Film Dope

The Battle of the River Plate

Pursuit of The Graf Spee

1956

Michael Powell Director
Emeric Pressburger Director
	The Archers Production Company
	J. Arthur Rank Organisation Studio

The title says it all, plot-wise. The pursuit and battle scenes are well-handled, though perhaps a little too slow moving. The scrupulous attention to accuracy is notable, Graf Spee obviously being an American heavy cruiser notwithstanding. Unfortunately, once it moves ashore, the film falls flat. The diplomatic scenes are well done, but Murton's loud reporter and Lee and Olrich's stereotypical beach bar owners make those scenes very hard to tolerate. The blurb in the opening credits "a cast of 100 Speaking Parts we would like to name but can only thank" comes across as more than slightly obnoxious, not least when you are trying to figure out those names.

Note on credits: Where the actors are playing real historical persons, I have attempted to name them where possible. I believe this ties in with the Archers' desire for historical accuracy. The various ships are named in the opening credits, but I have placed them at the very end, after the actors, for clarity's sake.

Several cast members of the Archers' previous production, Oh. . .Rosalinda!! can be seen leaving Manolo's bar. Perhaps a cast party? Some scenes appear to have been trimmed down or removed completely from the final print, as some names on cast lists could not be found in the final film.The original release is listed as 119 minutes, video releases run 114 minutes.

Though the credits lists Achilles as HMNZS, ships of the NZ Division used the HMS prefix until October 1941 when the division was renamed the Royal New Zealand Navy.
-Dave W.


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	30th November 1956 Cinema 119 mins 1.85:1
	1st November 1957 Cinema 106 mins 1.85:1

	John Gregson Captain Frederick S. Bell, commanding HMS Exeter
	Anthony Quayle Commodore Henry H. Harwood, commanding South Atlantic squadron with flag aboard HMS Ajax
	Ian Hunter Captain Charles H. L. Woodhouse, commanding HMS Ajax
	Jack Gwillim Captain William E. Parry, commanding HMS Achilles
	Bernard Lee Patrick G. G. Dove, Master, MS Africa Shell
	Lionel Murton Mike Fowler
	Anthony Bushell Eugen Millington Drake, British Minister, Montevideo
	Peter Illing Dr. Alberto Guani, Foreign Minister, Uruguay
	Michael Goodliffe Captain Henry McCall, British Naval Attaché in Buenos Aires
	Patrick Macnee Lieutenant Commander Ralph C. Medley, HMS Ajax
	John Chandos Dr. Otto Langmann, German Minister, Montevideo
	Douglas Wilmer M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Montevideo
	William Squire Ray Martin
	Roger Delgado Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy
	Andrew Cruickshank Captain William Stubbs, SS Doric Star
	Christopher Lee Manolo
	Edward Atienza Pop
	April Olrich Dolores
	Peter Finch Kapitän zur See Hans W. Langsdorff, Admiral Graf Spee

