An incredible ensemble creates memorable characterizations in this world war drama about a British submarine core which heads to Norway to destroy the German battleship, the Tirpitz, and the tensions which lead up to their attempt. Lead by John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden and James Robertson Justice, the ensemble of actors playing officers, enlisted men, volunteers and Nazi's are superb. They travel thousands of miles, not without incident (including a mine stuck to their tail), hide their fears througu delirious good cheer, and find themselves trapped under the Tribitz with the risk of being blown up themselves, and later, some of them are captured and brought aboard the battleship (led by Theodore Bikel in a role similar to what he had played in "The African Queen") and brutally questioned. All seems hopeless by this point, but being a war film made by filmmakers on the side of the allies, there's always a chance that the mission might succeed at the last minute.
This isn't your typical feel good flag waver. In fact, it's a bit of a bittersweet war adventure that scores more for the tension than the success of the mission. After the war, you didn't need to show the fantasy side of the allies always winning, so reality took a bigger hand in guiding these stories. The script doesn't overdo the comic bits. In fact, the comic moments are quite subtle and the writing is also quite fair in showing the Germans in a multi dimensional way. At one point, one of the German ship's officers commends the British for their bravery. Excellent photography and editing aids this in being an above average look at one of thousands of missions and keeps the audience engrossed.
This isn't your typical feel good flag waver. In fact, it's a bit of a bittersweet war adventure that scores more for the tension than the success of the mission. After the war, you didn't need to show the fantasy side of the allies always winning, so reality took a bigger hand in guiding these stories. The script doesn't overdo the comic bits. In fact, the comic moments are quite subtle and the writing is also quite fair in showing the Germans in a multi dimensional way. At one point, one of the German ship's officers commends the British for their bravery. Excellent photography and editing aids this in being an above average look at one of thousands of missions and keeps the audience engrossed.