User reviews

Fine, entertaining movie of the famous sea battle between 3 smaller British warships versus the great German Pocket Battleship "Graf Spee". Tremendous sea scenes , aided by the fact that most of the original ships which fought the actual battle are used in the movie. Well acted all-round with Peter Finch doing a fine job as Captain Langsdorf.

"The Battle of the River Plate" (1956) is Powell and Pressburger's most underrated movie. Set in 1939, its about the British navy trying to capture "The Graf Spee" pursued by the "HMS Ajax", "HMS Exeter" and "HMS Achilles".Most people say it is not up to the standard as, say, "A Matter of Life and Death", but I disagree. As it is not one of the more wider known parts of World War Two, it makes the first half tense and exciting. But its the second half, when "The Graf Spee" hides in a neutral port where it kicks into high gear. The whole place reeks of atmosphere, unequalled in any over Powell and Pressburger film. As I have said before, a very underrated movie, that is well worth watching.

The "pocket battleship" (in armor and armament, somewhere between a battleship and a heavy cruiser) Graf Spee is abroad in the Atlantic, sinking British merchant shipping. She is tracked down by three British and New Zealand cruisers and after a fierce battle takes refuge in the harbor of Montevideo, Uruguay. In accordance with the Hague Convention, the Graf Spee's Captain Langsdorff is given barely enough time to make his ship seaworthy, without improving her fighting efficiency, before having to leave port. We aren't told exactly what her fighting efficiency is like but we learn she's taken more than fifty hits on the superstructure alone from the British 8-inch guns, and those are big guns.

There are shenanigans going on at the embassies in Montevideo, in which the French and British try to force the Graf Spee to leave as soon as possible, while the Germans argue for more time. All of this is reported by an opportunistic American from a well-positioned outdoor cafe where the proprietor demands he keep ordering scotch if he's going to sit there and take up the customers' space. Langsdorff is cleverly led by the British to assume that the three cruisers waiting for him outside the harbor have been joined by several other capital ships including an aircraft carrier. The rumor has been deliberately spread by British staff (over an unscrambled phone line in a hilarious scene) and everyone believes it, including Langsdorff. The German captain takes his ship out of the harbor at the appointed time but scuttles her after ordering the crew off. The British have won the Battle of the River Plate, partly through courage and partly through intelligent use of misinformation.

Actually, considering that it's a "war movie" it's pretty good natured. The British crack jokes in the midst of battle. When a shell hits nearby and burns up some possessions, one sailor approaches another bearing a pair of charred boots on a tray and asks, "You ordered the toast?" When sailors die, they do so almost nonchalantly, with time for a brave few words like, "See to the others."

As far as that goes, the film gives you a fairly decent picture of what sea duty can be like: operating the rudder from the steering aft position, for instance. (What a job!) The movie demonstrates the advantage of using real ships instead of models. The problem with model work has to do with texture. The splashes of exploding shells, for instance, send up drops of water as big as basketballs. But here there is some drop-dead gorgeous photography of ships making smoke and heeling around. Not even modern computer graphics could manage so effectively.

The Germans are treated humanely too, this being 1956 and not 1946. The Germans have a number of British prisoners aboard the Graf Spee and they celebrate Christmas together, with the captors presenting the captives with Christmas decorations. When a German officer announces to the prisoners that they will soon be released in Montevideo, he cheers along with the British.

Among the funniest scenes are those involving the blowhard American reporter. "The whole world is watching and waiting with suspense for the Battle of the Ages," or something like that. "Lays it on a bit thick, doesn't he?" asks one British listener. After a few days of this boreal oratory the reporter's voice is going and he begins to swill liquor, surrounded by a dozen glasses of scotch. "Excuse me while I get a drink," he hoarsely tells his listeners.

Withall, though, there is a tragic figure here, and that is the wounded Captain Langsdorff who has fought the good fight and is now forced to sail his ship into what he believes is certain disaster. Finch does a good job with the role, as does the script. There isn't a moment when he loses his dignity. And his courtliness seems inbred. The Brits say of him, "He's a gentleman," and, "He's a good seaman." A cheaper movie would have given Finch an unnecessary speech: "A captain belongs to his ship, just as the ship belongs to the captain. This is breaking my heart. I feel as if someone had just taken my Marzipan away." It's a genuinely sad moment when we see the coffins of the German sailors killed in battle. And although the movie ends with the victorious and quite beautiful white British cruisers sailing off into the sunset, the fact is that Langsdorff shot and killed himself shortly after these events.

