Review of The Cruel Sea (1953) by Les E — 30 Dec 2012
Produced by Ealing Studios, and directewd by Charles Frend (Scott of the Antarctic (1948), this is a naval drama that shows men doing what they do, they don't question why they do it, they're just doing their job.
It's kinda like The Hurt Locker of it's day. With a mighty cast, it's a good depiction of how the Royal Navy operated during World War 2, and it's realistic as well, and it makes for compelling viewing.
It begins in 1939, as the Battle of the Atlantic is heating up, and Lieutenant Commander George Ericson (Jack Hawkins) is sent to the mouth of the River Clyde to take command of HMS Compass Rose. Officers Lockhart (Donald Sinden) and Ferreby (John Stratton) are inexperienced at this, while First Lieutenant, James Bennett (Stanley Baker) is an abusive bully.
They go on their first voyage out, and they're thrown in at the deep end in the middle of a battlefield of German U-Boats and British fighters. It's bad weather that ironically gives the HMS Compass Rose it's advantage, but a tragic error of judgement by Ericson tests the crew's loyalty.
It's a good war film, mixing in real footage shot during the war, with studio based storm sequences and footage the crew shot at sea. Hawkins makes a brilliant lead, and he was good at roles like this, and it put him in good stead for what was to come with The Bridge on the River Kwai.
With war films now, it always takes sides, not this one, as stated, this is just about men doing their job.
This review of The Cruel Sea (1953) was written by Les E on 30 Dec 2012.
The Cruel Sea has generally received very positive reviews.
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