The Battle of the River Plate (Pursuit of the Graf Spee)
Two weeks after the start ofWW2, a powerful German pocket battleship, the Graf Spee, sails the South Atlantic destroying Allied merchant ships at will. Captained by one of Germany's most brilliant naval officers, the Graf Spee, with her superior speed and artillery, appears and disappears, sinking ship after ship. When the Allies are finally able to pinpoint its location a trap is set, pitting British intelligence against a wily and powerful military opponent.
Member Reviews
A different "war" film - RobBC
Powell and Pressburger’s fine tale of duty and honour under pressure defies the usual flag-waving conventions we’ve come to expect from war dramas and instead seeks out the human component beneath the uniforms. There are no lionhearted heros or loathsome villains here but rather a handful of commanding officers, three British, one German, bound by conflicting sets of principles to carry out their separate missions to the best of their ability. An air of mutual respect develops between them despite the fact their orders are to attack one another, a respect which makes the brief yet gripping visions of battle carnage all the more tragic. In one particularly poignant scene a group of shipboard P.O.W.s are given boxes of Christmas decorations to brighten up their holding cell, while in another scene captured officers salute the coffins of enemy sailors killed during a particularly heavy assault. A most un-warlike battle film in which adversity is met with quiet courage and a victorious celebration is tempered by a profound sense of loss. The understated musical score and wide horizon cinematography are marvelous.The Outbreak of War - MacAskill
This unusual film documents the very beginnings of WW II, and the political gymnastics that the Nazi government undertook to protect its interests (in some instance), while simultaneously abused to further their interests. Less of a battle film than a film about how history really unfolds. Very worthwhile for those who have an interest in background and underpinnings of what became WW II.
Member Reviews
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A different "war" film - RobBC
Powell and Pressburger’s fine tale of duty and honour under pressure defies the usual flag-waving conventions we’ve come to expect from war dramas and instead seeks out the human component beneath the uniforms. There are no lionhearted heros or loathsome ...The Outbreak of War - MacAskill
This unusual film documents the very beginnings of WW II, and the political gymnastics that the Nazi government undertook to protect its interests (in some instance), while simultaneously abused to further their interests. Less of a battle film than a film ...