The Hunt for Red October (1990)

The Hunt for Red October (1990), directed by John McTierna, is an American spy thriller based on Tom Clancy’s bestselling novel of the same name. This action-packed film follows protagonist Jack Ryan in his first adventure. In November 1984, Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius takes command of Red October, a state-of-the-art Typhoon-class ballistic missile sub equipped with an undetectable ‘caterpillar drive’. As part of a training exercise, Ramius sets out to sea with former student Captain Tupolev aboard the Alfa-class attack sub V. K. Konovalov. Discreetly eliminating political officer Ivan Putin, Ramius deceives his crew into thinking they are headed for missile drills along America’s east coast. The American Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas had been tracking Red October until its caterpillar drive was activated.

London-based CIA analyst and former Marine, Jack Ryan is called back to Washington after consulting with Vice Admiral James Greer, the Deputy Director of the CIA. He briefs government officials on Red October and its potential threat. After learning that most of the Soviet Navy has been deployed to find and destroy the sub, they suspect that Ramius intends to carry out a rogue nuclear attack. During the meeting, Ryan proposes that Ramius, a Lithuanian widower with little connection to the Soviet Union, may actually be planning to defect to the U.S. In response, National Security Advisor Jeffrey Pelt gives Ryan three days to confirm his theory before ordering the U.S. Navy to take action against Red October. With this deadline in mind, Ryan heads towards an aircraft carrier in the mid-Atlantic for further investigation.