The Events around the Battle of the River Plate have always been somewhat special next to the sinking of the Bismarck for me, as Germany does not have such a rich history of sea battles as England does. Two things stand out : First the very positive display of the Captain of the Graf Spee, Langsdorff, treating his prisoners positively and trying to kill ships but not humans and even saving his crew from heroic death in Battle by sinking the ship by himself and refusing to go into battle. And his tragic end by suicide. Second, the laconic display of the British Officers and Men in Battle. This is where my title quote is coming from, as a message issued by the Captain of the shut-down and burning Exeter trying to escape to safety after the Battle and heavy hits. Otherwise it seems to be a rather careful display of events, although the scenes in Montevideo are sometimes play out like a prelude to a Carry On Farce. Greatest weakness is, that we totally loose sight of the German views and events on board Graf Spee once the battle has started. Totally 6 of 10

THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE, a docu-drama on the sinking of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee, represents an interesting marriage of talents. One the one hand the film is written and directed by the Powell-Pressburger team, a fact that ensures that its quality is lifted above the run-of-the-mill war films of the period. Whereas films such as REACH FOR THE SKY (also 1956) focused on notions of British heroism under overwhelming odds, THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE looks at the experiences of those involved in conflict at sea, whether British or German. On the other hand the cast contains just about every leading male actor of the period - a prime example of the Rank Organization's doomed attempt to replicate the star-laden productions popular in Hollywood at that time. Sometimes the experience of watching the film becomes an exercise in actor-recognition: Peter Finch, Anthony Quayle, John Gregson and Ian Hunter all have leading roles, supported by stalwart character actors such as Bernard Lee, Michael Goodliffe and David Farrar (as the narrator), with John le Mesurier turning up in a cameo role. Nonetheless THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE is worth watching, not least because of its balanced treatment of both sides involved in the conflict. We learn a lot about Captain Langdsorff's (Finch's( qualities at the helm of the Graf Spee; he is not only an adept sailor, but he knows how to treat British prisoners-of-war fairly. His character seems more sympathetic as compared with (say) Quayle's more bluff British Commodore Harwood. In terms of special effects the battle-sequences seem a little primitive as compared to today's epics, but the characterization and plotting remain as sharp and incisive as in other Powell/Pressburger movies.

This is a splendid British film concerning historic deeds during WWII , the naval battle in the South Atlantic between British cruiser squadron of three ships and the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee , Dic 1939 . The main and secondary cast are stunningly incarnated by a magnificent plethora of English actors . The film contains a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Christopher Challis and an atmospheric musical score . The movie is well produced by Archers production and professionally directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell . The motion picture will appeal to warlike genre buffs and British classic movie fans . Rating : Better than average .

The film is based on true events , these are the following : Though the British cruisers were no match for the battleship , Admiral Sir Henry Harwood (Anthony Quayle) launched an attack to Graf Spee (with 6 cannons,280 mm) . German fire seriously damaged HMS Exeter (commanded by John Cregson as captain Bell) with cannons 203mm , put half of HMS Ajax (captain Woodhouse played by Ian Hunter)'s guns out of action , and then damaged Achilles (cannons 152 mm) , but the cruisers did sufficient damage to the German ship to make its captain break off and run for shelter in Montevideo , Uruguay . The British followed and waited in international waters outside the neutral port . The Uruguay government ordered the Germans to leave after 72 hours . The British cruisers called Royal and Renown were near from Montevideo and Langsdorff (Peter Finch) didn't wait possibilities to vanquish . Hitler , reluctant to risk the Graf Spee being sunk by heavier British warship which were sailing for the River Plate , ordered the captain to scuttle the vessel . He did so 17 Dec 1939 and three days later shot himself .

I love this movie. Peter Finch stars as Capt. Langsdorf of the German "pocket" battleship Admiral Graf Spee. He is perfect; from the almost swashbuckly entrance and dialogue with Capt. Dove, a merchant captain whose ship they've just sunk, to the trance-like confusion at the end of the film. There are so many great actors in this film its almost like "the Longest Day," except these guys act. Christopher Lee as Manolo, the jealous bar owner; Anthony Quayle as Commodore Harwood; Anthony Newly as a sailor with about three lines that he still manages to over-act; and John Gregson, who plays Capt. Bell of the British cruiser Exeter. Well known, and often quirky co-directors and writers, Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell bring together spectacular shots of many of the actual ships involved in the battle with an almost ensemble-like feeling in the cast. From the British Ambassador with the no-nonsense, sharped-tongued secretary to the goofy-gaucho interpreter for the reporter, Mike Fowler, these powerfully presented characters intensify the real drama of this battle. It wasn't just a sea battle, it was political, involving sailors, spies, and bad cafe singing.

I saw this film as a little boy when it came out in the 50's and thought it was great. I still think it is a good film by war film standards, but certainly not as strong as something like "The Cruel Sea" which is a more harder hitting adult film.

