The Big Blockade *** (1942, Leslie Banks, Robert Morley, Michael Redgrave, John Mills, Will Hay) – Classic Movie Review 12,281

Charles Frend’s workable but undistinguished 1942 British war film The Big Blockade is Ealing Studios’ documentary-drama about Britain’s economic blockade of Nazi Germany.

Director Charles Frend’s workable 1942 British black-and-white war film The Big Blockade is Ealing Studios’ well-meaning, now very dated but still fascinating documentary-drama about Britain’s naval blockade plus Navy and Air Force strikes against Nazi Germany.

It was made both as propaganda and entertainment with Leslie Banks, Robert Morley, Michael Redgrave, John Mills, Will Hay and all the available Ealing worthies called in to star in the cast.

The British strategy of the economic blockade of Nazi Germany is shown in dramatised scenes combined with documentary footage.

Among the interesting star cameos are Redgrave as a Russian, Hay in a non-comedy role as a skipper, Robert Morley and Marius Goring as strutting Nazis and John Mills as Tom of the Royal Air Force. Mills was about to play a similar role in a much more effective propaganda piece, In Which We Serve.

It was produced by Michael Balcon for Ealing Studios, in collaboration with the British Ministry of Economic Warfare.

It was made in 1941 and criticises America’s non-involvement in the war. It premiered at the London Pavilion in London on 19 January 1942, attended by members of Parliament involved in economic warfare.

Also in the cast are Frank Cellier, Marius Goring, Alfred Drayton, Michael Rennie, Bernard Miles, Austin Trevor, Albert Lieven, Joss Ambler, George Woodbridge, Michael Wilding, John Stuart, Ronald Adam, Frederick Piper, Morland Graham, David Evans, Ronald Shiner, Mary Clare, Kathleen Harrison, Esma Cannon, Thora Hird, Elliott Mason, Griffith Jones, Percy Walsh, Cyril Chamberlain, George Merritt, Charles Minor, Hugh Dalton, Quentin Reynolds, Peter De Greef and James Knight.

It is written by Angus MacPhail (screenplay) and Charles Frend (uncredited). The commentary is by former Liberal member of Parliament journalist Frank Owen.

It runs 73 minutes.

The main cast are Leslie Banks as Taylor, Civil Service, Michael Redgrave as a Russian on the train, Will Hay as Skipper, Merchant Navy, Bernard Miles as Mate, Royal Navy, Michael Rennie as George, Royal Air Force, John Mills as Tom, Royal Air Force, Frank Cellier as Schneider, Robert Morley as the senior Nazi official, von Geiselbrecht, Alfred Drayton as Direktor, Marius Goring as German propaganda officer, Austin Trevor as U-boat Captain, Morland Graham as Civil Servant, Albert Lieven as Gunter, John Stuart as Naval officer, Joss Ambler as Stoltenhoff, Michael Wilding as Captain, George Woodbridge as Quisling, Quentin Reynolds as American journalist, Elliott Mason as German station mistress, and Peter De Greef as RAF airman.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,281

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