In Which We Serve (1942)

Directed by David Lean & Noël Coward. Starring Noël Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles, Kay Walsh, Celia Johnson, Joyce Carey, Michael Wilding, James Donald, Kathleen Harrison, Richard Attenborough, Frederick Piper.

Propaganda pastiche produced in Britain during the height of World War II is no grease-the-wheels puff piece, instead presenting honor and duty amid great hardship and tragedy—traditionally British stiff upper lip carries the day. Coward serves as writer, producer, co-director, and stars as the naval captain of HMS Torrin, a destroyer that capsizes after an engagement with German bombers; survivors awaiting rescue reminisce individually over past events (an instance of abandoning a post, time spent with family, falling in love while on leave, etc.). Unsentimental, and not as dated as most of the other war dramas produced during the era, but cannot escape clichés in the anecdotal details and characterizations. The urbane wit that is Coward does not make for a comfortable fit during his heavier scenes (his final address to his crew almost comes across as patronizing), but cast is satisfactory overall; feature debuts for several actors including Attenborough and Johnson. First directing credit for Lean, who also handled most of the editing duties.

74/100