The Battle of the River Plate (1956)

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Michael Powell (written by) &
Emeric Pressburger (written by)

Release Date:

November 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

The true and moving story of a mighty sea battle [Video Australia]

Plot:

A true WW2 story: the British Navy must find and destroy a powerful German warship.

Plot Keywords:

Powell And Pressburger | 1930s | Chase | Port | Admiral

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

John Gregson	...	Capt. Bell, HMS Exeter
Anthony Quayle	...	Cdre. Harwood, HMS Ajax
Ian Hunter	...	Capt. Woodhouse, HMS Ajax
Jack Gwillim	...	Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles
Bernard Lee	...	Capt. Dove, MS Africa Shell
Lionel Murton	...	Mike Fowler, Montevideo
Anthony Bushell	...	Millington Drake, British Minister, Uruguay
Peter Illing	...	Dr. Guani, Uruguayan Foreign Minister
Michael Goodliffe	...	Capt. McCall, R.N., British Naval Attache, Buenos Aires
Patrick Macnee	...	Lt. Cmdr. Medley, HMS Ajax
John Chandos	...	Dr. Langmann, German Minister, Uruguay
Douglas Wilmer	...	M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Uruguay
William Squire	...	Ray Martin, Montevideo
Roger Delgado	...	Capt. Varela, Uruguyan Navy
Andrew Cruickshank	...	Capt. Stubbs, Doric Star
Christopher Lee	...	Manolo
Edward Atienza	...	Pop
April Olrich	...	Dolores
Peter Finch	...	Capt. Langsdorff, Admiral Graff Spee
María Mercedes	...	Madame X (credit only)
John Schlesinger	...	Prisoner on Graf Spee
John Le Mesurier	...	Rev. George Groves, Padre, HMS Exeter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Farrar	...	Narrator
John Merivale	...	Cowburn, Pilot, HMNZS Achilles
Douglas Argent	...	Sub. Lieutenant, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Vincent Ball	...	Barnes, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Ken Barker	...	Marine Officer / HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Michael Barnes	...	Midshipman, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Raymond Barrie	...	Shirley, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Terence Bayler	...	Stoker, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Alan Beale	...	Capt. Pttinger, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Richard Beale	...	Captain Pottinger (uncredited)
David Benson	...	Marine Officer, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
John Britton	...	Navigator, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Robert Bruce	...	Lt. Cmdr. Smith, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Anna Burden	...	Madame Desmoulins, Montevideo (uncredited)
Richard Burrell	...	Navigator (HMS Exeter) (uncredited)
Tony Burton	...	Young Sailor, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
David Cameron	...	Pilot Officer Lewin, pilot, spotter plane, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Alan Casley	...	Rating, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Ronald Clarke	...	Prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Michael Collins	...	Chief Yeoman, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
James Copeland	...	Chief Yeoman, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Tita Dane	...	(uncredited)
Gron Davies	...	Chief Engineer, Trevannionion, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Denton De Gray	...	Observer Kearney, Spotter plane, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Maxwell Denne	...	Petty Officer, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Captain Patrick Dove	...	Capt., Streonshalh, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Peter Dyneley	...	Captain, Newton Beach, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Eynon Evans	...	Chief Engineer, Newton Beach, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Jack Faint	...	Chief Officer, Ashlea, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Peter Fontaine	...	Gunnery Officer, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
