Lifeline to Victory (1993)

Paul Devereaux is a second officer with lots of experience with merchant ships. But this is World War II and the Royal Canadian Navy desperately needs experienced officers. Paul is thus ... See full summary »

Director:

Eric Till

Writer:

Tony Sheer

Stars:

Michael Riley, Simon Reynolds, Michael Hogan

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Riley	...	Paul Devereaux
Simon Reynolds	...	Mac McNaughton
Michael Hogan	...	Chief Engineer
Henry Czerny	...	Petty Officer Lang (Coxswain)
Robyn Stevan	...	Ivy
David Hemblen	...	Oldbest
Gary Vermeir	...	Collins (Executive Officer)
Martin Julien	...	Canelli
Elizabeth Marmur	...	Ann Conwell
Adrian Hough	...	Harry Conwell
Chris Turner	...	Sub Lt. Pooley
Sam Mancuso	...	Dimitri
Jeremy Akerman	...	Prescott
Shannon Lynch	...	Morrison
Bernard Robichaud	...	Tiffey

Storyline

Paul Devereaux is a second officer with lots of experience with merchant ships. But this is World War II and the Royal Canadian Navy desperately needs experienced officers. Paul is thus given command of his own ship. However, in early 1940's, Canadian Navy does not have the biggest budget nor the most qualified enlisted men. Paul's ship must escort merchant ship to Europe and back and take part in the longest naval battle in history.

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Plot Keywords:

sea | world war two | 

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Compagnons d'armes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cochran Entertainment Inc.,Primedia Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

After a day of filming aboard HMCS Sackville at the mouth of Halifax Harbour, many of the cast and crew became seasick.

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Quotes

Paul Devereaux: Why would someone like you join the Navy?
Mac McNaughton: Oh, the uniform, sir. The babes *love it*.
Paul Devereaux: Is that all?
Mac McNaughton: [with extreme sarcasm] Oh, and of course to safeguard the convoys carrying vital supplies to Britain's island stronghold, sir.
Paul Devereaux: Believe it or not, MacNaughton, that's why most of us *are* here.

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Connections

Features The Sea Is at Our Gates (1985)

User Reviews

A very well-done production in every respect. Well worth watching

This is, without doubt, a "must-see" film for naval history buffs and anyone who wants to learn more about Canada's military and naval heritage.

The movie is a documentary drama, so while the broad facts of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Royal Canadian Navy's involvement therein are covered, the main thrust of the movie is to give the viewer a feel for what life at sea was like in the corvettes, and how the RCN's "little ships" quickly proved their value in the convoys across the North Atlantic. The movie takes place aboard a fictional corvette, HMCS Fireweed, and is an aggregate of the experiences of many corvettes and their crews.

For myself, as a Canadian naval history buff, it was very worthwhile watching this movie. A number of my relatives served on these small ships and those who have seen the movie say that it bears a pretty good resemblance to the conditions and situations they remember.

The actual ship shown in the movie is HMCS Sackville, the last of the corvettes, now preserved as a maritime museum and heritage vessel, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's worth visiting onboard HMCS Sackville if you should ever chance to be in Halifax.