The Battle of the River Plate
Posted by martinteller on February 4, 2011
Continuing in the tradition of Powell & Pressburger films that are slightly weird, this doesn’t quite feel like any other war movie. It’s a three-act structure that first follows the German battleship “Graf Spee” as it cruises around sinking Allied ships and picking up cheerful British prisoners, then the Allied ships who finally locate it and engage it in battle, and finally in Montevideo where the Bree has retreated to neutral waters. Each act is quite leisurely, and the phrase that comes to mind is “too British.” Very stodgy and stiff upper lip, with sailors in dire situations pausing to let loose with a few dry quips. It’s just… weird. And to be honest, kind of dull. But in typical Archers fashion, it’s beautifully photographed (at least in the open water scenes… some of the others are a bit too stagey). And the themes were occasionally interesting, especially in comparison with Grand Illusion. Still, it’s hardly top-tier P&P, and is probably mainly of interest to diehard fans and WWII buffs. Rating: 6
