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:

ship sinking | lifeboat | world war two | year 1939 | year 1940 | 

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Taglines:

Noel Coward's Academy Award Winner [UK Video]

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

When dive bombers fire on the survivors clinging to a life raft, the effect of the strafing fire hitting the water was achieved by blowing gusts of air into submerged condoms. These would then float to the surface after director Noël Coward had shouted "Cut!"

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Goofs

As Shorty and Freda travel by train on their honeymoon, the rear-projection background (of the view from the train window) runs from left to right. However, when Captain Kinross and his wife enter the compartment and we see the opposite window, the projection runs the same way, making it look as if the train is repeatedly changing direction.

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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 Private's Progress (1956)

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Soundtracks

An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss

User Reviews

patriotism for the British Navy

A flag waver for the British navy (‘the story of a ship') in which we meet rough representatives of the three classes (upper, middle, working) brought together by circumstance and service.

The working classes are represented by John Mills and Kay Walsh, who marry quietly during a leave and go to their honeymoon on a train. Mills plays a good sort, reliable, the usual depiction of the honest working Joe. Slightly above them in class (with a garden and refined accents) are Bernard Miles and Joyce Carey, both very fine performances. The top of the scale is naturally Noel Coward (who wrote, co-directed, and produced this) and Celia Johnson, with their luncheon parties and their two affected children (one is the actor Daniel Massey, then a little child).

By weaving the stories of all three together we do go some way to understanding the (fictional) mind-set of the man at war, his worries, his triumphs and preoccupations. And as a morale-booster for our chaps at sea it must have done its job very well - it remains fairly touching all these years on.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

In Which We Serve

Filming Locations:

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP240,000 (estimated)

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