THE SEA SHALL NOT HAVE THEM
UK, 1955, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel, Nigel Patrick, Bonar Colleano, James Kenney, Sydney Tafler, Griffith Jones, Guy Middleton, Ian Whittaker, Victor Maddern, Eddie Byrne.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.
The Sea Shall Not Have Them is one of the many tributes to the heroism of Britain in World War Two. The film focuses on a bomber which crash-lands in the North Sea. The group has to survive, especially with an air-commodore with vital secrets. The film also shows the rescue team of the RAF and its attempts to get to the men. The film climaxes with a dramatic rescue. Meantime the group on the sea reminisce about their lives, trying to keep up morale, trying to survive in the cold weather.
Michael Redgrave is the air-commodore. A young Dirk Bogarde is the flying sergeant on the boat. Anthony Steel is in charge of the rescue. Many of the prominent British actors of the period appear in supporting roles. The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert who directed other war films including Sink the Bismarck. After directing Alfie he then directed three James Bond films, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. He also directed the entertaining Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine.
1. The tone and meaning of the title? The tribute to personnel in the war? Adventure? How entertaining an example of a war film and a rescue?
2. How conventional a war film was this? The presentation of England in 1944, the R A.F., the Navy? Wreckage, survival, rescue? The quality of the film as different, as much the same as the fIlms of the fifties in this style?
3. The black and white photography, the sea locations, the contrast with the land and Headquarters? The special effects of the crash, the drifting, the rescue?
4. The importance of the plot and its credibility, the memories of the war? The contrived sitution of four men drifting on the water, their interactions, their memories of life, need for survival, tensions, hopes? How well did the film balance the presentation of Headquarters and the search organisers, the various ships with their difficulties, the human elements in the stories of the men? Did these ingredients combine for interest?
5. The focus on Air Commodore Waltby? His role in the war, his importance, a sense of desperateness in the suspense for the need for his rescue? His leadership qualities? His memories of his life as he faced the possibility of death? His role In the dinghy? His effect on the men? The comparison .with Flight Sergeant Mackay? His role in the dinghy, his memories, the interaction? The other men on the dinghy in similar circumstances?
6. The importance of showing the rescue teams, the ships, the men at Headquarters? The importance of Corporal Skinner and his neglect? How well did this contribute to the suspense?
7. The importance of showing the authenticity of what it was to drift in the ocean, lost, cold and weakened, nerves frayed and clashes and hopes?
8. How contrived was the final rescue, at the appropriate moment?
9. What do films like this reveal about human nature, human capacity for survival? Are they valuable in this regard?
