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San Demetrio London

  • 1943
  • Approved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
498
YOUR RATING
San Demetrio London (1943)
AdventureDramaWar

The San Demetrio of the title is a British merchant ship in an Atlantic convoy in 1940. Disabled and left to the mercy of patrolling U-boats, the crew must keep her afloat and out of harm's ... Read allThe San Demetrio of the title is a British merchant ship in an Atlantic convoy in 1940. Disabled and left to the mercy of patrolling U-boats, the crew must keep her afloat and out of harm's way. Directed by Charles Frend, starring Walter Fitzgerald and Mervyn Johns.The San Demetrio of the title is a British merchant ship in an Atlantic convoy in 1940. Disabled and left to the mercy of patrolling U-boats, the crew must keep her afloat and out of harm's way. Directed by Charles Frend, starring Walter Fitzgerald and Mervyn Johns.

  • Directors
    • Charles Frend
    • Robert Hamer
  • Writers
    • Robert Hamer
    • Charles Frend
    • F. Tennyson Jesse
  • Stars
    • Arthur Young
    • Walter Fitzgerald
    • Ralph Michael
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    498
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Charles Frend
      • Robert Hamer
    • Writers
      • Robert Hamer
      • Charles Frend
      • F. Tennyson Jesse
    • Stars
      • Arthur Young
      • Walter Fitzgerald
      • Ralph Michael
    • 17User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Robert Beatty, Charles Frend, and Robert Hamer in San Demetrio London (1943)
    Robert Beatty in San Demetrio London (1943)
    San Demetrio London (1943)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    Arthur Young
    Arthur Young
    • Captain George Waite
    Walter Fitzgerald
    Walter Fitzgerald
    • Chief Engineer Charles Pollard
    Ralph Michael
    • 2nd. Officer Hawkins
    Neville Mapp
    Neville Mapp
    • 3rd. Engineer Willey
    Barry Letts
    Barry Letts
    • Apprentice John Jones
    Michael Allen
    • Cadet Roy Housden
    Frederick Piper
    • Boatswain W.E. Fletcher
    Herbert Cameron
    • Pumpman Davies
    John Owers
    • Steward
    Gordon Jackson
    Gordon Jackson
    • Messboy John Jamieson
    Robert Beatty
    Robert Beatty
    • 'Yank' Preston
    Charles Victor
    Charles Victor
    • Deckhand
    James McKechnie
    James McKechnie
    • Deckhand
    John Coyle
    • Deckhand
    Duncan McIntyre
    • Deckhand
    • (as Duncan MacIntyre)
    Rex Holt
    • Deckhand
    Mervyn Johns
    Mervyn Johns
    • Greaser John Boyle
    Lawrence O'Madden
    • Capt. E.S.F. Fegen V.C. Royal Navy
    • Directors
      • Charles Frend
      • Robert Hamer(completed film) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Robert Hamer
      • Charles Frend
      • F. Tennyson Jesse
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Captain E.S.F. Fegen of HMS Jervis Bay received the Victoria Cross for his attack on the Admiral Scheer.
    • Goofs
      The fires on the ship are clearly not burning oil, but gas. Otherwise, there would be thick black smoke and pouring water on it from buckets would result in an explosive spread (for that same reason one should never try to extinguish burning fat in a frying pan by pouring water on it). Addendum: the oil on board was aviation fuel, not crude oil. There would have been no other way to put the fires out than to use water. I am not sure the original criticism is valid, particularly so as the Chief Engineer was the technical adviser on the film.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Mr. Justice Langton: It is right and proper, and a part of my duty which I shall gladly discharge, to recognise to the full the courage, devotion and sacrifice of each of these men. I should not like to leave this case without thanking everybody concerned for having given me the best working day of my life, in listening to the very modest recital of some gallant gentlemen concerning a memorable achievement.

    • Crazy credits
      Closing credits: This story is based on fact and most of the characters in the film are portrayed from life with their permission. The remaining characters are fictitious, and in such cases any similarity to any incident, name or individual is coincidental.
    • Connections
      Featured in Tuesday's Documentary: The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Say Si Si
      (uncredited)

      Music by Ernesto Lecuona

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Unbelievable but true story.
    A very well made (especially for the period) war film. Though i'm not really gonna talk about how the film was made, other than it isn't flashy or fancy, just does a good job of telling a wonderful story. Based on the true story of how a Merchant Navy petrol tanker was abandoned and then re-boarded by some of her own crew.

    Also this is one of very few war films about the Merchant Navy (which suffered higher casualty and fatality rates than all the armed services), but it equally could be in peace time as only at the very start do you see Germans. Maybe thats why so few films were made about the Merchant Navy, whats a war film without some nasty Nazis in armbands with submachine guns running about and a few achtung minen signposts?

    Quite possibly the best thing I can say about this film is that after seeing this as a kid I wanted to join the Merchant Navy, and I did, and I'm training to be an Engineer Officer, as these film clearly shows engineers are brilliant and deckies useless.

    Engineers - 1, Deckies - 0.

    Paul.
    helpful•15
    4
    • paulmeffin
    • Jul 13, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 1944 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • San Demetrio
    • Filming locations
      • Galveston, Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • Ealing Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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