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 have 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 as usual excellent performance. He holds the film together like glue. Buy Daily Mail Promo Dvd (£2.99 incl Postage) Buy UK Dvd from this Site (Shipped from UK) 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 4 STARS OUT OF 5 Above Us the Waves John Mills Buy UK Dvd (This Site) (Shipped from UK) Single Disc [1999] Directors: Ralph Thomas Actors: John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Michael Medwin Format: Black & White, Full Screen, PAL Language: English Region: Region 2 (UK & Europe) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 1 Classification: U Studio: ITV DVD DVD Release Date: 11 Oct 1999 Run Time: 95 minutes DVD Features: Main Language: English Available Audio Tracks: Mono Sub Titles: None Disc Format: DVD 5 Interactive Menus Scene Access 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 John Mills | Kenneth More john mills 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 john mills dvds john mills videos john mills 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