In the early years of the World War II, the Royal Navy is fighting a desperate battle to keep the Atlantic convoy routes open to supply the British Isles, facing the great danger posed by the many German warships, such as the Admiral Graf Spee, which are scouring the ocean for cargo ships to sink.
Direction
Powell & Pressburger squeeze poetry from naval protocol.
Production
Real ships, real locations, zero CGI—1956 practical magic.
Acting
Anthony Quayle's eyebrow does more acting than most careers.
Director
Michael Powell
John Gregson
Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter
Anthony Quayle
Commodore Harwood - H.M.S. Ajax
Ian Hunter
Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax
Jack Gwillim
Captain Parry - H.M.N. Z. S. Achilles
Bernard Lee
Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
Lionel Murton
Mike Fowler
Anthony Bushell
Sir Millington Drake, British Minister, Montevideo
Peter Illing
Dr. Guani, Foreign Minister, Uruguay
Michael Goodliffe
Captain McCall, R.N., British Naval Attache, Buenos Aires
Patrick Macnee
Lieutenant Commander Medley, R.N.
John Chandos
Dr. Langmann, German Minister, Montevideo
Douglas Wilmer
M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Montevideo
William Squire
Ray Martin
Roger Delgado
Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy
Andrew Cruickshank
Captain Stubbs, 'Doric Star'
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
GB
