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The Riddle of the Sands ()


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In 1901, two British yachtsmen visiting Germany's Frisian Islands accidentally discover a German plot to invade England.

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...
Carruthers
...
Clara
...
Davies
...
Dollmann
Jürgen Andersen ...
Von Brüning (as Jurgen Andersen)
...
Böhme
...
Grimm
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Kaiser, Wilhelm II
Olga Lowe ...
Frau Dollmann
Ronald Markham ...
Withers

Directed by

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Tony Maylam

Written by

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Tony Maylam ... (screenplay) and
John Bailey ... (screenplay)
 
Erskine Childers ... (novel)

Produced by

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Drummond Challis ... producer: A Tony Maylam-Drummond Challis Production
Tony Maylam ... A Tony Maylam-Drummond Challis Production

Music by

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Howard Blake

Cinematography by

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Christopher Challis ... director of photography

Editing by

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Peter Hollywood

Editorial Department

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James Marsh ... first assistant editor

Casting By

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Sandy Allison

Production Design by

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Hazel Peiser

Costume Design by

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Jane Hamilton

Makeup Department

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Kathy Ducker ... makeup artist
Mike Lockey ... hairdresser
Jeanne Richmond ... supervising makeup artist

Production Management

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Aivar Kaulins ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Peter Kohn ... second assistant director
Hugh O'Donnell ... third assistant director
Neil Vine-Miller ... first assistant director (as Neill Vine-Miller)
Wilfried Depeweg ... third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Terry Barrett ... property master
Brian Bysouth ... poster artist
Len Day ... construction manager
Keith Liddiard ... art director: Germany
Robin Peyton ... set dresser (as Rob Peyton)
Terry Pritchard ... art director: Holland

Sound Department

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Ken Barker ... dubbing mixer
Alan Bell ... dubbing editor
Rene Borisewitz ... sound mixer
Taffy Haines ... sound assistant
Colin Wood ... boom operator
John Hayward ... re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Harry Wiessenhaan ... special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Mike Bulley ... clapper loader
Mike Evans ... second unit assistant
Dennis Fraser ... camera grip
John Palmer ... camera operator
Barrie Payne ... stills photographer
Tony Strachan ... camera focus
Glen Thorn ... chief electrician
Arthur Wooster ... special scenic photography

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Maureen Booth ... wardrobe mistress
Jane Hamilton ... wardrobe
Patrick Wheatley ... wardrobe master

Location Management

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Kees Groenewegen ... location manager: Holland
Manfred Lenert ... location manager: Germany

Music Department

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Howard Blake ... conductor

Script and Continuity Department

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Splinters Deason ... continuity

Additional Crew

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Charles Cannon ... production accountant
Brian Doyle ... unit publicist
Susan Kane ... production assistant
Julia Robinson ... production assistant
Paul Tucker ... assistant accountant
Michael York ... production associate

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Written by Jonathon Dabell

Plot Keywords
Taglines In these shifting sands, men can disappear without a trace . . . and their secrets with them. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Le mystère des sables (France)
  • Intriga en la playa (Spain)
  • Bei Nacht und Nebel (West Germany)
  • Kuoleman ranta (Finland)
  • Geheimkommando R.O.T.S. (West Germany)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 102 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget GBP1,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia The author of the novel, Erskine Childers, was a British Army veteran of the Boer War and World War I. He became an Irish nationalist and revolutionary leader. He was later executed during the Irish Civil War on November 24, 1922. His son Erskine Hamilton Childers served as the fourth President of Ireland from June 25, 1973 until his death on November 17, 1974. See more »
Goofs When Clara visits just after the attempted ramming, she is wearing a hat and coat. When she leaves and rows away, she is just wearing a dress without the coat and hat. She is clearly seen throwing the coat into the boat before rowing away. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Episode #1.4 (2022). See more »
Crazy Credits Opening credits prologue: Frisian Islands, Germany 1901 See more »
Quotes Davies: Do you realize that England has not defenses at all facing Germany? No North Sea fleet? And all her naval bases are in the south: Portsmouth, Chatham.
Carruthers: Historical accident.
Davies: Oh quite! But now it's not France whom we have to guard against. Germany is growing stronger every single day, and very soon, her navy will rival ours.
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