The Silver Fleet

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.

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.

"The Silver Fleet" is a reference to a fleet of Dutch ships that managed to score a huge victory over the Spanish back in 1628. Not only was this title used because the film was about the Dutch resistance to the Nazis, but because the anonymous leader of the resistance at the shipyards called himself Pieter Heyn--the man who commanded this Dutch fleet in the 17th century.

The film begins with the capitulation of the Dutch when they were invaded by the Germans in 1940. At that time, the head of a local Dutch shipyard, Jaap van Leyden (Ralph Richardson), was asked by the Nazis to re-open the yard and begin building ships for the Axis. Van Leyden realizes he really has no choice--the Nazis WILL begin building ships there. So, he agrees to run the shipyard for the Nazis and is outwardly a real Hitler-lover. However, his real plan is to use his position to vandalize the ships. But, because EVERYONE (including his own family) believes he's a collaborator, his life is very difficult. What acts of sabotage will this 'Pieter Heyn' perpetrate? See the film.

I like the quiet nature of this movie. It is very patriotic but only at the end did it go overboard to sentimentality and ultra-patriotism. Up until then, it was a solid thriller and seemed very realistic. The end was good but his letter and the things leading up to it went on a bit too long--though this was the style during WWII--to make everything obvious and rousing. Had the ending been a bit more subdued, I think it would have aged a bit better. Still, Richardson and the rest were wonderful and the film kept my interest from start to finish.

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.

I missed the first few minutes of this (and somehow entirely missed the entire of Kathleen Byron's part unfortunately!) but was able to pick up the main plot line - Ralph Richardson is a Dutchman in charge of a shipyard who plays up to the Nazis to win their trust, but garners himself a bad reputation in the anti-Nazi community, which bodes poorly for his small son who gets beat up at school, and his wife, Googie Withers (the only reason I recorded this film!) who can't buy groceries anymore because no one will serve her. It's ultimately a very sad story but equally engrossing and you'll never guess who Piet Helm is!