In Which We Serve (1942)
1h 55m | PG-13
The story of the HMS Torrin, from its construction to its sinking in the Mediterranean during action in World War II. The ship's first and only commanding officer is Captain E.V. Kinross, who trains his men not only to be loyal to him and the country, but—most importantly—to themselves.
Director: Noël Coward
Studio: Two Cities Films
Genre: Drama, War
Video: 720p
Cast
Noël Coward
as Captain E. V. Kinross R.N. / Captain 'D'
John Mills
as Ordinary Seaman Blake / Shorty Blake
Bernard Miles
as Chief Petty Officer Hardy / Walter Hardy
Celia Johnson
as Mrs. Kinross / Alix
Kay Walsh
as Freda Lewis / Freda
Joyce Carey
as Mrs. Hardy / Kath
Reviews
A film that continues to divide opinion even now as it recounts the exploits of HMS "Torrin" a Royal Navy destroyer during WWII. I have to say that I found this to be just a little too much of a propaganda instrument than I was comfortable with - but it was made during the war, and it is very easy to be sitting now judging the activities of those who were actually risking their lives on an hourly basis, and of those charged with maintaining morale. Noël Coward heads this up as an almost aristocratic and really rather wooden "Captain Kinross" but the ensemble cast - John Mills, Bernard Miles, Richard Attenborough, Kay Walsh and Joyce Carey are much more engaging as the nuts and bolts characters and their spouses. The story is related in flashback form as the ship has been torpedoed and the sailors are in the sea awaiting rescue (or death) and delivers a poignant and thought-provoking evaluation not just of wartime behaviour, but of attitudes too.