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The Silver Fleet

  • 1943
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
576
YOUR RATING
Ralph Richardson in The Silver Fleet (1943)
DramaWar

Jaap van Leyden (Sir Ralph Richardson) is in charge of a shipyard in newly occupied Holland. At first he collaborates with the Germans because it is the easiest course to follow. Later, a ch... Read allJaap van Leyden (Sir Ralph Richardson) is in charge of a shipyard in newly occupied Holland. At first he collaborates with the Germans because it is the easiest course to follow. Later, a child's rhyme reminds him of his patriotic duty, but how best to resist the Germans without ... Read allJaap van Leyden (Sir Ralph Richardson) is in charge of a shipyard in newly occupied Holland. At first he collaborates with the Germans because it is the easiest course to follow. Later, a child's rhyme reminds him of his patriotic duty, but how best to resist the Germans without endangering his wife and fellow workers?

  • Directors
    • Vernon Sewell
    • Gordon Wellesley
  • Writers
    • Vernon Sewell
    • Gordon Wellesley
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Googie Withers
    • Esmond Knight
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    576
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Vernon Sewell
      • Gordon Wellesley
    • Writers
      • Vernon Sewell
      • Gordon Wellesley
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Stars
      • Ralph Richardson
      • Googie Withers
      • Esmond Knight
    • 19User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Photos4

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    Top cast27

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    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • Jaap van Leyden
    Googie Withers
    Googie Withers
    • Helène van Leyden
    Esmond Knight
    Esmond Knight
    • von Schiffer
    Beresford Egan
    • Krampf
    Frederick Burtwell
    • Captain Müller
    Kathleen Byron
    Kathleen Byron
    • Schoolmistress
    Willem Akkerman
    Willem Akkerman
    • Willem van Leyden
    Dorothy Gordon
    Dorothy Gordon
    • Janni Peters
    Charles Victor
    Charles Victor
    • Bastiaan Peters
    John Longden
    John Longden
    • Jost Meertens
    Joss Ambler
    Joss Ambler
    • Cornelis Smit
    Margaret Emden
    Margaret Emden
    • Bertha
    George Schelderup
    • Dirk
    Neville Mapp
    Neville Mapp
    • Joop
    Ivor Barnard
    Ivor Barnard
    • Admiral
    John Carol
    • Johann
    Lieutenant Schouwenaar
    • Captain of the U-boat
    • (as Lieut. Schouwenaar R.N.N.)
    Lieutenant Van Dapperen
    • Lieutenant of the U-boat
    • (as Lieut. van Dapperen R.N.N.)
    • Directors
      • Vernon Sewell
      • Gordon Wellesley
    • Writers
      • Vernon Sewell
      • Gordon Wellesley
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    6.8576
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10clanciai

    Double cross Dutch style in the second world war with tragic success

    This is a wonder of a film, completely unknown and gradually being discovered as an exceptional gem of priceless interest in the flood of war propaganda films of the second world war. Emeric Pressburger wrote the original story, and you can trace his hand everywhere, so that it actually could be suspected on reasonable grounds that this was an ordinary Powell- Pressburger film all through, but Vernon Sewell, who lived to be almost 98 and made many praiseworthy films, together with Gordon Wellesley softened the script somewhat and made it more stringent with marvellous results for the action, the developing plot of constant surprises, the very sensitive nuances of the characters and all supported by the perfectly adapted dramatic music by Allan Gray. Although Ralph Richardson makes as eloquent and clearcut a character as ever, always reliable for interesting and straight-backed integrity, the most interesting performance is by Esmond Knight as the leading nazi, making quite a nazi character out of the ordinary in hilarious serious caricature. Pressburger disagreed with turning the character thus, but it's a great success - you'll never forget his plater of spaghetti, perhaps the best scene in the film. In brief, this is a surprisingly sparkling film of suspense and intelligence to discover and enjoy and with great delight never to part with.
    8Brucey_D

    " ....Piet Hein, Piet Hein, your name will always shine...."

    Dutchman Van Leyden (Richardson) knows his shipyard will be used by the Germans whether he like it or not, so chooses to play a dangerous double game, ostensibly playing along with the Germans -earning the ire of his countrymen who think he is a Quisling- whilst anonymously organising acts of sabotage under the name 'Piet Hein' -a historic Dutch naval hero.

    Powell and Pressburger's film was made as war propaganda and it shows; however it is both a good film in its own right and it portrays the Germans in a less bad light than was originally intended.

    The script is credited to Sewell and Wellesley, but the first draft was written by Emeric Pressburger, who had been forced out of Germany by the Nazis and had first hand experience of what they were like. He originally wrote it not only with threats of Nazi reprisals, but reprisals on civilians made real. He refused to have his name put to the script once these had been edited out by Sewell.

    The story is inspired by real events; Dutch dockyard workers did hijack a Nazi submarine during WWII. Much of the film was shot at Denham studios, with dockyard scenes in Dundee and some street scenes in King's Lynn. Oddly enough parts of King's Lynn were built with Dutch-made bricks and tiles (they were brought back as ballast by ships exporting wool from East Anglia) so the resemblance to Dutch streets is more than coincidental.

