Takes you back to the days when we had a proper navy sailing around foreign seas and getting into trouble big time. It involves Richard Todd and William Hartnell (1st Doctor Who!) fighting off naughty revolutionaries from China. I won't give it away!
Patriotic version of a historic incident in 1949 when a British warship- the Amethyst- was shelled by a rebel army during the Chinese Civil War. The film takes great care not to be critical of British actions and instead delivers an exciting action film as the crew survive a long siege before making a daring escape.
There's a documentary style approach with East Anglia standing in for the Yangtse River and the Navy supplying actual battleships, including the Amethyst. The b&w photography is rather gorgeous. Eric Ambler's script covers the incident in great detail including tortuous negotiations with a Chinese Colonel (Akim Tamiroff under heavy makeup).
After the bombardment, Richard Todd arrives to co-ordinate the escape and patronise the survivors. He gives the film a big boost with his natural screen presence amplifying the officer's methodical command. William Hartnell emerges with the most dignity from the lower ranks, despite some idiotic- and racist- comic relief.
There is a preface which claims that the events are all absolutely true, though it doesn't define whose truth. But, setting this aside, and certain attitudes which are of their time, there remains a handsome and professionally made war film with excellent, realistic battle scenes and a rousing finale.