Morning Departure (1950)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

W.E. Fairchild (writer)
Kenneth Woollard (play)

Release Date:

18 May 1950 (France)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

THRILLING SEA DRAMA! (ad for "Operation Disaster" - all caps)

Plot:

The crew of a submarine is trapped on the sea floor when it sinks. How can they be rescued before they run out of air? |

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Trapped | Suspense | U Boat | British Navy

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

John Mills	...	Lt. Cmdr. Armstrong
Nigel Patrick	...	Lt. Manson
Peter Hammond	...	Sub-Lt. Oakley
Andrew Crawford	...	Sub-Lt. J. McFee
Michael Brennan	...	CPO Barlow
George Cole	...	ERA Marks
Victor Maddern	...	Leading Telegraphist Hillbrook
Roddy McMillan	...	Leading Seaman Andrews
Frank Coburn	...	Leading Seaman Brough
Jack Stewart	...	Leading Seaman Kelly
James Hayter	...	Able Seaman Higgins
Wylie Watson	...	Able Seaman Nobby Clark
Richard Attenborough	...	Stoker Snipe
George Thorpe	...	Capt. Fenton
Bernard Lee	...	Cmdr. Gates

Also Known As:

Operation Disaster (USA)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Jay Lewis Productions

Trivia:

Shortly after filming was completed in 1950, the submarine HMS Truculent went down in the River Thames with a heavy loss of life. The incident is referenced in the opening credits, and nearly caused the film to be withdrawn from distribution.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where the destroyers are first seen searching for the Trojan, the pennant letters on the side of one of the destroyers are seen in reverse.

Quotes:

Helen Armstong: Why does the Navy insist on doing everything at the crack of dawn? The sea's there all day.
Lieutenant Commander Armstrong: It impresses the taxpayers.

One of the most compelling movies (in a good way) I've ever seen

Morning Departure had a somewhat slow beginning but it quickly immerses you in the characters and their relationships with one another and with their duty. Whereas a lot of movies these days really try and make you care about the characters by the end of this movie your wondering if there is anything you could do at home to help them out! I actually saw this movie for the first time about 3 years ago but seriously rate this as my favorite movie to date when not influenced by current blockbusters.