John Forbes-Robertson	...	Lt. McBarnett, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Frank Forsyth	...	Petty Officer, Bridge, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Barry Foster	...	Bill Roper, Capt. Bell's messenger, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Colin Free	...	2nd Messenger, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Richard George	...	Chief Officer, Trevannion, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Keith Grieve	...	Sick Bay P.O., HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Lucia Guillon	...	Telephone Girl, Montevideo (uncredited)
Peter Halliday	...	Guani's Secretary, Montevideo (uncredited)
Ken Hayward	...	Spotting Officer, Gunnery Control, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Patrick Horgan	...	Signalman, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Helen Horton	...	(uncredited)
Mary Jones	...	Miss Shaw, Millington Drake's secretary (uncredited)
Kerry Jordan	...	O.S. Rogers, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Patrick Jordan	...	Signalman, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Marvin Kane	...	(uncredited)
Howard Lang	...	'Guns', HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Frank Lloyd	...	Messenger, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Cyril Luckham	...	Lt. Jasper Abbot, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Kenneth Luckman	...	Mess P.O., HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Ivor Mairants	...	Guitarist accompanying Dolores in Montevideo (uncredited)
Alan Masterson	...	Midshipman, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Jack Mayne	...	(uncredited)
Lane Meddick	...	P.O. Stacey, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
John Merrivale	...	Cowburn, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Kenneth Midwood	...	Petty Officer, Gunnery Control, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Donald Moffat	...	Swanston, Look Out, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
George Murcell	...	Chief Officer, Newton Beach (uncredited)
Anthony Newley	...	Radio Operator, Tairoa, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Joseph O'Conner	...	Chief Engineer, Doric Star, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
David Paltenghi	...	Customs Officer, Montevideo (uncredited)
Conrad Phillips	...	Lt. Washbourne, Gunnery Officer, HMS Achilles (uncredited)
Ambrosine Phillpotts	...	Mrs. Millington-Drake, Montevideo (uncredited)
Columba Powell	...	Lost child in crowd (uncredited)
Edward Powell	...	Chief Officer, Huntsman, prisoner on Graf Spree (uncredited)
Irene Prador	...	(uncredited)
Peter Prowse	...	Look Out, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Roy Purcell	...	Duty Officer Pennefeather, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Rive Rola	...	(uncredited)
Alan Rolfe	...	Petty Officer, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
David Rose	...	Boy Dorset, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Peter Scott	...	1st Messenger, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Peter Smallwood	...	Spotting Officer, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Muriel Smith	...	Dolores, Montevideo (uncredited) (singing voice)
Julian Somers	...	Quartermaster on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Barry Steele	...	Midshipman, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Graham Stewart	...	Signalman, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Nigel Stock	...	Chief Officer, Tairoa, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)
Alan Townsend	...	Duty Officer, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Guy Verney	...	Cmdr. Graham, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Tony Wager	...	Look Out, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
Colin Wall	...	Boy Bugler, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
John Warren	...	Chief Yeoman Signals, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Patrick Westwood	...	Archer, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
George Whiting	...	Chief Engineer, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Ian Whittaker	...	Messenger, Boiler Room, HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
David Williams	...	Look Out, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
Neil Wilson	...	Mess P.O., HMNZS Achilles (uncredited)
Brian Worth	...	Radio Operator, Doric Star, prisoner on Graf Spee (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writing credits
Michael Powell		(written by) &
Emeric Pressburger		(written by)

