Main Cast: Eric Portman, John Mills, Reginald Purdell, Louis Bradfield, Niall MacGinnis, Joan Hopkins, Ronald Millar, Jack Watling, Leslie Weston
Release Year: 1943
Country: UK
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
After several months' heavy war duty, the crew of the British submarine Sea Tiger is enjoying a much-deserved leave, when suddenly they're called back to active duty. Sub commander John Mills has been ordered to pursue and sink the formidable German battleship Brandenburg. A series of nailbiting seaborne perils, each one more life-threatening than the last, awaits the Sea Tiger as Mills endeavors to carry out his orders. Setting the British We Dive at Dawn apart from the usual Hollywood submarine epic is the fact that all the characters-include the senior officers-are between the ages of 19 and 23; There's no room for an "old sea dog" Alan Hale or Charles Bickford in this one. Though modestly produced, We Dive at Dawn offers a million dollars (or a million pounds)' worth of pulse-pounding excitement. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
A ripping good war film, We Dive at Dawn is a "must see" for those who relish submarine-based movies. Like many of these films, there's a certain formula that is adhered to -- introduce the fairly large ensemble, get to know them as basic types, pack them into the sub and start off on the mission. In some hands, this formula can lead to predictability and boredom, but Dive for the most part avoids this. True, the characters are essentially types, but the director and writers have added enough detail and nuance to make them stand out as more human. Director Anthony Asquith also seems to be fascinated by the mere workings of a submarine, and his attention to detail here adds energy to the depiction of typical life aboard the boat. These men are professionals, but -- unlike in a Hollywood movie -- they are not superhuman; they make mistakes, they misjudge, they do their best but sometimes their best may not be what is required. Asquith and his writers are aided enormously by a first rate cast, with special kudos due to Eric Portman and John Mills. Portman is excellent throughout, but especially in the climax, as he goes undercover to save the sub. And Mills, who could have played this part in his sleep, keeps things fresh and new. Dive has tension, excitement, and top drawer acting, writing and direction -- a classic of its kind. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Josephine Wilson - Alice Hobson; Norman Williams - Canada; Lionel Grose - Spud; Caven Watson - Engineer CPO Duncan; Marie Ault - Mrs. Metcalfe; Frederick Burtwell - Sidney Biggs; Phillip Friend - Humphries; David Peel - Helmsman 'Oxford'; Bryan Powley; Charles Russell; John Salew - Drake; John Slater; Merle Tottenham; Beatrice Varley - Mrs. Dabbs; Johnnie Schofield; Robert Wilton - Cook 'Pincher'; John Redmond; Molly Johnson; Philip Godfrey - Steward 'Flunkey'; Franklin Bennett; George Cross; Kenneth Evans; Gerik Schjelderup
Credit
Anthony Asquith - Director, R.E. Dearing - Editor, Maurice Ostrer - Executive Producer, Louis Levy - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jack Cox - Cinematographer, Edward Black - Producer, Frank Launder - Screenwriter, Val Valentine - Screenwriter, J.B. Williams - Screenwriter, J.B. Williams - Short Story Author
When the British submarine Sea Tiger docks after an unsuccessful patrol, the skipper, Lieutenant Taylor (John Mills), and his crew are given a week's leave. Hobson (Eric Portman) goes home to try to save his troubled marriage, while a reluctant Corrigan (Niall MacGinnis) heads off to his wedding. However, all arrangements are cancelled as a recall order is issued to return to duty, much to Corrigan's relief (though he later has second thoughts).
Back at sea, the crew find out that the Sea Tiger is on a top secret mission to sink Nazi Germany's newest battleship, the Brandenburg. They are to intercept her before she enters the Kiel Canal for the Baltic Sea to begin sea trials.
On their way to the German Bight, the sub picks up three shot-down Luftwaffe pilots from a rescue buoy. When the submarine enters a minefield, one of the airmen panics and reveals that the Brandenburg is much further ahead than anticipated, before another prisoner beats him nearly to death. Taylor takes a desperate gamble and enters the Baltic in pursuit.
When the Brandenburg is spotted, the Sea Tiger fires all its torpedoes, then dives to evade German destroyers dropping depth charges. As the attacks intensify, Taylor convinces the hunters that the submarine has sunk with all hands. The surface ships leave, but the Sea Tiger is left desperately low on fuel.
Taylor decides to have his crew abandon ship near a Danish island. However, Hobson is fluent in German and is familiar with the port on the island. He persuades Taylor to let him go ashore dressed in one of the airmen's uniforms to see if he can find oil. He succeeds. The Sea Tiger refuels while Hobson and some of the other men hold off the German garrison. Upon returning to base, the crew are informed that they sank the Brandenburg. Waiting for them at the dock are Corrigan's would-be bride and Hobson's wife and son.
We Dive at Dawn, which was filmed at Gaumont-British Studios in London,[1] was made with the cooperation of the British Admiralty. John Mills prepared for his role as the captain of the HMS Sea Tiger by riding along on a submarine on a training mission down the Clyde. He later recalled a crash dive:
The ship then seemed to stand on her nose and I felt her speeding like an arrow towards the sea bed; charts and crockery went flying in all directions; I hung on to a rail near the periscope trying to look heroic and totally unconcerned; the only thing that concerned me was the fact that I was sure that my face had turned a pale shade of pea-green.[2]
Exterior shots were made using two different British subs, P614 and P615, with the final number painted over to make P61.[3]
Video
The film has been released on VHS by Madacy Records and Timeless Multimedia, among others, and on DVD by ITV DVD and Carlton.
