An engrossing account of the sinking of the British destroyer HMS Torrin during the Battle of Crete. Three survivors on a raft recount their lives aboard the sunken vessel.
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In Which We Serve [1942]
Based on the true story of Lord Louis Mountbatten's destroyer HMS Kelly,In Which We ... more
Serveis one of the most memorable British films made during World War II. Unfolding in flashback as survivors cling to a dingy, constantly strafed by the Luftwaffe, the film recounts the history of HMS Torrin through various battles to her sinking off the coast of North Africa, interwoven with the onshore lives of her crew. The film was the inspiration of Noel Coward, who desperately wanted to do something for the war effort, and he produced, wrote the screenplay, composed the stirring musical score and starred as Captain Edward Kinross. Coward also officially co-directed, though in reality he soon handed the reigns over to David Lean, whose directorial debut this became. There is a fine performance from Celia Johnson, anticipating her character in Lean and Coward'sBrief Encounter(1946) and excellent support from John Mills, as well as a star-making debut from an uncredited Richard Attenborough. The use of real navy and army personal as extras, together with lavish studio production and authentic shipboard location footage lends the film a sense of realism unusual for the time. A landmark in the careers of many of the most important names in British film, this moving and occasionally harrowing classic has a vital place in the development of British cinema.On the DVD:The image is presented in a close approximation of the original 1.37:1 Academy ratio using a print that is good for its age but which would benefit from some restoration, several scenes showing notable damage. The sound is robust mono, though the main title music is very distorted. Speech is very clear. Extras are the original trailer, a stills gallery set to music from the film and a 23-minute retrospective documentary. This last is excellent, containing information on how to simulate bullets hitting water using condoms, and interviews with surviving members of the production including Sir John Mills and cinematographer Ronald Neame.--Gary S Dalkin
In Which We Serve [1942]
Based on the true story of Lord Louis Mountbatten's destroyer HMS Kelly,In Which We ... more
Serveis one of the most memorable British films made during World War II. Unfolding in flashback as survivors cling to a dingy, constantly strafed by the Luftwaffe, the film recounts the history of HMS Torrin through various battles to her sinking off the coast of North Africa, interwoven with the onshore lives of her crew. The film was the inspiration of Noel Coward, who desperately wanted to do something for the war effort, and he produced, wrote the screenplay, composed the stirring musical score and starred as Captain Edward Kinross. Coward also officially co-directed, though in reality he soon handed the reigns over to David Lean, whose directorial debut this became. There is a fine performance from Celia Johnson, anticipating her character in Lean and Coward'sBrief Encounter(1946) and excellent support from John Mills, as well as a star-making debut from an uncredited Richard Attenborough. The use of real navy and army personal as extras, together with lavish studio production and authentic shipboard location footage lends the film a sense of realism unusual for the time. A landmark in the careers of many of the most important names in British film, this moving and occasionally harrowing classic has a vital place in the development of British cinema.On the DVD:The image is presented in a close approximation of the original 1.37:1 Academy ratio using a print that is good for its age but which would benefit from some restoration, several scenes showing notable damage. The sound is robust mono, though the main title music is very distorted. Speech is very clear. Extras are the original trailer, a stills gallery set to music from the film and a 23-minute retrospective documentary. This last is excellent, containing information on how to simulate bullets hitting water using condoms, and interviews with surviving members of the production including Sir John Mills and cinematographer Ronald Neame.--Gary S Dalkin
