The Riddle of the Sands (1979)

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of ... See full summary »

Director:

Tony Maylam

Writers:

John Bailey (screenplay), Erskine Childers (novel),

Stars:

Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Simon MacCorkindale

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael York	...	Charles Carruthers
Jenny Agutter	...	Clara Dollmann
Simon MacCorkindale	...	Arthur Davies
Alan Badel	...	Dollmann
Jürgen Andersen	...	Cmdr. von Bruening (as Jurgen Andersen)
Michael Sheard	...	Boehme
Hans Meyer	...	Grimm
Wolf Kahler	...	Kaiser Wilhelm II
Olga Lowe	...	Frau Dollmann
Ronald Markham	...	Withers

Storyline

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.

---

Plot Keywords:

england | invasion | agent | male rear nudity | baltic sea | 

---

Taglines:

In these shifting sands, men can disappear without a trace . . . and their secrets with them.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

A homokpart rejtélye

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Finance Consortium, Rank Organisation, The, Worldmark

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alan Badel was cast as Dollman when the originally cast actor withdrew from the project.

---

Goofs

During the scene when Clara is frying Arthur's egg, some twenty minutes or so into the film.

---

Connections

Version of The Riddle of the Sands (1987)

User Reviews

leisurely exciting (?)

Not popular on its small first release this wonderful and genuinely beautiful thriller is great adventure and well cast. Set in 1901 off the sandbanks near the Fresian Islands near Brussells/Germany /Holland RIDDLE is an atmospheric foggy 'chums in peril' mystery with a spunky cast and sublime and eerie sailboat thrills. The woolly jumpers alone should have won an award! York and MacCorkindale are almost interchangeable but the always gorgeous Jenny Agutter is as usual irreplaceable and perfect. MacCorkindale even leaps overboard one morning all nude, just to liven up the visuals! Filmed in panavision this really suffers on TV and deserves a DVD release to allow a whole new generation to soak up what is a generally unappreciated but lovely sailing thriller. The art direction and atmosphere is so accessible it is almost enough reason to just let yourself sail away. It is one of my favorite films and patient viewers will be well rewarded. It seems to be screened constantly on late night Australian TV, and even has an extra scene early in the film as Michael York arrives by train. RIDDLE OF THE SANDS is one of the most absorbing and beautiful Edwardian/Victorian era films made in Britain in the 70s.