A WARTIME film deemed one of the ‘best films ever made’ is now available on BBC iPlayer.
The black and white movie – In Which We Serve – was made in 1942 and was co-directed by Noël Coward and David Lean and charts real life events.
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The film is based on the true story of the adventures of Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten- the late HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin – who served aboard the British naval destroyer HMS Torrin.
The film retells the events of the lead up to the ship’s sinking, after the crew bravely fought the Germans in the Mediterranean sea.
The tale is relayed to the audience through flashbacks from Noel and the other soldiers on board.
The narration begins with “This is a story of a ship” and accounts for the events leading up to the vessel’s demise in the Battle of Crete in 1941 – all related by Lord Mountbatten himself.
When they abandon ship, all the sailors and officers cling to a life raft and the flashbacks begin.
In the film’s present day, German planes continue to circle overhead and snipe at the raft but eventually they are all rescued and transported to Egypt.
The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Noel’s performance as Captain Kinross earned him an honorary Academy Award for Outstanding Production Achievement.
Noel also wrote the screenplay and composed the score.
John Mills plays Shorty Blake, while Bernard Miles is chief petty officer Hardy.
Celia Johnson played Captain Kinross’s wife and went on to star in Brief Encounter, which was also written by Noel.
The film also saw the acting debut of Sir Richard Attenborough.
Critics at the time lauded the film, and it was widely popular with British audiences, as well as those overseas.
Bosley Crowther wrote in The New York Times: “None has yet done it so sharply and so truly as In Which We Serve… For the great thing which Mr. Coward has accomplished in this film is a full and complete expression of national fortitude.”
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In Which We Serve is available on BBC iPlayer now.
