It Happened Here (1965)

In 1940, the Nazis invade Britain and transform it into a fascist state where some Britons collaborate and others resist. In 1944, an apolitical Irish nurse becomes a reluctant player in the fight between the two sides.

Directors:

Kevin Brownlow, Andrew Mollo

Writers:

Kevin Brownlow (story and screenplay), Andrew Mollo (screenplay)

Stars:

Pauline Murray, Sebastian Shaw, Bart Allison

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pauline Murray	...	Pauline
Sebastian Shaw	...	Doctor Richard Fletcher
Bart Allison	...	Skipworth
Reginald Marsh	...	IA Medical Officer
Frank Bennett	...	IA Political Leader
Derek Milburn	...	Partisan
Nicolette Bernard	...	IA Woman Commandant
Nicholas Moore	...	IA Group Leader Moorfield
Rex Collett	...	IA NCO
Michael Passmore	...	IA Man
Peter Dyneley	...	German Officer (as Peter Dineley)
Barrie Pattison	...	Street Corner Speaker
Honor Fearson	...	Honor Hutton
Ronald Phillips	...	German NCO
Frank Gardner	...	Partisan

Storyline

It is the Second World War. The Nazis have invaded Britain. There is a split between the resistance and those who prefer to collaborate with the invaders for a quiet life. The protagonist, a nurse, is caught in the middle.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1944 | year 1945 | year 1940 | nazi | 1910s | 

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Taglines:

What would have happened if the German army had crossed the English channel

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Not yet a known author, Michael Moorcock was one of the hundreds of volunteer actors who participated to the movie. But his scene was not included in the final cut.

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Quotes

[Pauline is registering]
Pauline: I've decided to join.
Clerk: We don't accept your decisions. You accept ours.

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Alternate Versions

All British release versions prior to 1993 ran 93 minutes, due to the deletion by the distributors of a scene showing real neo-Nazis expounding their ideology. This was restored for the 1993 Connoisseur Video release.

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Connections

Referenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Films That Took Forever to Make (2018)

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Soundtracks

Pack Up Your Troubles
(uncredited)
Written by Felix Powell and George Asaf

User Reviews

Wandering through London

Must have been 1967 when I was based at High Wycombe and often went to London for the day. The film was released during this year and wandered into the cinema. The title and posters intrigued me and I was just killing time.

I was amazed at how realistic this film portrayal was and how quiet the cinema was, not a sound from start to finish. The way ID cards/papers were used, the attitude of some people that collaborated, and the resistance starting to fight back, it was just brilliant.

I'd love to see it again,let's hope it is screened on TV but I don't remember seeing it on TV to date, unless it was during the 80's when I was working abroad.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

8 August 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

It Happened Here

Filming Locations:

Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rath Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1