The Riddle of the Sands (1979)
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- PG
- 1h 42min
- Adventure, Drama
- 16 Mar 1979 (UK)
- Movie
In 1901, two British yachtsmen visiting Germany's Frisian Islands accidentally discover a German plot to invade England.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Michael York | ... |
Carruthers
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Jenny Agutter | ... |
Clara
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Simon MacCorkindale | ... |
Davies
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Alan Badel | ... |
Dollmann
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Jürgen Andersen | ... |
Von Brüning
(as Jurgen Andersen)
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Michael Sheard | ... |
Böhme
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Hans Meyer | ... |
Grimm
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Wolf Kahler | ... |
Kaiser, Wilhelm II
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Olga Lowe | ... |
Frau Dollmann
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Ronald Markham | ... |
Withers
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Directed by
Tony Maylam |
Written by
Tony Maylam | ... | (screenplay) and |
John Bailey | ... | (screenplay) |
Erskine Childers | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
Drummond Challis | ... | producer: A Tony Maylam-Drummond Challis Production |
Tony Maylam | ... | A Tony Maylam-Drummond Challis Production |
Music by
Howard Blake |
Cinematography by
Christopher Challis | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Peter Hollywood |
Editorial Department
James Marsh | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
Sandy Allison |
Production Design by
Hazel Peiser |
Costume Design by
Jane Hamilton |
Makeup Department
Kathy Ducker | ... | makeup artist |
Mike Lockey | ... | hairdresser |
Jeanne Richmond | ... | supervising makeup artist |
Production Management
Aivar Kaulins | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
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
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
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
Harry Wiessenhaan | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
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
Maureen Booth | ... | wardrobe mistress |
Jane Hamilton | ... | wardrobe |
Patrick Wheatley | ... | wardrobe master |
Location Management
Kees Groenewegen | ... | location manager: Holland |
Manfred Lenert | ... | location manager: Germany |
Music Department
Howard Blake | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
Splinters Deason | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
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
- The Rank Organisation (presents)
- National Film Finance Consortium (made in association with)
- Worldmark Films (1978)
Distributors
- Rank Film Distributors (1979) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as Rank Film Distributors Ltd.)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1979) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1980) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Satori (1984) (United States)
- Georgiadis Ilekroniki (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Triangle Video (Canada) (VHS) (Québec)
- Missing in Action (MIA) (1987) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- VidAmerica (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- DD Home Entertainment (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Cine Plus Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
- Sonet Video (1985) (Sweden) (video)
- Sterling Entertainment Group (United States) (VHS)
- VCL Communications
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Beaufort Air-Sea Equipment (the producers wish to thank also: for their assistance in the making of this motion picture)
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (dollies)
- HPR (general publicity)
- Henri-Lloyd (the producers wish to thank: for their assistance in the making of this motion picture)
- Romika (the producers wish to thank: for their assistance in the making of this motion picture)
- The Airstrip One Company (soundtrack album) (2001)
- The People of Enkhuizen (the producers wish to thank: for their assistance in the making of this motion picture)
- The People of Greetsiel (the producers wish to thank: for their assistance in the making of this motion picture)
Storyline
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 |
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Taglines | In these shifting sands, men can disappear without a trace . . . and their secrets with them. See more » |
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Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
Budget | GBP1,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
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. See more » |