Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
Something of a swan song for the legendary Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger partnership, 1956's The Battle of the River Plate is their penultimate film together (the following year's Ill Met By Moonlight was the last). Shot in a semi-documentary style that stands apart from the "magical realism" of much of their previous work--Canterbury Tales, A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes--the film tells the story of the pursuit of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee by three British cruisers off the River Plate in Uruguay during November 1939.
Incorporating actual wartime footage adds to the authentic air, albeit one that sits uneasily with the obviously studio-bound look of the rest. Among the solid cast Peter Finch stands out as the beleaguered Captain Langsdorff of the Graf Spee, while John Gregson is his counterpart, the stalwart British hero type. Things get a bit odd when Christopher Lee pops up in the unlikely role of a Latin-American nightclub boss. It's an atypical Powell and Pressburger picture and not exactly their best, but still a fine World War II picture that documents an important incident in the opening salvos of the war. --Mark Walker
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, SYNOPSIS: Widely regarded as one of the best and most intelligent British war dramas of the 1950s, The Battle of River Plate is the story of Britain's first significant naval victory in WW2. John Gregson heads the cast as Captain Bell, skipper of the Exeter, one of several vessels engaged in pursuit of the 'indestructable' Geman battleship Graf Spee. Taking refuge in the neutral harbor of Montevideo, the Graf Spee is covertly protected by the Uruguayan government. Eventually, however, German captain Langsdorff (Peter Finch) is faced with a difficult decision: either stand his ground and fight a losing battle against the Exeter and its sister ships, or scuttle the Graf Spee and save the lives of his crew. Battle of the River Plate was released in the US as Pursuit of the Graf Spee. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...The Battle of the River Plate ( Pursuit of the Graf Spee )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By Malcolm Law
Format:DVD
A superbly presented edition of this movie, vibrant sharp colour,excellent story and superb acting.
Peter Finch as Langsdorff , Antony Quayle as Harwood , Bernard Lee as Captain Dove et al. ....Look out for Antony Newley ,Barry Foster and John LeMesurier in supporting roles.
The tale is of the persuit,trapping and ultimate destruction of the 'pocket battleship'Admiral Graf Spee by a combined British and New Zealand cruiser squadron.... The first victory of the war in December 1939.
A beautiful movie .... they don't make 'em like this any more.
Peter Finch as Langsdorff , Antony Quayle as Harwood , Bernard Lee as Captain Dove et al. ....Look out for Antony Newley ,Barry Foster and John LeMesurier in supporting roles.
The tale is of the persuit,trapping and ultimate destruction of the 'pocket battleship'Admiral Graf Spee by a combined British and New Zealand cruiser squadron.... The first victory of the war in December 1939.
A beautiful movie .... they don't make 'em like this any more.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Sue Lawley
Format:VHS Tape
Set initially in wartime Portsmouth this film charts the selection, training and eventual success of one of the Second World War's most famous and daring raids. The brainchild of Major 'Blondie' Haslar Royal Marines, the plan was to penetrate German defences on a French river to destroy enemy shipping in the basin at the far end. This plan was to be accomplished using only simple two man canoes, and was ultimately successful despite the fact that only 2 of the ten man team survived to return to the UK.
The film has a wonderful performance from Jose Ferrer as Major 'Stringer' and Trevor Howard of 'Brief Encounter' fame as his Second in Command.
As to be expected in a film of this age (1954) the special effects are somewhat crude and the scene involving the destruction of the ships is laughable, however the film is gripping if only as a testament to the bravery of the team involved! Several members of the raid were shot without trial by the German military as spies.
The other surviving member apparently rode a brief wave of notoriety following the films release and although he died last year Marine Bill Sparks will be remembered fondly by all serving and ex Royal Marines.
Buy a little history today and you won't be disapointed!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By L. Hay
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Set at the beginning of WWII, the Admiral Graf Spee, a German battleship, and menace to Merchant shipping, is pursued by three British cruisers to Montevideo.
This is a true story, superbly enacted by a host of famous faces, and is one of the great stories from the war. Uraguay being a neutral power, the Graf Spee had to be lured back to the open sea, where she was scuttled by her Captain, Langsdorf.
The only black mark I would give the film, was that it did not tell of Langsdorf's suicide. Otherwise this was a tale of the time before the years of of drudgery and the horror of the U-boats had set in, when Naval officers were gentlemen.
An excellent film.
This is a true story, superbly enacted by a host of famous faces, and is one of the great stories from the war. Uraguay being a neutral power, the Graf Spee had to be lured back to the open sea, where she was scuttled by her Captain, Langsdorf.
The only black mark I would give the film, was that it did not tell of Langsdorf's suicide. Otherwise this was a tale of the time before the years of of drudgery and the horror of the U-boats had set in, when Naval officers were gentlemen.
An excellent film.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By James Harmon
Format:DVD
A gripping tale of a David versus Goliath battle as three British cruisers take on the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee which was running riot in the south Atlantic and Indian ocean. It's slightly annoying for naval buffs because of the ship used to represent the Graf Spee. Likewise with Ajax and Achilles which had twin 6" turrets. In the film we saw triple 6" turrets all over the place. However, don't let that spoil a stirring tale
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By ray dorrity
Format:DVD
Three small cruisers taking on a pocket battleship and winning?
Doesn't sound plausible, but it happened at Christmas in 1939.
What the movie shows is that at that stage of the war, none of the hatred and bitterness towards the Germans had yet set in, and the "game" was being played by gentlemen of the old school on both sides.
Good movie, good acting, good effects.
Buy and enjoy.
Doesn't sound plausible, but it happened at Christmas in 1939.