Produced by
Michael Powell	....	producer
Emeric Pressburger	....	producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer
Sydney Streeter	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Brian Easdale

Cinematography by
Christopher Challis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reginald Mills

Production Design by
Arthur Lawson

Makeup Department
Geoffrey Rodway	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Brabourne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Orme	....	assistant director

Art Department
Hein Heckroth	....	artistic advisor
Donald Picton	....	assistant art director
Mark Rowe	....	props (uncredited)
Bernard Sarron	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
Arthur Stevens	....	sound editor
C.C. Stevens	....	sound recordist
Harry Fairbairn	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
P. Lloyd	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James Snow	....	special effects
Bill Warrington	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Austin Dempster	....	camera operator
Ian Jeayes	....	still photographer
Jock Sang	....	chief electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Dalmayne	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Noreen Ackland	....	assembly cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Frederick Lewis	....	musical director (as Frederic Lewis)
Muriel Smith	....	singing voice: April Olrich (uncredited)

Other crew
Arthur Alcott	....	production controller: Pinewood Studios
Captain F.S. Bell	....	naval advisor
Captain Patrick Dove	....	technical advisor on prison sequences: Graf Spee
Betty Harley	....	continuity
Ralph Medley	....	advisor
Jean Osborne	....	publicist (uncredited)
Bill Paton	....	assistant: Mr. Powell (uncredited)

Thanks
Captain Patrick Dove	....	thanks
Sir W. Edward Parry	....	thanks
Sir Charles Woodhouse	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Archers, The (as Arcturus Productions)

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1956) (UK) (theatrical)
• Rank Film Distributors of America (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Carlton Visual Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• F.J. Lucas (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Collection International Ltd. (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• HMS Cumberland as Herself  group cast members
• HMS Jamaica as HMS Exeter  group cast members
• HMS Sheffield (as HMS Ajax)  group cast members
• INS Delhi, former Achilles as HMNZ Achilles  group cast members
• USN Salem as Graf Spee  group cast members

Also Known As:

Graf Spee
Pursuit of the Graf Spee (USA)
Bataille du Rio de la Plata, La (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
A Batalha do Rio da Prata (Portugal) [pt]
Batalla del Río de la Plata, La (Spain) [es]
Battaglia di Rio della Plata, La (Italy) [it]
Havets tiger (Denmark) [da]
Jagad över haven (Sweden) [sv]
Panzerschiff Graf Spee (West Germany) [de]
Sabordage du Graf Spee, Le (Belgium: French title) [fr]
Slag von Rio de la Plata, De (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Taistelulaiva Graf Spee (Finland) [fi]
Taistelulaivan viimeiset päivät (Finland) [fi]
Von Spee, to katadromikon fantasma (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

119 min | USA:106 min (cut version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Spain:7 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Ocean

Company:

Archers, The

Trivia:

Location filming started on 13 December 1955, the 16th anniversary of the battle. The River Plate Association in Auckland sent a good-luck message to the crew. "Congratulations on choice of day. Hope your shooting will be as successful as ours!"

Goofs:

Factual errors: A symbolic scene, when a crane lowers a lifeboat with Captain Dove into an aircraft hangar of "Admiral Graf Spee", and the roof closes over it, could not happen, because such hangars were typical for US ships only, and "Graf Spee" had no aircraft hangar.

Quotes:

[on board a badly shot up HMNZS Achilles]
Gunnery Officer: Captain, sir.
Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles: Yes, guns?
Gunnery Officer: We've fired nearly 1200 rounds sir. About one third of the arsenal only remaining.
Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles: Thank you. Are you all right?
Gunnery Officer: A few new ventilation gaps here, sir. A bit draughty, but otherwise all right.
[Capt. Parry turns to look at gunnery control position full of shell holes]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Story of Making the Film They're a Weird Mob (1966)

Soundtrack:

Dolores' Song

A change of pace from Powell & Pressburger

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger are probably best known for their mystical, romantic films like: 'A Matter of Life and Death'; 'Black Narcissus', and 'The Red Shoes'.

'Battle of the River Plate' is a decent film, but it does have some awkward lapses. There is some excellent footage shot at sea using veteran Royal Navy ships. Unfortunately this sits uneasily with the studio sets. During the battle scenes I had the uneasy feeling someone out of shot was throwing buckets of water in the air to simulate shell-fire.

Instead of indulging in Technicolor, I feel the producers should have gone for the harsher monochrome which 'The Cruel Sea' and 'Sink the Bismarck!' use so well. Black and white photography also makes the shift between location and studio work much less obvious.

There are some good performances in the film, notably Peter Finch as Langsdorff. I remember seeing newsreel footage of the real Langsdorff attending the funeral of his men in Montevideo, he gave a German Naval salute instead of the Nazi version. His portrayal as a 'decent' German has a basis in fact.

The battle of the River Plate was the last Naval action to take place without the benefit of technical advances such as radar. It was a fine piece of seamanship and the story deserved to be told. At the end of this film, unfortunately, you can't help feeling it could have been told better.