Directed by:
Charles FrendScreenplay:
Eric AmblerCinematography:
Gordon DinesComposer:
Alan RawsthorneCast:
Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, John Stratton, Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker, Virginia McKenna, Bruce Seton, Moira Lister, Alec McCowen, Don Sharp (more)Plots(1)
A dramatic story of the Battle of the Atlantic, where the heroes are the men, the heroines are the ships they sail in and the villain is the cruel sea. On board H.M.S. Compass Rose, an escort ship, is one professional seaman. The others are civilians turned into wartime sailors; men not trained for the rigors and horrors of war. But as the task of keeping open the Atlantic life-line becomes more and more hazardous, so the men are thrown together, hardened and wiser, in companionship. Then the ship is torpedoed. But for the survivors, the greatest fight is only just beginning. (StudioCanal UK)
(more)Cast
Laurence Hardy
UK
Best movies:
The Cruel Sea (1953)
Woman of Straw (1964)
![Gerard Heinz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/394/161394361_1b02b3.jpg)
Gerard Heinz
German Empire
Best movies:
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
State Secret (1950)
The Fallen Idol (1948)
![Gerik Schjelderup](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/447/161447155_be1ec2.jpg)
Gerik Schjelderup
German Empire
Best movies:
State Secret (1950)
Our Man in Havana (1959)
The Assassination Bureau (1969)
![Sam Kydd](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/528/161528723_096172.jpg)
Sam Kydd
UK
Best movies:
A Town Like Alice (1956)
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Russell Waters
UK
Best movies:
The Browning Version (1951)
State Secret (1950)
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
Liam Redmond
Ireland
Best movies:
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Ice-Cold in Alex (1958)
Safari (1956)
Richard Leech
Ireland
Best movies:
Gandhi (1982)
Florence Nightingale (1985) (TV movie)
The Dam Busters (1955)
Jim O'Brady
UK
Best movies:
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Where Eagles Dare (1968)
From Russia with Love (1963)
George Curzon
UK
Best movies:
Young and Innocent (1937)
The Cruel Sea (1953)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Barry Steele
UK
Best movies:
Yesterday's Enemy (1959)
Reach for the Sky (1956)
A Night to Remember (1958)