The Battle of the River Plate (1956) ( Pursuit of the Graf Spee ) ( Graf Spee )

The Battle of the River Plate (1956) (Blu-Ray) (*)

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Original Title: Pursuit of the Graf Spee
Alternate Title: Graf Spee
Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards

Language Selections:
English ( DTS-HD Master Audio )
English ( Mono )
French ( DTS-HD Master Audio )
French ( Mono )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
France ( Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C )

Running Time:
114 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Documentary
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1956 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Written By:
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Actors:
John Gregson ..... Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter
Anthony Quayle ..... Commodore Harwood - H.M.S. Ajax
Ian Hunter ..... Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax
Jack Gwillim ..... Captain Parry - H.M.S. Achilles
Bernard Lee ..... Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
Lionel Murton ..... Mike Fowler
Anthony Bushell ..... Mr. Millington Drake - British Minister, Montevideo
Peter Illing ..... Dr. Guani - Foreign Minister, Uruguay
Michael Goodliffe ..... Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires
Patrick Macnee ..... Lieutenant Commander Medley - R.N.
John Chandos ..... Dr. Langmann - German Minister, Montevideo
Douglas Wilmer ..... M. Desmoulins - French Minister, Montevideo
William Squire ..... Ray Martin
Roger Delgado ..... Captain Varela - Uruguayan Navy
Andrew Cruickshank ..... Captain Stubbs - 'Doric Star'

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.

Set during the early years of World War II, the War in the Atlantic. The Royal Navy was fighting a desperate battle to keep the convoy routes open to keep the British Isles supplied. One great danger was the surface raiders, huge cruisers called 'pocket battleships' that slipped out of German waters just before war was declared. The 'Bismarck', The 'Scharnhorst', The 'Gneissau' and The 'Graf Spee' were supplied by tanker & could strike anywhere. This is the story of how 3 lightly armed cruisers with only 6 and 8 inch guns boldly took on a powerful pocket battleship armed with 11 inch guns. They should have been blown out of the water before they could fire a single shot but ...

In the fall of 1939, the German heavy cruiser (referred to as a pocket battleship) Graf Spee seems to have command of the Atlantic. In the first three months of World War II, she was responsible for sinking 9 ships. The British sent three cruisers commanded by Commodore Henry Harwood to confront her. The battle took place on December 13, 1939 and the British came out on top. The Graf Spee headed for the neutral harbor of Montevideo, Uruguay. They were given only a short time to effect repairs and the British did their best to make them believe a British fleet of 6 or 8 ships awaited them. Rather than chance the loss of his men, the German captain ordered the Graf Spee scuttled.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 28 March, 2019.