Above Us The Waves [DVD]

VCI Entertainment and London Independent Producers presents "ABOVE US THE WAVES" (1955) (100 min/B&W) -- Starring John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Michael Medwin, James Kenney & Theodore Bikel

Directed by Ralph Thomas

Another great film from the British Invasion from VCI. This film is a low key film with subdued performances. War isn't depicted as a heroic game, as these men face deadly danger and fully aware of it. Do your job and carry on quietly - now that's bloody real courage for you.

German stereotypes on the Tirpitz, yet their Captain salutes the "brave men" who have arrived to attack his boat.

Great acting, powerful direction and real emotion, with an excellent British cast the way they used to make them.

John Mills and John Gregson are the background of training and the eventual attack is very absorbing, filmed in beautiful stark black and white.

Watch for a young Anthony Newley in the Midget X class submarine sequences.

Special footnote: -- In the film, the name of the vessel that carried the manned human torpedo chariots was called "Ingebord" but in the real-life it was really named "Arthur". The code-name of the real life World War II mission that this film was based on was Operation Source. This operation utilized the Royal Navy's midget X class submarines.

BIOS:
1. Ralph Thomas (Director)
Date of Birth: 10 August 1915 - Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 17 March 2001 - London, England, UK

2. John Mills[aka: Lewis Ernest Watts Mills]
Date of Birth: 22 February 1908 - The Watts Naval Training College, North Elmham, Norfolk, England, UK
Date of Death: 23 April 2005 - Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

3. John Gregson [aka: Harold John Gregson]
Date of Birth: 15 March 1919 - Liverpool, England, UK
Date of Death: 8 January 1975 - Porlock Weir, Somerset, England, UK

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 99 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (May 3, 2011)

Excellent to see this iconic and formative film. Wholly from the UK viewpoint - midget submarine and human torpedo warfare. Lots of nostalgia.

This is a really good show. Depicting the struggle of the courageous band of volunteers who manned the midget submarines on the mission to destroy the Tirpitz, the shooting and superb casting make for a tense atmosphere - where the audience begins to feel the pressure of being trapped under the ocean in cramped conditions with a vitally important mission to perform. A tribute to British spirit and ingenuity!