In 1940, the Captain of an old Royal Navy destroyer struggles with his crew, as well as the Nazis.In 1940, the Captain of an old Royal Navy destroyer struggles with his crew, as well as the Nazis.In 1940, the Captain of an old Royal Navy destroyer struggles with his crew, as well as the Nazis.
Patric Doonan
- Petty Officer Martin
- (as Patrick Doonan)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film is loosely based on the actual raid undertaken in 1942 by H.M.S. Campbeltown, in which the ship, loaded with explosives, rammed and subsequently destroyed the dock gates at the French port of Saint-Nazaire. This was the only dry dock outside of Germany able to accept and repair the German battleships Tirpitz and Bismarck.
- Quotes
Lt. Cmdr Hugh Alginon Fraser: There's just one other thing. This ship, as you may know, has been laid off and sealed up for a number of years, and quite plainly, she is no longer young. However, at this stage in the proceedings, she is worth her displacement in gold. With that in mind, it may be worth remembering the useful old saying "never look a gift horse in the mouth".
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Featured review
Compton Bennett's surefooted direction and a sterling performance from Trevor Howard keeps this leaky old vessel afloat. You have to wonder though at the misguided optimism of the producers in thinking that casting the execrable Sonny Tufts would be a draw across the Pond. Curiously the part that was obviously written for an American, the raffish Canadian first officer, goes to that archetypal English gent, James Donald. And very uncomfortable he looks too. The most interesting character is Richard Attenborough's Dripper Daniels. It is Attenborough in familiar mouthy ranker mode, but with the added twist that his character is a trade union organiser in civilian life. Some fun is had with this, but the portrayal is perhaps more sympathetic than it would have been if the film had been made a few years later. The message of all-pulling together is a reminder of just how soon after the war this film was made. The film certainly takes its time to build up to the raid on St.Nazaire, which is dealt with rather perfunctorily. This must count as a missed opportunity as the raid was one of the most remarkable operations of the war. Instead we have a rather conventional tale of a raggle taggle ship's crew bonding into a disciplined fighting force. In fairness the vintage of the film means that some of the clichés may not then have been clichés, but it is fairly turgid at times, not least the anodyne romance between Donald and wren Joan Rice. An unrecognisably youthful Robin Bailey and a winsome Dora Bryan shine out among the supporting players.
- timsmith37
- Jul 9, 2007
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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