| Complete credited cast: | |||
| John Mills | ... |
Captain - Lt. Taylor, R.N.
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Louis Bradfield | ... |
First Officer - Lt. Brace, R.N.R.
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Ronald Millar | ... |
Third Officer - Lt. Johnson, RNVR
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Jack Watling | ... |
Navigating Officer - Lt. Gordon, R.N.
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Reginald Purdell | ... |
Coxwain - C /
P.O. Dabbs
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Caven Watson | ... |
Chief Engine Room Artificer - C /
P.O. Duncan
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| Niall MacGinnis | ... |
Torpedo Gunner's Mate - C /
P.O. Mike Corrigan
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| Eric Portman | ... |
On Hydrophones - L /
S. Hobson
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Leslie Weston | ... |
Leading Torpedo Operator - L /
S Tug Wilson
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Norman Williams | ... |
Periscope Operator - 'Canada'
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Lionel Grose | ... |
Torpedo Operator - 'Spud'
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David Peel | ... |
Helmsman - 'Oxford'
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Philip Godfrey | ... |
Steward - 'Flunkey'
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Robb Wilton | ... |
Cook - 'Pincher'
(as Robert Wilton)
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The crew of HMS submarine Sea Tiger have their leave (and assorted family problems) cut short when they are recalled for a special mission: sink the new German battleship Brandenburg. En route, they learn that their target has entered the heavily defended Baltic; rather than fail, they follow it. Tension builds as they approach their target. After the attempt, escape seems impossible...unless they can refuel in enemy waters. Written by Rod Crawford <[email protected]>
Looking back from the safety of 2005 it is difficult to conceive of the difficulties that must have ensued in making decent films in Britian at the height of WW II. Of course they are going to be patriotic, flag-waving type of affairs but within the constraints of the time there were some fine stories, excellent acting and first rate directing.
We Dive At Dawn is not one of the absolute best of this genre but it is very good. Any film involving John Mills would have a problem being bad. And there is also the marvellous Eric Portman.
Sir John's recent death, happily after a long, long life, brings home the journeyman qualities of so many modern actors. He was equally at home, and equally convincing, as a private soldier, airman or naval rating, or as a senior officer. It is difficult to think that many of today's crop, who seem to speak with their own regional accents both on and off duty, are anything like as versatile, and very few are anywhere near as good.
As to the film, it is a rattling good yarn, with glimpses of the family life and problems of some of the crew. I recently watched it again on afternoon television and was still entertained royally.
I had to smile at an American reviewer having difficulty with English accents. We British have to put up with all sorts of American accents in films all the time.