	David Farrar Voice: Narrator
	Douglas Argent Sub-Lieutenant, HMS Ajax
	Vincent Ball Barnes, HMS Achilles
	Ken Barker Marine Officer, HMS Ajax
	Michael Barnes Midshipman, HMS Ajax
	Raymond Barrie Able Seaman E. V. Shirley, HMS Achilles
	Terence Bayler Stoker, HMS Achilles
	Richard Beale Charles Pottinger, Master, SS Ashlea
	Victor Beaumont Officer on Graf Spee
	David Benson Marine Officer, HMS Ajax
	John Britton Navigator, HMS Ajax
	Robert Bruce Commander (T) Charles J. Smith, Torpedo Officer HMS Exeter
	Anna Burden Madame Desmoulins
	Richard Burrell Lt. Commander (N) John Bowman-Manifold, Navigating Officer HMS Exeter
	Tony Burton Young Sailor, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter
	David Cameron Lieutenant Edgar D. G. Lewin, HMS Ajax
	Alan Casley Rating, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter
	Ronald Clarke Lookout, HMS Exeter
	Michael Collins Chief Yeoman, HMS Ajax
	James Copeland Chief Yeoman of Signals Lincoln C. Martinson, HMS Achilles
	Robert Crewdson Minor role
	Tita Dane Hostess, Palacio Salvio
	Gron Davies N. Doye, Chief Engineer, SS Trevanion
	Denton De Gray Lieutenant R. E. N. Kearney
	Maxwell Denne Petty Officer, HMS Achilles
	Patrick Dove J. R. Robinson, Master, SS Streonshalh
	Peter Dyneley John Robison, Master, SS Newton Beech
	Eynon Evans Q. B. Bell, Chief Engineer, SS Newton Beach
	Jack Faint A. Miller, Chief Officer, SS Ashlea
	Peter Fontaine Lieutenant Desmond P. Dreyer, Gunnery Officer, HMS Ajax
	John Forbes-Robertson Lieutenant Donald T. McBarnet, HMS Exeter
	Frank Forsyth Petty Officer, Bridge, HMS Ajax
	Barry Foster Able Seaman Bill Roper, Capt. Bell's Messenger, HMS Exeter
	Colin Freer 2nd Messenger, HMS Ajax
	Richard George Beasley, Chief Officer, SS Trevanion
	Keith Grieve Sick Bay PO, HMS Achilles
	Lucia Guillon Telephone Girl, Montevideo
	Peter Halliday Guani's Secretary, Montevideo
	Ken Hayward Spotting Officer, HMS Exeter
	Patrick Horgan Signalman, HMS Achilles
	Helen Horton American Guest, Palacio Salvio
	Mary Jones Miss Esther Shaw, Millington Drake's Secretary
	Kerry Jordan Ordinary Seaman Rogers, HMS Achilles
	Patrick Jordan Signalman, Aft-conning, HMS Exeter
	Marvin Kane American Guest, Palacio Salvio
	Howard Lang Commander Richard B. Jennings, Gunnery Officer HMS Exeter
	John Le Mesurier Rev. George Groves, HMS Exeter
	Frank Lloyd Messenger, HMS Achilles
	Cyril Luckham Lt. Jasper Abbot, HMS Achilles
	Kenneth Luckman Mess PO, HMS Achilles
	Ivor Mairants Guitarist
	Alan Masterson 'Snotty,' Midshipman, HMS Exeter
	Lane Meddick P.O. Stacey, HMS Achilles
	John Merivale Lieutenant G. G. Cowburn, HMS Achilles
	Kenneth Midwood Petty Officer, Gunnery Control, HMS Exeter
	Donald Moffat Swanston, Look Out, HMS Ajax
	George Murcell J. L. Coutts, Chief Officer, Newton Beech
	Anthony Newley British Officer aboard Graf Spee
	Joseph O'Conner W. Ray, Chief Engineer, SS Doric Star
	David Paltenghi Customs Officer, Montevideo
	Conrad Phillips Lt. R. E. Washbourn, Gunnery Officer, HMS Achilles
	Ambrosine Phillpotts Mrs. Millington-Drake, Montevideo
	Columba Powell Lost Child
	Edward Powell Chief Officer, SS Huntsman
	Irene Prador Spanish Wife
	Peter Prowse Lookout, HMS Exeter
	Roy Purcell Lieutenant Richard R. S. Pennefather, HMS Ajax
	Rive Rola
	Alan Rolfe PO, HMS Exeter
	David Rose Boy (First Class) Allan M. Dorset, HMS Achilles
	John Schlesinger Oberleutnant Hertzberg, Graf Spee
	Peter Scott 1st Messenger, HMS Ajax
	Peter Smallwood Spotting Officer, HMS Ajax
	Muriel Smith Dolores (singing voice)
	Julian Somers Oberbootsmann on Graf Spee
	Barry Steele Midshipman, HMS Ajax
	Graham Stewart Signalman, HMS Exeter
	Robert Cartland Captain, Tacoma
	Colin Douglas Officer, SS Huntsman
	Otto Friese Tairoa Officer
	Nigel Stock Chief Officer F.M. Murphy, SS Tairoa
	Alan Townsend Duty Officer, HMS Ajax
	Guy Verney Commander Robert R. Graham, Executive Officer HMS Exeter
	Tony Wager Lookout, HMS Ajax
	Colin Wall Boy Bugler, HMS Exeter
	John Warren Chief Yeoman of Signals Alan Higginbottom, HMS Exeter
	Patrick Westwood Archer, HMS Ajax
	Gordon Whiting Chief Engineer, HMS Exeter
	Ian Whittaker Messenger, Boiler Room, HMS Achilles
	David Williams Lookout, HMS Exeter
	Neil Wilson Mess PO, HMS Achilles
	Brian Worth William Comber, Radio Officer, SS Doric Star
	HMS Sheffield HMS Ajax
	INS Delhi HMS Achilles *(as HMNZS Achilles)*
	HMS Jamaica HMS Exeter
	HMS Cumberland HMS Cumberland
	USS Salem Admiral Graf Spee *(as the U.S. heavy cruiser "Salem")*
	Chris Adcock Chief Officer, SS Doric Star
	Tony Castleton Harwood's Flag Lieutenant
	Dan Cressy German Sailor
	Barry Johns Second Officer, SS Doric Star
	Ken Lawton Lookout, HMS Ajax
	Jimmy Lodge Huntsman Survivor
	John Payne Bridge Officer, HMS Achilles
	Jeff Silk Rating, HMS Achilles
	Unknown Male 96 Rating, HMS Ajax
	Dennis Carnell Survivor
	Paul Beradi Policeman Outside Manolo's
	Mabel Etherington Manolo's Patron
	Fred Haggerty German Sailor
	George Holdcroft Manolo's Patron
	Arthur Howell Tairoa Officer
	Frederick Jaeger German Sailor
	John Lynn German Sailor with Luggage
	John Lynn Manolo's Patron
	Alec Mango Manolo's Patron
	Louis Matto Manolo's Patron
	Colin McKenzie Officer, HMS Ajax
	Tony Mendleson Manolo's Patron
	Lola Morice Maonolo's Patron
	Ian Parsons Merchant Prisoner
	George Roderick Manolo's Patron
	John Smart Manolo's Patron
	Unknown Male 34 Trevanion Officer
	Harry Van Engel German Sailor
	Victor Coventry
	Roy Everson
	Edwin Fowles
	Frank Littlewood
	Paul Phillips
	James Ure
	Nicholas Bruce
	Hildy Christian
	Terence Cooper
	Olivia Irving Manuella
	Randal Kinkead
	Maya Koumani
	Philip Levene Gangway Officer, Tacoma
	Peter Macarte Senor Torres
	Alicia Massey-Beresford
	Michael Murray
	HMS Birmingham Various
	RFA Fort Duquesne Tacoma
	RFA Olna Altmark