WE DIVE AT DAWN (1943) John Mills, Louis Bradfield & Ronald Millar | Drama, War | B&W |Timeless Film

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We Dive at Dawn is a 1943 war film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring John Mills and Eric Portman as Royal Navy submariners in the Second World War. It was written by Val Valentine and J. B. Williams with uncredited assistance from Frank Launder. It was produced by Edward Black. The film's sets were designed by Walter Murton.

The film was crucial to establishing Mills as a star.

Synopsis

It is April 1942. Lieutenant Freddie Taylor and some crew of the submarine Sea Tiger are given a week's leave after an unsuccessful patrol. Leading Seaman Hobson goes home to save his marriage, while a reluctant Torpedo Gunner's Mate Corrigan departs for his wedding in London. When the crew are recalled early Corrigan is relieved, though later regrets not completing his marriage. Sea Tiger has been assigned the top secret mission to sink Nazi Germany's new battleship, the Brandenburg, before she transits the Kiel Canal for sea trials in the Baltic Sea. Sea Tiger must put to sea immediately.

Crossing the North Sea, the submarine picks up three shot-down Luftwaffe pilots from a rescue buoy, and prevents their radio alert to German forces. When the submarine enters a minefield, an airman panics and reveals the Brandenburg is further ahead than thought. The airman is attacked by a countryman and subsequently dies. Taylor decides on a desperate gamble to pursue the Brandenburg into the German-controlled Baltic Sea.

When the Brandenburg is spotted, Sea Tiger fires all its torpedoes, but dives before assessing their impact due to German destroyers dropping depth charges. By expelling oil and other debris including the body of the German airman, Taylor deceives the Germans into believing that the submarine has sunk. Although successfully escaped, Sea Tiger no longer has enough oil to reach Britain. The Germans, convinced that the Sea Tiger has been sunk, have Lord Haw Haw broadcast to Britain announcing the destruction of the Sea Tiger.

Taylor decides to have his crew abandon ship on the Danish island of Hågø (which is in fact the island of Bågø). Hobson, a former merchant seaman who speaks German and knows the port on the island, persuades Taylor to let him go ashore and search for oil. He succeeds, and Sea Tiger enters the harbour under cover of darkness, using Hobson's intelligence about the harbour depth. Aided by friendly Danish sailors, they refuel while Hobson and other crewmen hold off the German garrison. Although Pincher (the cook) is killed and Oxford and Lieutenant Johnson are wounded, they get back to the re-fuelled submarine and start to leave the port. While they leave though, the tanker they were able to refuel from is hit by German shells and catches fire. Taylor, not wanting to risk the Sea Tiger any longer, continues to leave the port and makes it out to the open sea.

While returning to Britain, the crew are met by an escorting trawler and learn from them that they sank the Brandenburg. The Sea Tiger returns to base, flying the Jolly Roger for the first time.

Cast & Crew

John Mills as Lieutenant Freddie Taylor, Captain
Louis Bradfield as Lieutenant Brace, First Officer
Ronald Millar as Lieutenant Ronnie Johnson, Third Officer
Jack Watling as Lieutenant Gordon, Navigating Officer
Reginald Purdell as C/P.O. (Chief Petty Officer) "Dicky" Dabbs, Coxswain
Caven Watson as C/P.O. Jock Duncan, Chief Engine Room Artificer
Niall MacGinnis as C/P.O. Mike Corrigan, Torpedo Gunner's Mate
Eric Portman as L/S (Leading Seaman) James Hobson, on hydrophones
Leslie Weston as L/S Tug Wilson, Leading Torpedo Operator
Norman Williams as "Canada", Periscope Operator
Lionel Grose as "Spud", Torpedo Operator
David Peel as "Oxford", Helmsman
Philip Godfrey as "Flunkey", Steward
Robb Wilton as "Pincher", Cook
Joan Hopkins as Ethel Dabbs
Walter Gotell as the ardent Nazi pilot, uncredited
John Slater as Charlie
Philip Friend as Captain Humphries.

Directed by: Anthony Asquith
Written by:
Story and Screenplay: Val Valentine, J. B. Williams
Produced by: Edward Black
Cinematography: Jack E. Cox
Edited by: R. E. Dearing
Music by: Louis Levy
Production Companies:
Gaumont British Picture Corporation
Gainsborough Pictures
Distributed by: General Film Distributors

Release Date: 15 April 1943
Running Time: 98 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English