The film sticks pretty much to the actual historical events and doesn't wander off the straight and narrow, which many war films sometimes do! The cast is like a who's who of all the well known British actors of the time, and they are all very competent and all work hard to keep their upper lips very stiff and correct.

It is good to see that the Germans are dealt with sympathetically and not portrayed as 'villains', as sometimes happens if the film had been made purely in Hollywood.

It is also good to see that real ships are used in the general shots, instead of models in a bath tub, and some of the camera shots of the battle are excellent.

One very minor gripe is that in some of the shots of the "Graf Spee" the US Navy extras playing the 'German' sailors are still wearing US Navy uniforms! Oh dear! Ah well, it does not detract from what is overall a good film.

A former teacher of mine who had previously served in the navy was a fan of this film and made a passionate speech once in school about the underlying themes of the film which was about understanding and respecting your enemies.

The admirable filmmaking partnership Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger turn their attention to The Battle of the River Plate 10 years after the end of the second world war with an entertaining reconstruction of three smaller warships against the German Pocket Battleship 'Graf Spee' skippered by a seemingly honourable Captain Langsdorf (Peter Finch) although in opening scenes it looks like the Graf Spee has sunk a British vessel inside Portuguese territorial waters.

There is a lot of cat and mouse as the British commanders anticipate Langsdorf's next moves, in between the lull you have diplomatic manoeuvrings between the Allies and Nazis against the Uruguayan government. In the climax you have a live American broadcast from a cafe/bar in the harbour with Christopher Lee playing a South American bar owner.

Powell and Pressburger shy away from the jingoism and histrionics that plagued a lot of post war films, I guess they did their bit for the war effort during the war itself with films like Colonel Blimp and as always were ahead of their time even when making a post war film looking back at the start of the war.

There is little about the personal lives of the seamen, we do not see them reminiscing about the loved ones waiting for them back home. Its all about strategy and getting the job done with a few scenes of comic relief.

The film is very well photographed and they had the cooperation of the Royal Navy that supplied naval ships for the film. However they could had done with some model work as their were some jarring scenes with the studio shots that do not stand up too well these days.

Some reviewers feel that this film is dull and stagey. I tend to agree.

I grew up with those British war films of the 1950's. I was a kid in Australia and nearly all our dads and many of our mums had played a part in the war. Where documentaries showed us what happened, those films gave us a feeling for the times and the spirit of the people involved. They were different in tone to the Hollywood product; more understated and less histrionic - even the music sounded different.

Some of them are special. I never tire of "The Dam Busters" even with its raggedy-edge explosions and the retrospective questions of morality that surround it.

In comparison, I thought "The Battle of the River Plate" static and tedious, even though they had real warships to play with. Why did so much get filmed on stagey looking studio sets, especially the officers on their various bridges? Ultimately, poor model work and the lack of convincing special effects really hurt the film.

But they were good for the times some would say. Well, not really. A British film, "The Yangtze Incident", made around the same time showed what was possible. It had amazing battle scenes using a real ship. Check them out; the relevant clips are online. It was filmed in Britain and the shots of HMS Amethyst ploughing through exploding shells and towering waterspouts show how lacklustre "River Plate" is.

The juice also leaked from the drama when it was hard to work out who was shooting at whom and with the distracting subplot involving the British prisoners. Finally, those talky scenes in Montevideo and the American reporter sprouting pages of exposition in the ridiculous bar run by Peter Cushing are totally eye glazing.

To show how restrained Powell and Pressburger were, Peter Finch's Captain Langsdorff sails off into the sunset at the end. In real life, the guy committed suicide the next day. Amazingly, the filmmakers didn't think it dramatic enough to put in the film.

Maybe my disappointment comes from comparing "River Plate" to the best British war films. Back in the day they all came out around the same time. Some stayed in the memory even after 60 years and others simply sank without trace, a bit like the Admiral Graf Spee.

After reading the many enthusiastic comments about this rather obscure Michael Powell film, and as an enthusiast of WWII films, I was eager to see this rarely screened film. What a disappointment! Yes, there is some real acting talent at work here. Yes, there are some relatively brief excellent sea shots...some appear to be stock. Yes, it looks like Powell made a sincere attempt at historical accuracy.

But ach, what a dull two hours. Most of the scenes are very stagy; groups of British naval officers mouthing stiff, silly dialog while standing mostly motionless in the frame. Bloodless sea battles; the dead and injured barely even get their tropical whites dirty, let alone soiled with blood! (There's one scene showing a direct hit on a ships bridge and most of the officers didn't even lose their caps!).

The story lines also just never become engaging. The captured crew on the German ship have an entirely different, and rather distracting, story from the film's central point.