What the movie shows is that at that stage of the war, none of the hatred and bitterness towards the Germans had yet set in, and the "game" was being played by gentlemen of the old school on both sides.
Good movie, good acting, good effects.
Buy and enjoy.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The true story of a German Pocket Battleship loose on the high seas at the outbreak of World War 2. Having sunk several merchant ships off Africa she seeks even greater spoils off the South American coast. Three British cruisers although outgunned engage her and a heroic naval battle takes place. Great cast includes John Gregson, Peter Finch and Anthony Quale.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By G. Collins
Format:DVD
VINTAGE BRITISH CLASSIC ''CINEMA COLLECTION
A POWELL AND PRESSBURGER PRODUCTION
BRITISH Vintage WAR FILM CLASSIC
DIGITALLY REMASTERED
THE RANK COLLECTION
THE TREMENDOUS STORY OF THE VICTORY OVER THE GRAF-SPEE
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY MICHAEL POWELL AND EMERIC PRESSBURGER
In the 1950s, World War II was not far enough behind to have a nostalgic viewpoint but enough time had elapsed for the war to be seen in a new perspective. In film terms, first there were thoughtful fictionalised films like "Twelve O'clock High", which explored the dramatic and psychological aspects of the war and its effects on the individual. Next, and on a far greater and more prolific scale, came the near documentary reconstructions of wartime campaigns and individual battles and reassessments of individual commanders.
Before "The Battle of The River Plate", Britain had made "The Dam Busters" and Hollywood had given a clean bill of health to Rommel in "The Desert Fox". Following hot on the heels of "The Battle of The River Plate" were other British war reconstructions like "Yangste Incident". "The Silent Enemy" and "Sink the Bismarck". With these it is small wonder the Powell/ Pressburger film got swallowed up in the shuffle.
Unfortunately for the film it also dealt with an event that was in the first days of the war - when British warships had a naval engagement off Montevideo, which was more of a standoff than a victory for either side. It was only Hitler's orders for the Graf Spee to be scuttled which turned it into a technical victory for the British.
When the film was made in 1956, Captain Langsdorff of the Graf Spec became its tragic hero - after the scuttling, wrapping himself in the German rather than Nazi flag and shooting himself.... Read more ›
A POWELL AND PRESSBURGER PRODUCTION
BRITISH Vintage WAR FILM CLASSIC
DIGITALLY REMASTERED
THE RANK COLLECTION
THE TREMENDOUS STORY OF THE VICTORY OVER THE GRAF-SPEE
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY MICHAEL POWELL AND EMERIC PRESSBURGER
In the 1950s, World War II was not far enough behind to have a nostalgic viewpoint but enough time had elapsed for the war to be seen in a new perspective. In film terms, first there were thoughtful fictionalised films like "Twelve O'clock High", which explored the dramatic and psychological aspects of the war and its effects on the individual. Next, and on a far greater and more prolific scale, came the near documentary reconstructions of wartime campaigns and individual battles and reassessments of individual commanders.
Before "The Battle of The River Plate", Britain had made "The Dam Busters" and Hollywood had given a clean bill of health to Rommel in "The Desert Fox". Following hot on the heels of "The Battle of The River Plate" were other British war reconstructions like "Yangste Incident". "The Silent Enemy" and "Sink the Bismarck". With these it is small wonder the Powell/ Pressburger film got swallowed up in the shuffle.
Unfortunately for the film it also dealt with an event that was in the first days of the war - when British warships had a naval engagement off Montevideo, which was more of a standoff than a victory for either side. It was only Hitler's orders for the Graf Spee to be scuttled which turned it into a technical victory for the British.
When the film was made in 1956, Captain Langsdorff of the Graf Spec became its tragic hero - after the scuttling, wrapping himself in the German rather than Nazi flag and shooting himself.... Read more ›
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 41 reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic.
A classic British War film, that although does not have some of the graphic violence that seems to be the hallmark of modern day war films, it is still a very worthwhile watch
Published 14 days ago by Iain
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best WW2 films ever
Straight to the point - Bl**dy good film. Always wanted to get a copy. Now I have. Well worth watching time and again. But maybe not every month.
Published 2 months ago by Trampus
1.0 out of 5 stars
It won't play and is stuck in the player - what now?
All I get with this item is no playback option, this makes it absolutely useless and as it is stuck in the player as well, by the way this is the second time I tried it thinking it... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Suzanne
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Battle of the River Plate
One of the best of the cheap War films to be made in the early fifty plenty of action and based on a true story.
Published 6 months ago by Frank Arden
5.0 out of 5 stars
When decency still mattered
This is a great film accurately setting out an early British war-time victory but not sinking into stereotypes. Read more
Published 15 months ago by John Fareham
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
I remember seeing it in 1956 in the cinema in Sheffield when I was a boy. The quality of the DVD now is excellent.
Published 18 months ago by C. H. Rodgers
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice to see a classic film treated with care
I bought this disk despite the internet whinings about the sound quality. I am very pleased with my purchase. Read more
Published on 25 April 2011 by R. James
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Sure Treat!
Few of us realize that probably the first battle of World War II was fought in South America. Here, "The Battle of the River Plate" is brilliantly performed by some of Britains... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2011 by Allen A. Schaefer
2.0 out of 5 stars
One of the worst war movie I tried to see
I couldn't stand watching it. Terrible. The story is a no-story. The photography is a no-photography. The characters are no-characters.
I'm passionate about good war movies. Read more
I'm passionate about good war movies. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2011 by TommasoG
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Battle of The River Plate
This reason why I bought this film is because apparently when Marilyn Monroe came to England in 1956 to film the Prince and the Show Girl with Lawrence Oliver she attended the... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2011 by Vincenzo Brioni
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
