The Silver Fleet (1943) Directed by Vernon Sewell, Gordon Wellesley
Drama / War
Film Review
The Silver Fleet is one of a
series of highly effective wartime propaganda films to be produced by
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, known as The Archers, during the
Second World War.
This one was directed by Vernon Sewell and
Gordon Wellesley, and scripted by Pressburger. Through a gripping
story, which has a few suspenseful Hitchcockian moments, the film makes
a fervent appeal to the British people to support the war effort.
Although it is hard for someone watching the film today to have any
sense of the mindset of the film's original intended audience, its
earnest messages about self-sacrifice and patriotism still strike a
chord.
As in most of the Powell-Pressburger wartime productions
(consider 49th Parallel (1941)
and One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)),
the film uses real locations to add a striking sense of realism, and stark black and
white photography that suits the bleakness of the subject. The
film has some lighter moments and the Nazis are treated far more
sympathetically than in many films of this period. One of the
main reasons why the film has such an impact is because Ralph
Richardson succeeds, through his understated portrayal of a resistance
leader and family man, in showing that in every ordinary man there lies
a spirit of heroism.
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Film Synopsis
During WWII, with Holland under German occupation, naval engineer Jaap
van Leyden cooperates with the Nazis by helping to build U-boats in his
shipyard. Van Leydan appears to be undaunted when the townspeople
turn against him and label him and his family quislings.
Meanwhile, someone using the soubriquet Piet Hein is organising a
resistance group among the boatyard workers. The group succeeds
in capturing the first U-boat on its maiden voyage and pilots it to
England. No one is more pleased with this outcome than van
Leyden. The Nazis have another surprise coming...
Script: Vernon Sewell, Gordon Wellesley,
Emeric Pressburger (story)
Cinematographer: Erwin Hillier
Music: Allan Gray
Cast:Ralph Richardson (Jaap van Leyden),
Googie Withers (Helène van Leyden),
Esmond Knight (Von Schiffer),
Beresford Egan (Krampf),
Frederick Burtwell (Captain Müller),
Kathleen Byron (Schoolmistress),
Willem Akkerman (Willem van Leyden),
Dorothy Gordon (Janni Peters),
Charles Victor (Bastiaan Peters),
John Longden (Jost Meertens),
Joss Ambler (Cornelis Smit),
Margaret Emden (Bertha),
George Schelderup (Dirk),
Neville Mapp (Joop),
Ivor Barnard (Admiral),
John Carol (Johann),
Philip Leaver (Chief of Police),
Lawrence O'Madden (Captain Schneider),
Anthony Eustrel (Lieutenant Wernicke),
Charles Minor (Bohme)
Country: UK
Language: English
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 88 min
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