If you approach this film as if you're watching a play embellished with film you'll not be as disappointed as I was. Silly me; I was expecting something like "Sink the Bismark" but this film completely failed to engage me and I suspect I'm not an atypical viewer. Usually there's a reason why a film has become forgotten and obscure. In the case of this one it was a gesture of humanity.

Just a hint for casual viewers, ignore Mr. Crook's synopsis of the battle, it could not be more incorrect. Bismarck was a full battleship and not commissioned until 1941. Gneisenau and Scharnhost were battle cruisers and much larger than the only actual pocket battleship he mentions, the Graf Spee (there were 2 other pocket battleships in the German fleet).

The film itself is very much in the tradition of British war films, little Hollywood glitz but much more accurate than Hollywood's history films. Very much in the vein of Sink The Bismarck and well worth watching. Graf Spee was the most effective of the German surface raiders but it once again proved that the submarine was a much more cost effective way to destroy shipping.

A British war adventure; A story about British naval forces who pursue a German battleship to a point where its commanding officer is faced with an impossible choice. Based on true events, it depicts a sea battle and the gallant heroism of both the British Navy and a German Captain Langsdorff. The setting then involves the coastline of Uruguay and its people anticipating an end battle between the two belligerents while intrigue and strategy plays out between British naval attachés and Uruguay government officials. The theme is, while two nations were at war, individuals have much in common. It's not a complete story but it is well told and with a stimulating finale. It throws light on military bravery away from the distant ugly Nazi ideology. Peter Finch plays his role as a noble German officer with aplomb.

A straightforward WW2 naval battle flick, designed to show the courage and mettle of British officers in their battle against overwhelming Nazi firepower. THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE tells the true story of the German warship the Graf Spee, which proved invincible when up against Allied vessels until a bit of trickery and sheer determination saw it finally meet its match in the form of not one, not two, but three British ships off the coast of Uruguay.

The film has the distinction of being filmed by Powell and Pressburger, two of the most famous directors in history, and thus it looks fantastic: colourful, full-blooded, with expert attention to detail and battle scenes that really look like the real thing. It's in the cast that this really excels, though; the production team have assembled one of the greatest all-star casts ever, and thus the film is dominated by strong performances from the likes of John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Peter Finch, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Lee, and many more besides. There are even smaller parts for future greats like John Le Mesurier, Christopher Lee, and Patrick Macnee.

If I could give it no stars, I would. A waste of two hours of viewing. The ships didn't look much like actual participants. Even Achilles didn't remind me of Achilles! Wrong number of guns and turrets on all other participants. And the Graf Spee wasn't anything like the Graf Spee. Had two turrets, here three and clearly not German. What was wrong with models? Film drags. Battle ridiculous. Only saw the British side the entire scene except for the captured British seamen on board Graf Spee--and that's still just the British side of the story. After the sorry battle there's still forty minutes of virtually nothing. You won't learn anything of the poor German captain's fate from this movie either.

I really really like this film. Peter Finch is outstanding as Captain Langsdorf of the German Battleship Admiral Graf Spee. I love the swashbuckling entrance that he makes with Captain Dove (He is the captain of a merchant ship that was sunk by the Admiral Graf Spee). There are so many stand out actors in this film, Christopher Lee, Anthony Quale and John Gregson. The Directors Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell both work together really well, the cinematography is just amazing, their choice of shots outstanding. Every single character in this film is just outstanding. I think the shots of real ships, that took place during the real battles just makes it for me. I feel like I am on the boat watching action real time! Well worth watching, not to be missed.

I can see that this film is more of a documentary piece than an entertaining war film. I suppose that is the period it what was made.

To be fair for a British/Rank production it had good production values shot in glorious Vistavision it looks good now.

The film has several British actors of note, Bernard Lee, Christopher Lee and Patrick Macnee. I seem to think Bernard Lee appeared in all these types of film?

It's not particularly entertaining to a mainstream audience but if you are interested in war history it is an accurate depiction apart from one thing which I think is important/could have added to the screenplay. The demise of the German captain of the Graf Spree by suicide.

The British are actually shown treat well by their German captors and the Nazi angle of the Second World War is rarely shown.

This film has a poor reception but it has good production values which I admire.

I always laugh out loud at the comments that portray this film as good. It is awful and always has been. True, there are some good performances from Quayle and Finch but the loose plot, bath tub ships and mostly one sided British view makes it one to forget. The dire bath tub battle sequences have come straight from the comics. Best to read a good book on the subject and stay away from such overpowering rot! Only when the film moves to land sequences does it have any credibility and there are still plenty of cardboard backdrops to help the film become even more foolish. The dialog reeks of upper class English nonsense also. Utterly sicking all round.