Three lifeboats are adrift after an attack on the tanker, the San Demetrio London, and two are rescued. But nature's wrath forces the third lifeboat occupants to reboard the damaged tanker and get it to safety, but they are surrounded by the elements of the sea as well as German U-boats, so it's going to take some quick thinking and level heads for these men to survive.
This is based on a real life 1940 incident, and the producers wisely did not pass with major stars although a few of the supporting players are familiar character actors (Mervyn Johns, Walter Fitzgerald, Gordon Jackson, Charles Victor and Robert Beatty) from other well known British films. This is absolutely no nonsense in the way it is filmed, exciting and fast moving, only utilizing a teeny bit of time to show the crew in frivolous activities.
They did a great job of showing the dangerous elements surrounding the damaged boat, and the result is a gripping war drama very true to life because it is life. I'm adding this film to my top 50 of the year, including honors for the direction, script, photography, editing, musical score and above all, special effects. An absolutely perfect movie.
This is based on a real life 1940 incident, and the producers wisely did not pass with major stars although a few of the supporting players are familiar character actors (Mervyn Johns, Walter Fitzgerald, Gordon Jackson, Charles Victor and Robert Beatty) from other well known British films. This is absolutely no nonsense in the way it is filmed, exciting and fast moving, only utilizing a teeny bit of time to show the crew in frivolous activities.
They did a great job of showing the dangerous elements surrounding the damaged boat, and the result is a gripping war drama very true to life because it is life. I'm adding this film to my top 50 of the year, including honors for the direction, script, photography, editing, musical score and above all, special effects. An absolutely perfect movie.