WE DIVE AT DAWN
UK, 1943, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Eric Portman, John Mills, Niall Mac Ginnis.
Directed by Anthony Asquith.
We Dive at Dawn is a submarine story, a piece of war propaganda and encouragement in 1943. In retrospect, it looks fairly conventional. Anthony Asquith was to direct the much more effective 1944 film, The Way to the Stars. Later he directed a number of adaptations of plays, especially by Terence Rattigan as with The Winslow Boy. He also directed the 1952 version of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Eric Portman is always a very serious figure. John Mills is the captain of the submarine (and was to go down in a submarine more effectively in the 1950 Morning Departure).
The film shows the complications of life aboard a submarine, the importance of shore leave, the very ordinariness of the men and their relationships back home. Niall Mac Ginnis appears as a sailor with a reluctance to be married.
The film shows the pursuit of a German ship in the Baltic Sea by the submarine. It seems that the submarine has disappeared, reported missing, but eventually emerges after destroying the ship.
1. The popularity at this time, war action and propaganda? In its time? In retrospect?
2. The black and white photography, the harbours and ports, the high seas, the depths? Life on the submarine? Musical score?
3. The establishing of the characters on the submarine, their ordinary way of life, characters? Their interactions? Officers and subordinates? The jobs? The role of the captain? Hobson and his severity? The discussions about shore leave and those remaining on board?
4. Everybody going ashore, the captain and his alleged aunt, getting his officer to make dates on successive nights? Hobson and his antagonism towards his brother-in-law, his wife wanting a divorce, his wanting to see his son, drinking, the clash with his brother-in-law? The wedding, the reluctant bridegroom, Corrigan and his cold feet? (And his trying to manoeuvre the captain to keep him on board?) His friends, the tattoo?
5. The call back to action, everybody being interrupted? Back on board, going out on the mission? Their searching for the Brandenberg? Finding it? The decision to go fast, the confrontation, the sinking of the ship? Having German prisoners on board, Hobson getting the information from them? Their being reported missing? Their being able to get back, the heroes' welcome?
6. The finale, the men and their war experience, working together? The captain and his achievement? Hobson and his wife and child waiting for him? Corrigan and Ethel waiting for him? The next boat going out for further action? British war propaganda?
