THE GIFT HORSE
UK, 1952, 101 minutes, Black and white.
Trevor Howard, Richard Attenborough, Sonny Tufts, James Donald, Joan Rice, Bernard Lee, Dora Bryan, Hugh Williams.
Directed by Compton Bennett.
The Gift Horse is a conventional war story, very popular in the early 50s, the period of such stories as The Cruel Sea and The Wooden Horse. Trevor Howard is generally stiff-upper-lip as the captain whose background includes mistakes and a court martial and who suffers the loss of his son in action. Richard Attenborough is the union leader, working below decks and getting the rights of his fellow sailors. Sonny Tufts is the Yank who wants to join up to be near his girlfriend. James Donald is the Canadian officer who initially clashes with the captain. Bernard Lee is the below-decks sailor with an ear for a good story. The romantic interest is provided by Joan Rice and Dora Bryan. Compton Bennett was a competent director of many dramas in the 40s and 50s in the UK and the screenplay was by William Fairchild, a specialist in this kind of story and in collaboration with William Rose and Hugh Hastings, who also wrote many screenplays during this period.
1. Conventional war story? The spirit of the 40s and England's involvement in the war? The perspective of the early 50s and the assessment and the tribute to the men and women in service?
2. Black and white photography, life on the ship, in the ports of Derry, in London? The musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the ship, its being old, dirty, inefficient? The captain and his improving its status? Its involvement in protecting convoys? Its final mission and its contribution to the defence of England and the attack on France?
4. The characters and their stiff-upper-lip and loyal British behaviour: the captain, widower, scenes with his son, his son's death, stern with the men, wanting orders obeyed, making the ship clean, the listening with justice to the men, to Daniels and his union representation, the clash with Wilson and the court martial, his being given further command, his mistake and the destruction of the ship he was protecting, the officer and the grounding of the ship, his going to his defence, vindication, his mellowing, his drinking with the men, going into action, the final mission and its successful achievement? Daniels and his efficiency, the legal rights, union representative, the discussions with the captain, the brawls, his relationships, his service? Wood and his friendship with Daniel, the telling stories in the bar, the typical man below decks? Yank Flanagan, his joining up, his girlfriend, finding that she was married, his proposing to Glad, the marriage, getting her away from the bombs, the irony of her being killed in Exeter and the baby? The brawls, loyalty? Lieutenant Jennings, Number One, his resentments towards the captain, his efficiency in his work, getting his own command, flirting with June, the bet, the dinner, chatting the women up, meeting June, the romance? Captain Wilson, the clash with Fraser, the court martial, his giving him commissions, defending him? The final mission?
5. The scenes of life on the ship, work, sailing, combat, mistakes, grounding the ship, repairs, leave, the brawls, the men going into action, the final achievement? This film as one of many like this from this period?