    It would have been easy to make every part in this film a mere caricature (as many are) but Richardson's role is much more nuanced than that. Nothing of course could do justice to the many selfless acts carried out by partisans during WWII but this does more than make a token gesture in that direction.

    Overall this probably isn't one of P&P's best films but that certainly doesn't make it a bad film in absolute terms; it is a lofty canon. For what it was and when it was made it gets eight out of ten from me.
    bob the moo

    Obvious but rousing little drama

    During World War II, Holland is occupied by the Nazi's and the populace splits between those who accept, those who actively resist and those who actively assist - called `quizlings'. One such quizling is naval engineer Jaap van Leyden, who the Nazis use to help build U-Boats. However the efforts of the Germany navy are hampered by the underground resistance, led by the mysterious and unseen Piet Hein.

    This film suggests a mystery but, if you haven't guessed the identity of the mysterious Piet Hein within 2 minutes of the film starting then you sir, are a monkey undeserving of a banana! However, given that the film then reveals the identity past the very obvious clues, then this isn't too much of a problem. What the film then becomes is quite a good tale of heroism in the face of the Germans, and of sacrifice and personal strength.

    While it is a difficult film with no very easy heroism to get behind - van Leyden is a different character for a piece of propaganda, taking the difficult line of being a double. While the film is a slow starter it does get to quite a heroic level towards the end and makes it's point without fireworks or excessive drum beating. In fact the climax is one of quiet strength rather than action - it suits the film and is quite served considering the films of the time.

    Richardson does very well with his role. He is a little dry at the start but once his character becomes clearer then he gets better. I had just watched Shine when I watched this film and it was a surprise to find myself watching a Googie Withers double bill! She is good too, although I would have liked to see her struggle more obviously when doors were closed. The support cast of Germans are good - not too nasty to be caricatures but not likeable enough for us to feel pity for what had to be done. The cast of Dutch (or English rather!) are all OK but none really stand out.

    Overall this is quite a low key and obvious film but it no less enjoyable for it. For a propaganda movie made in wartime it is surprisingly restrained and measured and has a quite touching climax of stiff upper lip-ness! Not quite as rousing as many of it's genre but different enough to be worth seeing.
    8richardchatten

    "All Doctors Are Communists!"

    The first film of Powell & Pressburger's newly-formed company The Archers to see the light of day (shot on a soundstage adjacent to the production of 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp') probably represented the final bow of Ralph Richardson (also billed as 'Associate Producer') as an action hero having previously played Bulldog Drummond and a gentleman spy in a bowler hat in 'Q Planes'.

    It bears a striking resemblance to Fritz Lang's 'Hangmen Also Die, currently being shot in Hollywood and also set in a fanciful version of Europe under the heel of a wonderful collection of caricature Nazis. Powell was a huge admirer of Lang so the resemblance of the scene were Richardson marks a Quisling with a big letter 'Q' to one in a certain film by Lang is almost certainly not just fortuitous.
    6AAdaSC

    Submarine sabotage

    Dutch shipyard owner Ralph Richardson (van Leyden) works with the Nazis to allow his yard to manufacture submarines. Only does he? He certainly is at the helm in his organization to the extent that the townspeople don't trust him or his family that includes wife Googie Withers (Helene) and son Willem Akkerman (Willem). At the same time, the mysterious Piet Hein is masterminding some anti-Nazi underground sabotage. Can the 2 planned submarines be completed for Nazi use or can Piet Hein and his colleagues win the day?

    First of all, the identity of Piet Hein is obvious from the very beginning but this is not to the detriment of the film. Just the opposite. It is necessary for the audience to know who he is in order for the film to work. The main cast – Richardson and Withers - are good and that includes young Willem Ackerman. I don't normally like kids in films but he plays his part well. However, at the opposite end of the spectrum, Bobby Davro turns up to play a comedy Gestapo officer with scrunched up face, woeful accent and typical comedy shouty Nazi attitude, He is dreadful! The film loses a mark for his performance given that he has so much screen time. Davro should just stick to performing bellyflops as he is most recently famous for.

    The story doesn't rush things but this adds to the sentimentality of the proceedings at the film's end when the idea of human sacrifice comes into play. It's a sad end that is aimed to rally the audience to support the war effort and be brave. The film is told in flashback by Withers as she reads a diary and it is a good mechanism to unravel the story.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
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    War

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Esmond Knight, who had lost an eye during the war, had not yet regained the use of his remaining eye when he played the role of von Schiffer. Playing his part completely blind, there is only one scene when the audience can guess Knight's disability. It occurs quite briefly when Knight, about to go through a doorway, is gently steered through the door by a fellow actor.
    • Quotes

      Jaap van Leyden: The truth is that a Nation will only live as long as it has people ready to die.

      [spoken and diary entry]

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: "I know death hath ten thousand several doors

      For men to take their exits".
    • Soundtracks
      Piet Hein's Name Is Short
      (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Jan Pieter Heije

      English Lyrics by Tommie Connor

      Music by Johannes Viotta

      Arranged by Allan Gray

      Sung by the teacher and the students in the school

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 1, 1945 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Srebrna flota
    • Filming locations
      • Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, UK(Van Leyden's shipyard)
    • Production companies
      • The Archers
      • Royal Navy
      • Royal Netherland Government
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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