Serveis one of the most memorable British films made during World War II. Unfolding in flashback as survivors cling to a dingy, constantly strafed by the Luftwaffe, the film recounts the history of HMS Torrin through various battles to her sinking off the coast of North Africa, interwoven with the onshore lives of her crew. The film was the inspiration of Noel Coward, who desperately wanted to do something for the war effort, and he produced, wrote the screenplay, composed the stirring musical score and starred as Captain Edward Kinross. Coward also officially co-directed, though in reality he soon handed the reigns over to David Lean, whose directorial debut this became. There is a fine performance from Celia Johnson, anticipating her character in Lean and Coward'sBrief Encounter(1946) and excellent support from John Mills, as well as a star-making debut from an uncredited Richard Attenborough. The use of real navy and army personal as extras, together with lavish studio production and authentic shipboard location footage lends the film a sense of realism unusual for the time. A landmark in the careers of many of the most important names in British film, this moving and occasionally harrowing classic has a vital place in the development of British cinema.On the DVD:The image is presented in a close approximation of the original 1.37:1 Academy ratio using a print that is good for its age but which would benefit from some restoration, several scenes showing notable damage. The sound is robust mono, though the main title music is very distorted. Speech is very clear. Extras are the original trailer, a stills gallery set to music from the film and a 23-minute retrospective documentary. This last is excellent, containing information on how to simulate bullets hitting water using condoms, and interviews with surviving members of the production including Sir John Mills and cinematographer Ronald Neame.--Gary S Dalkin
2002 - War - John Woo - English - 15 years and over - Nicolas Cage, Christian Slater, Adam Beach, Noah Emmerich, Peter Stormare, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Van Holt, Frances O'Connor, Roger Willie
2001 - War - Ridley Scott - English - 15 years and over - Sam Shepard, Ewen Bremner, William Fichtner, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett
Production Year: 1942 - War - Director: Noel Coward, David Lean - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Noel Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles, Celia Johnson
An engrossing account of the sinking of the British destroyer HMS Torrin during the Battle of Crete. Three survivors on a raft recount their lives aboard the sunken vessel.
Advantages: Region 0 - Will play on any player Disadvantages: Not many special features
...This is essential viewing for any War film buffs.Based on the true story of H.M.S Torrin and her eventual demise,this is a brilliantly acted and directed movie.The story follows the Torrin from her construction in an English shipyard to her sinking off the coast of Crete during World War 2.The engrossing story is told in a series of flashbacks recounted by the only survivors of the sunken vessel as they fight for survival on a raft in the Mediterranean Sea.Although the transfer to dvd is not the best it hardly takes anything away from the experiece. Starring Noel Coward,John Mills and Richard Attenborough and directed by Noel Coward and David Lean,this is one of "the" great British War movies!.Well worth a look!....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Generally good concert, 'Old Medley' is great. Disadvantages: Bonus features could be better. Needs less pop and more prog!
...Filmed in 1992, 'The Way We Walk' DVD shows concert footage from one of Genesis's later tours. By this time, all the big albums had been released - only the lesser known 'Calling All Stations' with Ray Wilson was still to come.
As it stands, this is a pretty good concert - as expected, most of the hits are there - 'Land Of Confusion, 'Invisible Touch', 'I Can't Dance', etc. They are all pretty similar to the album versions, though there a few alterations - 'No Son Of Mine' enjoying a notable extension and some dramatic guitar-work to finish it off. 'Jesus He Knows Me' has got real pace and excitement, and Phil Collins really brings it to life as he comically assumes the role of a TV evangelist. The song is also rounded off with a superb guitar solo from long-time session player Daryl Stuermer.
In Turn It On Again, the final track...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
...from Universal. The original DVD was rather iffy, and almost completely devoid of features, but you are much better served by the re-release anyway so you'd have to be a huge fan to care. The original is rather grainy, has distinctly iffy sound(the back speakers virtually redundant) and has extra features consisting of a teaser trailer and nothing more. Universal has put this travestry right with a DVD release which could be better in all honesty, but is a vast improvement over what we were originally offered.
~Visuals~
The anamorphic widescreen transfer asks you to bare in mind that the movie is now over 20 years old so you can't expect the visuals here to be perfect. Indeed they are not, the opening night scenes looking rather grainy at times and the movie showing a little wear and tear throughout in some parts. No doubt there is...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 18.02.2002
Compare In Which We Serve (DVD) to other similar War
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