The Silver Fleet *** (1943, Ralph Richardson, Googie Withers, Esmond Knight) – Classic Movie Review 5525

The 1943 British wartime propaganda drama film The Silver Fleet comes from distinguished producers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who worked behind the scenes but handed over the writing and directing chores to Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley, though Pressburger wrote the original story, Remember Jan de Wit.

Sewell and Wellesley make a very decent job of developing and putting on screen the anti-Nazi theme and plotline. Ralph Richardson (who also co-produced) is eloquent as usual as Jaap van Leyden, a noble Dutch shipping boss who destroys his new U-boat, the German crew and himself in order to further the Allied cause.

It is set in the early years of the Second World War, 1940, when the Nazis invade and occupy the Netherlands and take over the shipyard where Jaap van Leyden is the chief engineer and then decides to take charge of the shipyard. The Nazis want him to resume building two submarines, but now not for the Royal Dutch Navy. but instead for the Germans.

Van Leyden finds his own inspiration when he overhears a teacher telling her pupils about Piet Hein, the17th century Dutch hero who captured the Spanish silver fleet and inspired the nation to continue to fight for their freedom and score a huge victory over the Spanish in 1628. Van Leyden starts a covert campaign of sabotage, leaving notes and graffiti signed Piet Hein.

There is some excellent acting and a solid production, and, even if the results are perhaps a little lacking in excitement, this is still a strong wartime movie with plenty of twists, action and surprises. Esmond Knight plays the German Gestapo ‘Protector’ Von Schiffer and Googie Withers also stars as Helene Van Leyden.

Also in the cast are Beresford Egan, Frederick Burtwell, Kathleen Byron, Willem Akkerman, Dorothy Gordon, Charles Victor, John Longden, Valentine Dyall, Philip Leaver, Ivor Barnard, Margaret Emden, Joss Ambler and John Carol.

Esmond Knight as von Schiffer.

The Silver Fleet is directed by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley, runs 88 minutes, is made by The Archers (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger), is released by General Film Distributors, is written by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley, based on the story Remember Jan de Wit by Emeric Pressburger, is shot in black and white by Erwin Hillier, is produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and is scored by Allan Gray.

It was shot from 13 July 1942 to 27 August 1942. It was released on 15 March 1943.

It was partly shot King’s Lynn, UK. Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, stands in for Van Leyden’s shipyard. Church Drive Primary School, Port Sunlight, Wirral, England, stands in for Willem van Leyden’s school.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5525

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