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IMDbPro

In Which We Serve

  • 19421942
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,173
4,622
Noël Coward in In Which We Serve (1942)
This "story of a ship", the British destroyer H.M.S. Torrin, is told in flashbacks by survivors as they cling to a life raft.
Play trailer1:16
1 Video
88 Photos
DramaWar
This "story of a ship", the British destroyer H.M.S. Torrin, is told in flashbacks by survivors as they cling to a life raft.This "story of a ship", the British destroyer H.M.S. Torrin, is told in flashbacks by survivors as they cling to a life raft.This "story of a ship", the British destroyer H.M.S. Torrin, is told in flashbacks by survivors as they cling to a life raft.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,173
4,622
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Noël Coward
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Noël Coward(by)
    • Stars
      • Noël Coward
      • John Mills
      • Bernard Miles
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Noël Coward
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Noël Coward(by)
    • Stars
      • Noël Coward
      • John Mills
      • Bernard Miles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 69User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:16
    Trailer

    Photos88

    Richard Attenborough in In Which We Serve (1942)
    Noël Coward and Bernard Miles in In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    Penelope Dudley-Ward and Michael Wilding in In Which We Serve (1942)
    John Mills in In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)
    In Which We Serve (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Noël Coward
    Noël Coward
    • Capt. E.V. Kinross R.N. - Captain 'D'
    • (as Noel Coward)
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Ordinary Seaman Shorty Blake
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • Chief Petty Officer Walter Hardy
    Celia Johnson
    Celia Johnson
    • Mrs. Alix Kinross
    Kay Walsh
    Kay Walsh
    • Freda Lewis
    Joyce Carey
    Joyce Carey
    • Mrs. Kath Hardy
    Derek Elphinstone
    • No. 1
    Michael Wilding
    Michael Wilding
    • Flags
    Robert Sansom
    • Guns
    Philip Friend
    Philip Friend
    • Torps
    Chimmo Branson
    • Midshipman
    Ballard Berkeley
    Ballard Berkeley
    • Engineer Commander
    Hubert Gregg
    Hubert Gregg
    • Pilot
    James Donald
    James Donald
    • Doc
    Michael Whittaker
    • Sub
    Kenneth Carten
    • Sub-Lieutenant R.N.V.R.
    John Varley
    • Secco
    Caven Watson
    • Brodie
    • Directors
      • Noël Coward
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Noël Coward(by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Noël Coward vetoed the casting of James Mason in a key role because of his stance on the war.
    • Goofs
      When a scene is shown in the wardroom, the point of view changes to simulate the ship moving. However, the sherry or wine in the glasses does not move at all, showing that it is the camera that is moving rather than the 'ship' (or set).
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Alix Kinross: [Christmas dinner toast] Ladies and gentlemen. I'll begin by taking my husband's advice and wishing you all a very happy Christmas. I'm sure Elizabeth and June will back me up when I say I'd like to deliver, on behalf of all wretched naval wives, a word of warning to Maureen who's been unwise enough to decide to join our ranks. Dear Maureen: we all wish you every possible happiness, but I think it only fair to tell you in advance exactly what you are in for. Speaking from bitter experience I can only say that the wife of a sailor is most profoundly to be pitied. To begin with, her home life, what there is of it, hath no stability whatever. She can never really settle down. She moves through a succession of other people's houses, flats, and furnished rooms. She finds herself having to grapple with domestic problems in Bermuda, Malta, or Weymouth. We will not deal with the question of pay as that is altogether too painful. But we will deal with is the most important disillusionment of all, and that is that wherever she goes there is always in her life a permanently undefeated rival: her husband's ship. Whether it be a battleship or a sloop, a submarine or a destroyer, it holds first place in his heart. It comes before wife, home, children, everything. Some of us try to fight this and get badly mauled in the process. Others, like myself, resolve themselves to the inevitable. That is what you will have to do, my poor Maureen. That is what we all have to do if we want any peace of mind at all. Ladies and gentlemen I give you my rival. It is extraordinary that anyone could be so fond and so proud of their most implacable enemy - this ship. God bless this ship and all who sail in her.

    • Crazy credits
      This film is dedicated to the Royal Navy "whereon under the good providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the kingdom chiefly depend".
    • Connections
      Featured in Film Review: Richard Attenborough (1968)
    • Soundtracks
      Eternal Father, Strong to Save
      (uncredited)

      Lyrics by William Whiting

      Music by John B. Dykes

    User reviews69

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The Ship Comes First ***
    When "In Which We Serve" was made in 1942, England was in the midst of its finest hour. We see a film of honor, devotion, and loyalty to the realm.

    It is basically the story of a boat being torpedoed and the flashbacks of 3 sailors aboard the doomed wreckage.

    Noel Coward, a brilliant talent, did not perform well here. His scenes with his children appear awkward and he is unusually cold towards them. While a war is going on, that strong sentiment of a loving friendly tie is missing.

    Kudos go to Celia Johnson, as Alix, his wife in the film. She states in a memorable way that in the navy, devotion to the ship comes first. John Mills is also effective as a navy man. In a heart-wrenching scene, he must tell a fellow shipman that his wife and mother-in-law have been killed in the blitz.

    The ending is poignantly done. A tear will come to the eye as Coward says goodbye to those who survived the torpedoed ship.

    A film of valor and of the human spirit. England was certainly at its finest hour.
    helpful•23
    10
    • edwagreen
    • Feb 4, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1942 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Heroji mora
    • Filming locations
      • Dunstable Downs, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Two Cities Films
      • The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £240,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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