UNDER TEN FLAGS

Italy, 1960, 92 minutes, Black and White.
Van Heflin, Charles Laughton, John Ericson, Mylene Demongeot, Liam Redmond, Alex Nicol, Gregoire Aslan.
Directed by Duillio Coletti.

Under Ten Flags is a different kind of war film presenting a German ship's captain humanely and sympathetically and showing, with admiration, his skill in deceiving and destroying British ships. Van Heflin brings great dignity to this role. Charles Laughton brings his usual crusty style to the British commander trying to outwit and out-manoeuvre the German. While the British win, the audience is made to feel regret. This makes the film a useful one for discussing war issues with balance.

1. The significance of the title and its reference to the German ship's tactics? How successful a war film? Its impact?

2. Audience memories of and response to World War II - 1960 when the film was made, now, differing views of the war?

3. The black and white photography? The British atmosphere, the sea, the nature of the ship and life on board? An authentic atmosphere for a war film?

4. The importance of the structure - intercutting between Germans and British, the techniques of cat and mouse? The nature of suspense?

5. Audience response to the Germans? The interest in and sympathy for the Germans? The film's manipulation of audience response?

6. The importance of the details of the German captain's tactics? Capture of British ships? The importance for the audience to know what happened and how? Audience response to the German tricks and their success? British admiration for the success?

7. The contrast with the British? Their speculation about what the Germans were doing? Their uncertainty as to what was actually happening? The details of their study of the situation? Their skill in interpreting what was happening? Audience emotional response to the British in contrast with the Germans?

8. The British admiral as portrayed by Charles Laughton? Audience interest in him? His capacities for interpreting the situation? His strength of character, impatience, determination? His respect for the Germans, his growing certainty and wanting to prove it?

9. The personality of the German captain as portrayed by Van Heflin? His skill in tactics, running of the ship, the respect of his crew, treatment of prisoners, attitude to the S.S.? How admirable a character doing his job in war?

10. The talk about waging a clean war? Was it possible? The captain's success despite the Nazi supervisor?

11. The significance of the clash with the 11Abdullah"? The captain and his cowardice? His responsibility for the death of the civilians? The passengers' attitude towards the captain? The German captain wanting justice to be done?

12. The presentation of the passengers, the personalities, life on board the ship, the German captain's enabling them to be rescued?

13. The contrast with the British codes? Their skill in trying to trick the Germans? The German's skill in outwitting the British?

14. Response to the final tactics in outwitting the Germans and the sinking of the ship? Did the captain have any alternative but to abandon the ship?

15. What achievement was there in this particular military career? Contribution to the war? The film's dealing with themes of war, life and death, cruelty and humanity? The values that the film best explored?