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Operation Disaster (1950)

Morning Departure (original title)
Approved | | Drama, History, War | 18 May 1950 (France)
Operation Disaster Poster
The crew of a submarine is trapped on the sea floor when it sinks. How can they be rescued before they run out of air?

Director:

Roy Ward Baker (as Roy Baker)

Writers:

William Fairchild (screenplay) (as W.E.C. Fairchild), Kenneth Woollard (based on the stage play of the same name by)

Stars:

John Mills, Nigel Patrick, Peter Hammond | See full cast & crew »
Reviews

On Disc

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Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

See all 18 photos »
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Morning Departure
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Morning Departure
Dec 01 1946
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Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills ... Lieut. Commander Armstrong
Nigel Patrick ... Lieut. Manson
Peter Hammond ... Sub Lieut. Oakley
Andrew Crawford Andrew Crawford ... Sub Lieut. (E) J. McFee
Michael Brennan Michael Brennan ... C.P.O. Barlow
George Cole ... E.R.A. Marks
Victor Maddern ... Leading Telegraphist Hillbrook
Roddy McMillan Roddy McMillan ... Leading Seaman Andrews
Frank Coburn Frank Coburn ... Leading Seaman Brough
Jack Stewart Jack Stewart ... Leading Seaman Kelly
James Hayter ... Able Seaman Higgins
Wylie Watson ... Able Seaman Nobby Clarke
Richard Attenborough ... Stoker Snipe
George Thorpe George Thorpe ... Capt. Fenton
Bernard Lee ... Commander Gates
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

The crew of a submarine is trapped on the sea floor when it sinks. How can they be rescued before they run out of air?

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

trapped | submarine | water | british military | royal navy | See All (31) »

Taglines:

Mightiest Drama of Ships and Men! See more »

Genres:

Drama | History | War

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 1950 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

Operation Disaster See more »

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Jay Lewis Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Armstrong's quote, "And all I ask is a tall ship/ And a star to steer her by" is from the poem, "Sea-Fever", by John Masefield. See more »

Goofs

In the scene where the destroyers are first seen searching for the Trojan, the pennant letters on the side of one of the destroyers are seen in reverse. See more »

Quotes

Helen Armstong: Why does the Navy insist on doing everything at the crack of dawn? The sea's there all day.
Lieutenant Commander Armstrong: It impresses the taxpayers.
See more »

Connections

Version of Morning Departure (1946) See more »

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User Reviews

I saw this in first run when I was about 7 years old. Scenes are still vivid in my memory.
9 December 2003 | by johnfadrian – See all my reviews

I saw this in first run when I was about 7 years old. It was on a double bill with a Francis the Talking Mule film. My older sister made a deal with me: She'd sit through Francis if I'd sit through OPERATION DISASTER.

I remember nothing of the Francis film, but scenes from this film are still vivid in my memory. In the late 1950s John Mills was a guest on the JACK PAAR SHOW and spoke of how life imitated art in that a British submarine was lost in the North Sea under very similar circumstances to those portrayed in the film between the completion of shooting and release in the UK. He said there was criticism in the British press at the time for it's release.

I wish it was available on VHS or DVD in the Unites States, but I haven't been able to find it. I would love to see it again.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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