Morning Departure [Operation Disaster] **** (1950, John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Nigel Patrick, Lana Morris, Peter Hammond, Helen Cherry, James Hayter) – Classic Movie Review 8749

The British stalwart reserve and resolve in a crisis is examined in force in director Roy Ward Baker’s intense British classic 1950 real-life submarine naval drama Morning Departure [Operation Disaster].

John Mills stars as Lieutenant Commander Armstrong, the commander facing a watery grave after his submarine Trojan hits an old unrecovered Second World War magnetic mine and a huge blast sends the ship sinking 90 ft to the sea bed. Nigel Patrick plays Lieutenant Manson, Peter Hammond plays Sub Lieutenant Oakley and George Cole plays E R A Marks.

Many die and the remaining 12 crew members are trapped beneath the sea. But only eight can be saved as their air supply is running dangerously low.

British stereotypes abound, from Richard Attenborough’s cowardly Stoker Snipe to James Hayter’s cockney cook, Able Seaman Higgins. But the almost unbearable tension of the situation is effectively brought out, and the film’s quiet dignity is most impressive.

It is hard to imagine this on the stage. However, Kenneth Woollard’s original play version was staged at London’s Adelphi Theatre in 1946. William Fairchild adapts the stage play for his screenplay. It was shown as a live TV play by the BBC in 1946 and 1948. The film adds flashback sequences and scenes from the rescue operation on the surface. 

Also in the cast are Nigel Patrick, Lana Morris, Peter Hammond, Helen Cherry, James Hayter, Andrew Crawford, George Cole, Kenneth More, Bernard Lee, Wylie Watson, Michael Brennan, Zena Marshall, Jack Stuart, Roddy McMillan, Frank Coburn and George Thorpe, with Michael Caine in his feature film debut as Teaboy.

Baker reflected: ‘I was very proud of that film and still am. It was an immense success in its day and that’s how I came to go to Hollywood in 1952, because the Americans had seen that film.’

HMS Tiptoe was used for the external submarine shots.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8749

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