In 1940, Canadian sailor Andrew Brown is prisoner on a battle damaged German raider and he plans to delay the raider's at-sea repairs until a British naval task-force can destroy it.In 1940, Canadian sailor Andrew Brown is prisoner on a battle damaged German raider and he plans to delay the raider's at-sea repairs until a British naval task-force can destroy it.In 1940, Canadian sailor Andrew Brown is prisoner on a battle damaged German raider and he plans to delay the raider's at-sea repairs until a British naval task-force can destroy it.
Peter van Eyck
- Kapitan von Falk
- (as Peter Van Eyck)
John Adams
- German Sailor
- (uncredited)
Jack Armstrong
- Officer at Investiture
- (uncredited)
William Baskiville
- Rating
- (uncredited)
Paul Beradi
- Officer at Investiture
- (uncredited)
Martin Boddey
- German Officer
- (uncredited)
Nicholas Bruce
- Hesse
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough the movie is set in World War Two, the basic situation on which the story is loosely based is that of the World War One naval battles of Coronel in the South Pacific and the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, both of which took place in 1914. As in the film, a British cruiser force was defeated in the first battle by a superior German force and then Royal Navy reinforcements sent from England allowed the British to triumph in the second encounter.
- GoofsThe action is meant to take place on a volcanic atoll in the Pacific. When they sail out for the final battle the cliffs in the background are sedimentary chalk cliffs.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Great Canadian Supercut (2017)
Featured review
They Don't Make Adventure Stories Like This Anymore
Whichever of its titles you choose to like (I first saw this film as 'Sailor Of The King'), this is a fine adventure story.
The theme is inborn filial devotion to king, country (or Commonwealth), democracy, duty, and decency: inborn since the main character (played stirringly by Jeffrey Hunter as the ordinary bloke, Brown, who rises to the challenge of extraordinary circumstances) doesn't know who his father is, and the plot development tantalizes us with the nearness of the dispelling of Brown's ignorance.
I have heard that C.S. Forester wrote the novel as an adventure story for boys. No matter, the film builds slowly to a taut, exciting climax that viewers of all ages can thrill to.
Jeffrey Hunter was wonderfully handsome, and he could act; it would be lovely if such talent could also be found in today's (2003's) non-nutritional, unsatisfying crop of young male leads. Wendy Hiller's acting is always superb, and though she has a small part in 'Sailor of the King' she plays it with all her crackling, yet understated verve; Hiller's expressive, soulful eyes should have inspired the composition of a long, gorgeous symphony. Michael Rennie, another handsome and talented - and underappreciated - actor, gives a good effort too.
Though the plot is fictional, it doesn't matter a whit. 'Sailor Of The King' is a splendid adventure film, the likes of which "they just don't make anymore." This is the sort of film you can watch every six months, just for the pure joy of its congealing plot and the anxiety in its inspiring denouement. Pity 'Sailor Of The King' has not made it onto DVD.
The theme is inborn filial devotion to king, country (or Commonwealth), democracy, duty, and decency: inborn since the main character (played stirringly by Jeffrey Hunter as the ordinary bloke, Brown, who rises to the challenge of extraordinary circumstances) doesn't know who his father is, and the plot development tantalizes us with the nearness of the dispelling of Brown's ignorance.
I have heard that C.S. Forester wrote the novel as an adventure story for boys. No matter, the film builds slowly to a taut, exciting climax that viewers of all ages can thrill to.
Jeffrey Hunter was wonderfully handsome, and he could act; it would be lovely if such talent could also be found in today's (2003's) non-nutritional, unsatisfying crop of young male leads. Wendy Hiller's acting is always superb, and though she has a small part in 'Sailor of the King' she plays it with all her crackling, yet understated verve; Hiller's expressive, soulful eyes should have inspired the composition of a long, gorgeous symphony. Michael Rennie, another handsome and talented - and underappreciated - actor, gives a good effort too.
Though the plot is fictional, it doesn't matter a whit. 'Sailor Of The King' is a splendid adventure film, the likes of which "they just don't make anymore." This is the sort of film you can watch every six months, just for the pure joy of its congealing plot and the anxiety in its inspiring denouement. Pity 'Sailor Of The King' has not made it onto DVD.
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- Piafredux
- Jun 18, 2003
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- C.S. Forester's Sailor of the King
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,220,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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