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.

Directors:

Noël Coward (as Noel Coward), David Lean

Writer:

Noël Coward (by) (as Noel Coward)

Stars:

Noël Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noël Coward	...	Capt. E.V. Kinross R.N. - Captain 'D' (as Noel Coward)
John Mills	...	Ordinary Seaman Shorty Blake
Bernard Miles	...	Chief Petty Officer Walter Hardy
Celia Johnson	...	Mrs. Alix Kinross
Kay Walsh	...	Freda Lewis
Joyce Carey	...	Mrs. Kath Hardy
Derek Elphinstone	...	No. 1
Michael Wilding	...	Flags
Robert Sansom	...	Guns
Philip Friend	...	Torps
Chimmo Branson	...	Midshipman
Ballard Berkeley	...	Engineer Commander
Hubert Gregg	...	Pilot
James Donald	...	Doc
Michael Whittaker	...	Sub

Storyline

This is the story of a British Naval ship, H.M.S. Torrin, from its construction to its sinking in the Mediterranean during action in World War II. The ship's first and only commanding officer is the experienced Captain E.V. Kinross, who trains his men not only to be loyal to him, but to the country, and most importantly, to themselves. They face challenges at sea, and also at home. They lose some of their shipmates in action, and some of their loved ones in the devastation that is the blitz. Throughout it all, the men of the Torrin serve valiantly and heroically.

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Plot Keywords:

officer | captain | destroyer | directorial debut | written and directed by cast member | 

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Taglines:

Chosen by the critics as THE YEAR'S BEST FILM!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hidalgos de los mares

Filming Locations:

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£240,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$450,000, 3 February 1943

Company Credits

Production Co:

Two Cities Films, The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A full-size replica of a destroyer was built to represent H.M.S. Torrin in the Denham Studios outside London.

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Goofs

During the scene in which two Army officers returning from Dunkirk join Kinross on the bridge of his ship, the way the cigarette smoke rises betrays the fact this scene was shot indoors.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: [voiceover] This is the story of a ship...
[long sequence of ship-building and launch]

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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".

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Connections

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005)

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Soundtracks

Good King Wenceslas
(uncredited)
Lyrics by John M. Neale

User Reviews

"God Bless This Ship And The Men Who Serve In Her"

It's ironic indeed that in Noel Coward's greatest screen role he played a part so atypical of what we expect from that most witty and erudite of artists. There's a lot good in In Which We Serve, but if you are expecting Coward bon mots, skip this film.

Whatever else Coward was, he was one patriotic British citizen who loved his country and wanted to do his bit in World War II. The incident in which In Which We Serve is based on what actually happened to the the destroyer HMS Kelly in 1941 off Crete which was sunk after taking a few of the enemy with her. The ship was commanded by one Louis Mountbatten of the royal family and a good friend of Coward's.

Coward's character while not a member of the royal family is still of the upper crust of British society. Mountbatten when war broke out used his considerable royal connections to get into a combat assignment when war broke out. The sequences in which Coward's ship is sunk and the actions of Coward and the crew hews pretty close to what happened to Mountbatten and the men of the Kelly.

While we Coward and his survivors clinging to life rafts and bits of wreckage, the audience gets a series of flashbacks revolving around three men, Coward, CPO Bernard Miles, and Seaman John Mills. We see them at peace and at war with the women they are involved with who are Celia Johnson, Joyce Carey, and Kay Walsh.

This was total war for Great Britain, something until 9/11 I don't think Americans could fully appreciate. While the men are at sea, the women live under threat and fact of bombardment by air. Their scenes are every bit as important as the battle scenes at sea, showing a people totally mobilized.

In small roles you can find such people as James Donald, Michael Wilding, and Richard Attenborough all part of the crew. Attenborough in particular makes a vivid impression in his part.

The Earl of Mountbatten made a series of televised memoirs in the early seventies that didn't reach American television until after his assassination in 1979. It was about 10 episodes and they dealt with all facets of his career. Before he retired in fact he became the First Sea Lord of the British Navy. But one episode dealt with the sinking of the HMS Kelly and the men of the Kelly who survived year after year got together for a remembrance. Some footage was shown of one of the gatherings. I wonder if they still do that and how many men are left from the ship survivors.

In fact it's altogether fitting and proper that this review be dedicated to Lord Louis Mountbatten who not without controversy served his country well and faithfully throughout a long a productive life. And of course this review is also dedicated to the brave men of the HMS Kelly, those that have passed on and those who might still survive. They and the other members of the Royal Navy kept their country from invasion for almost a thousand years and in the case of World War II kept the world from a totalitarian nightmare.

And they couldn't have a better film than In Which We Serve to perpetuate the memory of their deeds.