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

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

Rousing well made movie, using some of the original ships.

Fine, entertaining movie of the famous sea battle between 3 smaller British warships versus the great German Pocket Battleship "Graf Spee". Tremendous sea scenes , aided by the fact that most of the original ships which fought the actual battle are used in the movie. Well acted all-round with Peter Finch doing a fine job as Captain Langsdorf.