The Next of Kin (1942)

Wartime propaganda piece giving the warning "Be like Dad, Keep Mum". A gossipy housewife is overheard talking about what her son is doing by a Nazi spy.

Director:

Thorold Dickinson

Writers:

Basil Bartlett, Thorold Dickinson,

Stars:

Mervyn Johns, John Chandos, Nova Pilbeam

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mervyn Johns	...	No 23: Mr Davis
John Chandos	...	No 16: his contact
Nova Pilbeam	...	Beppie Leemans
Reginald Tate	...	Maj. Richards
Stephen Murray	...	Mr Barratt
Geoffrey Hibbert	...	Pvt. John
Philip Friend	...	Lt. Cummins
Phyllis Stanley	...	Miss Clare
Mary Clare	...	Mrs. Webster
Basil Sydney	...	Naval captain
Joss Ambler	...	Mr Vemon
Brefni O'Rorke	...	Brigadier
Alexander Field	...	Pvt. Durnford
David Hutcheson	...	Intelligence officer
Jack Hawkins	...	Major

Storyline

Wartime propaganda piece giving the warning "Be like Dad, Keep Mum". A gossipy housewife is overheard talking about what her son is doing by a Nazi spy.

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Plot Keywords:

nazi spy | propaganda | world war two | horse | port | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1942 (UK)

Also Known As:

Alguém Falou...

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios, Army Kinematograph Service

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of Victor Beaumont.

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Quotes

Narrator: [Spoken as camera pans across dead soldiers after the battle sequence] The object of the raid has been achieved. Locked gates, oil storage tanks, harbour equipment were destroyed. One enemy submarine was put out of action, our own losses, both in men and craft were very heavy. The enemy had been warned. He was waiting for us. And although our troops fought throughout with great skill and gallantry, they were not able to effect the surprise that had been hoped for. They paid the price for bad ...

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Connections

Referenced in Enigma (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Doushka (Waltz)"
(uncredited)
Music by Ernest Irving

User Reviews

A unique look at the British propaganda film during WWII.

When a British army unit is given the task, to attack a vital German U boat base, they know that security has to be 100 per cent. In this semi documentary look at the operation, it is shown how even the smallest remark about the raid , when overheard by German agents, and put together with other clues, will result the raid being a total failure. From one of the officers telling his girlfriend, that his unit is moving to a special training area, to the bookseller blackmailing his assistant into obtaining information from her soldier boyfriend, to the RAF officer, who leaves his briefcase, where a German agent can steal, and copy his photographs, the film then shows in graphic detail, what could happen, when the troops land. and the enemy are waiting. This story shows to war weary audience, how easy it is to talk out of turn, and put allied soldiers lives at risk.