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

The Battle of the River Plate (DVD) (*)

$20.99

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

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
114 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu

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 ..... Capt. Bell, HMS Exeter
Anthony Quayle ..... Cdre. Harwood, HMS Ajax
Ian Hunter ..... Capt. Woodhouse, HMS Ajax
Jack Gwillim ..... Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles
Bernard Lee ..... Capt. Dove, MS Africa Shell
Lionel Murton ..... Mike Fowler, Montevideo
Anthony Bushell ..... Millington Drake, British Minister, Uruguay
Peter Illing ..... Dr. Guani, Uruguayan Foreign Minister
Michael Goodliffe ..... Capt. McCall, R.N., British Naval Attache, Buenos Aires
Patrick Macnee ..... Lt. Cmdr. Medley, HMS Ajax
John Chandos ..... Dr. Langmann, German Minister, Uruguay
Douglas Wilmer ..... M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Uruguay
William Squire ..... Ray Martin, Montevideo
Roger Delgado ..... Capt. Varela, Uruguyan Navy
Andrew Cruickshank ..... Capt. 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 ...

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 08 September, 2008.

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