Summary
A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.
Cast
David Niven
Lieutenant Jim Perry
Stanley Holloway
Pvt. Ted Brewer
James Donald
Pvt. Evans Lloyd
John Laurie
Pvt. Luke
Leslie Dwyer
Pvt. Sid Beck
Hugh Burden
Pvt. Bill Parsons
Raymond Huntley
Pvt. Herbert Davenport
Jimmy Hanley
Pvt. Geoffrey Stainer
William Hartnell
Sgt. Ned Fletcher
Reginald Tate
The Training Company Commanding Officer
Leo Genn
Captain Edwards
John Ruddock
Old Chelsea Soldier
A. Bromley Davenport
Old Chelsea Soldier
Renée Asherson
Marjorie Gillingham
Mary Jerrold
Mrs. Gillingham
Raymond Lovell
Mr. Jackson
Jack Watling
Sgt. Buster
Peter Ustinov
Rispoli
Lloyd Pearson
Sam Thyrtle
Penelope Dudley-Ward
Mrs. Perry
Esma Cannon
Mrs. Ted Brewer
Eileen Erskine
Mrs. Bill Parsons
Grace Arnold
Mrs. Ned Fletcher
Tessie O'Shea
Herself
Trevor Howard
Officer on Ship (uncredited)
George Merritt
Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Tracy Reed
Perry's Daughter (uncredited)
A.E. Matthews
Colonel Walmsley
John Boxer
Soldier in Pub Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
Peggy Carlisle
Minor Role (uncredited)
Alf Goddard
Instructor (uncredited)
David Hutcheson
Garage Customer in Car (uncredited)
Benita Lydal
ENSA Artist (uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos
Gendarme in Café (uncredited)
John Salew
Sam - Friend of Pvt. Lloyd in Pub Scene (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield
Lewis Gun Instructor (uncredited)
Winifred Willard
Minor Role (uncredited)
Ben Williams
Pessimistic Man Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Carol Reed
Screenplay
Peter Ustinov
Screenplay, Story
Eric Ambler
Reviews
Geronimo1967
June 30, 2022
7
David Niven heads the cast in this engagingly quirky tale that amusingly and poignantly depicts just how the British Army managed to fight during WWII. He is the officer in charge of a collection of men of all ages and from many different backgrounds as they are slowly, but surely, coaxed, cajoled and bullied into a fighting unit that has cohesion, loyalty and friendship. Their training regime would test the best of us, and is carried out with a decent smattering of whinging and groaning, but also with strong senses of humour and of purpose before they are eventually deployed overseas and meet up with bar-owner Peter Ustinov in North Africa as the rout of Rommel's Nazi forces nears it's completion. This has a solid cast - Raymond Huntley, Stanley Holloway, John Laurie, Sam Kidd and Leo Genn to name but a few of the characters who give this much more depth than many of the more propagandist efforts made in the UK (and the USA) during the latter stages of the War. Carol Reed and Eric Ambler have created a great story that showcases perseverance and courage as well as quite a considerable degree of humanity.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
