Rent Above Us the Waves (1955)

Top British Classic war Drama - Above Us the Waves review by GI

This is one of the cycle of British war movies from the 1950s and a great one it is too. Based on a real event and starring one of the most popular actors from this period it's an example of the fantastic films produced when the British film industry was thriving. Set in the Second World War this tells the story of a daring mission to attack the German battleship 'Tirpitz' while its moored in a Norwegian fjord impervious to air attack. Commander Fraser (John Mills) convinces a sceptical admiralty that he can lead a few highly trained men in midget submarines past the German defences and destroy it. It's a tale of derring do and the entire film focuses on the training and operation and like all submarine narratives it plays on that sense of tension of being under the water and hunted by a skilled enemy. There's no attempt here, unlike other similar films made when the war was raging, to incorporate any family or romance into the narrative, this is simply a story of courage. In that sense it's wonderfully constructed and directed with a superb cast including John Gregson and Donald Sinden, both big stars at the time. These films are worthy of rediscovery, they're gritty, exciting and very realistic. If you love a good war film then this is worth your time.

Battle underseas. - Above Us the Waves review by Steve

The western stalemate after the Battle of Britain was fertile territory for British film makers in the fifties. The war effort turned to daring special operations, often derived from unusual and hazardous plans. These were written up as best sellers in peacetime and adapted into popular films over the next decade, usually featuring the same pool of actors.

This is based on an attack by three mini-submarines on the German battleship Tirpitz, docked in a Norwegian fjord. John Mills is the paternal but vigilant leader of the operation, supported by officers Donald Sinden and John Gregson. But really it's an ensemble cast of familiar faces, with Michael Medwin standing out.

The film meanders through the training programme, but sparks suddenly to life during the suspenseful, dangerous mission, featuring extensive underwater photography. The men wear their bravery lightly; most of the dialogue focuses the usual grumbles of the lower ranks, of rations and home. But the team pulls together for the cause.

Ralph Thomas' direction is strong on the comic backchat. He splices in the newsreel footage with some skill. And the authentic risks of the plan brings natural tension into the story. The film attests to the generally high standard of the fifties special-ops genre. It is a well made, realistic war feature, with actors who often knew the territory from their own service.