This isn't a bad movie but it could have been a hell lot better if handled by a better director than Ralph Thomas. Lacking in imagination and flair, most of his films are watchable but as safe as houses: he never seemed to get out of that comfort zone and actually take chances. Instead, he settled on stereotypes as this film so aptly demonstrates. A lazy and disappointing method of working for sure, and with the abilty of cast he has to hand in this movie almost criminal.

Having failed with torpedoes, John Mills and his rookie crew set out in midget submarines to try to sink the German battleship Tirpitz in this Second World War action adventure. Riddled with stiff-upper-lipped stereotypes, this is one of those proud re-creations of an “against the odds” mission that were the staple of postwar British cinema. Thomas opts to examine the cramped conditions of his characters rather than go overboard on their heroic exploits. The finale attack on Trondheim harbour good has been done better.

Most damning of all about the picture is that it doesn't tell you what the mission actually achieved. It did not, as the film implies, break the back of the ship - but did succeed in putting Tirpitz out of action for half a year; the RAF finally destroyed her a year after the midget attack.

Still, despite the above grumbles, it is still a movie worth seeing. There are plenty of good scenes thanks mainly to Mills's as usual excellent performance. He holds the film together like glue.

TRIVIA

Ages of the stars at the time of the making of the film:

- John Mills, 46
- John Gregson, 35
- Donald Sinden, 31
- James Robertson Justice, 47

FILMING LOCATIONS INCLUDED

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England
(studio)

St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands

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OFFICIAL UK RELEASE

DVD FEATURES

~ Main Language: English
~ Available Audio Tracks: Mono
~ Sub Titles: None
~ Disc Format: DVD 5
~ Interactive Menus
~ Scene Access

CONDITION: new.

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Price: £8.99 (UK Sterling) (UK / Europe / Australia Postage Inclusive)

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