fuddy-duddy with the character.
Love this movie & the book. Spouse is retired from the Sub Force and said this movie is pretty close to how it is on a "boat". Commentary version is interesting, hopefully you will run it again.
We turned the movie off because of the irritating text comments at the bottom of the screen and the widescreen format cutting off most of the film.... drop this feature and don't ruin good films with your "DVD Enhanced" commentary ---- distracting and annoying.....
GREAT IDEA AND SOME OF THE THOUGHTS DEFINITELY ADDED TO MY ENJOYMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOVIE. ACTUALLY IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. HOWEVER,
S0ME OF THE COMMENTARY WAS PRETTY USELESS AND TRULY HAD VERY LITTLE RELATIONSHIP TO THE FILM. PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO DEVISE A DIFFERENT WAY OF PRESENTING THE INFORMATION AS IT WAS DISTRACTING TO READ AND WATCH THE MOVIE AT THE SAME TIME.
BESIDES VARIOUS TIMES IN THE EVENING YOU HAVE MY TOTAL ATTENTION ON SAT. MORNINGS.
BEFORE MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY, YOUR STATION WAS A COWBOY RITUAL FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Great job on the subtitles! Was on both Fast Attack and Boomer subs for 8 years. The realism of the movie and BTW's made a perfect kinda sequel. Especially loved Toilet Paper hanging in the Sonar Shack. We always had some around to wipe of Grease Pencil writings on Plexiglass or Screens. Wish you would run "The Fench Connection" DVD Version again - that was even more interesting. . .
I used to enjoy this film, but now, everytime I see Alex Baldwin, I can't get past all the ugly and unpatriotic things he's said in the past few years. One wishes he'd been held to account for threatening to move to Canada, if President Bush got re-elected. He really hacks me off and who wants a fat, bloated Jack Ryan anyhow?
Despite the negative comments from those who could otherwise simply buy the DVD, I believe the commentary did well to reflect period politics and film making trivia associated with the making of this movie.
I want to give a huge thanks for finally presenting some credit to the U.S.S. Wadsworth FFG-9 and her crew during the making of the film. I own the VHS, and the onscreen credits only mention the U.S.S. Reuben James.
From a patriotic ex-servicemember who, like all others serving in the armed forces who do their share to serve this country and NOT take freedom for granted, I say thank you for showing this movie with commentary.
First, to Diane - the flight deck crash is famous (it was also used in "Midway" when Chuck supposedly crashes in his riddled dive bomber) and it is indeed a Korean War-era Navy mishap.
When this book came out, I was heavily involved in hunting Soviet submarines. We viewed the book as horrifying and were convinced it was a part of the hemorrage of information that we attributed to spies within our midst (Walkers, Pollard, and others). In the US Navy, we read the book with a fine-tooth comb, highlighting various passages with different colors - red for Secret, yellow for Confidential, etc. By the time we were finished, the "Hunt for Red Oktober" was filled with brightly colored ink. There was so much in it that was accurate that we were convinced Clancy was selling us all down the river. For years, these marked-up books were on shelves in every squadron and on many ships.
I loved hunting submarines... glad we never had to kill one.
I appreciate the running commentary during the movie. It gave me a lot of incite into the movie creation and Tom Clancy's thoughts and desires in the making of "Red October".
I'm only sad that the shots in and around the Puget Sound Area were not used in the final movie. (Can you guess I'm from Washington?).
First time I saw "Red October" - I loved it and was thrilled by the exciting scenes. I'm sad that Alec Baldwin did not remain "Jack Ryan". No offense to Harrison Ford, but Alec Baldwin was a lot more believable as "Jack Ryan" than Ford.
From the very first showing to now - I give "Hunt for Red October" 5 stars! *****
Joe Largé
I enjoyed the running info on the screen during the movie. My wife and I love trivia. I wouldn't want it after the first or second viewing, though.
Didn't 'Jack Ryan' appear in a later Clancy book? Wasn't the main character named something else in Red October, or was it Red Storm Rising?
LOVE the DVD-TV! Wish AMC would post which version was which on the guide. That also might help cut back on some of this negative feedback.
Also wish AMC would air more sub movies. For example, I've never seen "Ice Station Zebra." Not even my library has it, but they have played that awful "Journey to the Bottom of the Sea" several times. One of the worst films ever - despite its sterling cast.
Re the post about Tim Curry playing Amadeus - he played Amadeus on the London stage.
Re the post about Tim Curry playing Amadeus - he played Amadeus on the London stage.
Re the post about Tim Curry playing Amadeus - he played Amadeus on the London stage.
Re the post about Tim Curry playing Amadeus - he played Amadeus on the London stage.