Ealing broke from its traditional light comedies to offer a serious, authentic reconstruction of the battle of the Atlantic, based on Nicholas Monsarrat's bestseller, Production. It emerged as a picture of dramatic intensity. Much of the original novel's action was telescoped and quite a few major incidents were omitted. Indeed the film is basically pared down into three elements which the commentator in the movie describes when he says the heroes are the men, the heroines are the ships, and the villain is the cruel sea. These three elements are put into focus via the activities of a corvette which puts to sea with only one experienced officer - the captain - aboard. The others are the normal wartime recruits from civilian life, including a freelance journalist, lawyer, bank clerk and second-hand car salesman. Their first operational duties land them into a storm, but subsequently they encounter enemy activity and are harassed by U-boats. The direction by Frend is beyond reproach. Some viewers have complained at the length of the movie (2 hours) but I found it riveting throughout. The supporting cast is good (particularly Stanley Baker) but this picture really belongs to Jack Hawkins. As the captain he commands the silver screen with his made-in-Britain authority. I think that a great actor is born to play one part in his whole career and for Hawkins I think it is this one. This is a prime example of the docudramatic style that, spurning the gung-ho heroics of Hollywood, characterised the best British war films. And I for one think it is that sytle that has meant these British films have aged far better than the American counterparts of that period. Nominated for an Oscar in 1953 for Best Screenplay. Produced by Leslie Norman (father of Barry) Unmissable. Buy UK Dvd from this Site (Shipped from UK) Filming Locations: Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, UK 5 STARS OUT OF 5 The Cruel Sea Jack Hawkins Buy UK Dvd (This Site) (Shipped from UK) Single Disc [2007] Director: Charles Frend Actors: Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker, Denholm Elliott, Moira Lister, Virginia McKenna Format: Anamorphic, PAL Language: English Region: Region 2 (UK & Europe) Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number of discs: 1 Classification: U Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment DVD Release Date: 8 Jan 2007 Run Time: 121 minutes DVD Features: Main Language: English Available Audio Tracks: Dolby Digital Scene selection Price: £11.99 (UK Sterling) / $ 25.99 (US Dollars approx) (Shipped from UK) (Price includes worldwide postage & packaging) Payment can also be made to Lenin Imports by cheque, po, money order, international money order, cash by registered mail. Please enclose title of item ordering and return address. Address: Lenin Imports 5 High Street South Norwood London SE25 6EP United Kingdom Also available: amazon.co.uk | amazon.com Movie Review Jack Hawkins jack hawkins dvds | videos al pacino | michelle pfeiffer yul brynner | christopher plummer | romy schneider the godfather | the godfather part ii marlon brando | james caan | diane keaton | al pacino laurence olivier | clark gable | vivien leigh | leslie howard | alfred hitchcock | robert montgomery | grace kelly olivia de havilland | humphrey bogart | howard hawks | frank capra | charlie chaplin | lauren bacall | fritz lang jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth jack hawkins dvds jack hawkins videos jack hawkins dvds | videos al pacino | michelle pfeiffer yul brynner | christopher plummer | romy schneider the godfather | the godfather part ii marlon brando | james caan | diane keaton | al pacino laurence olivier | clark gable | vivien leigh | leslie howard | alfred hitchcock | robert montgomery | grace kelly olivia de havilland | humphrey bogart | howard hawks | frank capra | charlie chaplin | lauren bacall | fritz lang jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth Page created by: lenin@netcomuk.co.uk Changes last made: 2007