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Above Us the Waves

  • 1955
  • Approved
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Above Us the Waves (1955)
DramaWar

The attack by British submarines on the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord during World War II.The attack by British submarines on the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord during World War II.The attack by British submarines on the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord during World War II.

  • Director
    • Ralph Thomas
  • Writers
    • Charles Esme Thornton Warren
    • James D. Benson
    • Robin Estridge
  • Stars
    • John Mills
    • John Gregson
    • Donald Sinden
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ralph Thomas
    • Writers
      • Charles Esme Thornton Warren
      • James D. Benson
      • Robin Estridge
    • Stars
      • John Mills
      • John Gregson
      • Donald Sinden
    • 28User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos33

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    Top cast56

    Edit
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Cmdr. Fraser
    John Gregson
    John Gregson
    • Lt Alec Duffy
    Donald Sinden
    Donald Sinden
    • Lt Tom Corbett
    James Robertson Justice
    James Robertson Justice
    • Adm. Ryder
    Michael Medwin
    Michael Medwin
    • Smart
    James Kenney
    James Kenney
    • Abercrombie
    O.E. Hasse
    O.E. Hasse
    • Captain of the Tirpitz
    Lee Patterson
    Lee Patterson
    • Cox
    William Russell
    William Russell
    • Ramsey
    Theodore Bikel
    Theodore Bikel
    • German Officer
    Harry Towb
    Harry Towb
    • McCleery
    Cyril Chamberlain
    • CPO Chubb
    Tony Wager
    Tony Wager
    • George
    • (as Anthony Wager)
    Leslie Weston
    • Winley
    Lyndon Brook
    Lyndon Brook
    • Diver Navigator, X2
    Thomas Heathcote
    Thomas Heathcote
    • Hutchins
    Anthony Newley
    Anthony Newley
    • Engineer, X2
    John Horsley
    John Horsley
    • Lt. Anderson
    • Director
      • Ralph Thomas
    • Writers
      • Charles Esme Thornton Warren
      • James D. Benson
      • Robin Estridge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    6.61.7K
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    Featured reviews

    simon.conder

    A wonderful film

    This is yet another example of the fantastic films that Britain USED TO MAKE. Great acting, powerful direction and real emotion.

    I saw in at the cinema a few weeks back and it really still packs a punch. I must get this one and others like the Cruel Sea on DVD.

    If only we could make films like this again.

    Why is it that we could make such great films 30 or 40 years back and now we have so many problems? Actually I think I know that answer to that one already.

    I think that it would be interesting to remake this film but it would have to be made by a top flight director I think
    7CinemaSerf

    Above Us the Waves

    John Mills sets off to convince a sceptical Admiral (James Robertson Justice) of the merits of "midget" submarines in active warfare. His intention is to use these tiny craft to lay high explosives underneath the hull of the mighty Nazi battleship "Tirpitz" that is safely anchored in a steep-sided Norwegian fjord. John Gregson and Donald Sinden join him on the mission deep into the heart of enemy territory fighting both the elements and the novel technology. You get a sense of he claustrophobic conditions - and of the close teamwork that engenders, as well as the fragility of their craft and; tempered by the odd light-hearted moment, this is quite a gripping little wartime tale.
    horsegal25

    Brilliant!

    This is a brilliant Naval film. The failed midgit submarines, that caused heavy casualties, when attepmting to sink the so called "Unsinkable" Tirpitz. John Mills plays the part of a captain very well, in the struggle to prove them, and then failing. With Lyndon Brook, and Lee Patterson to, it makes a great movie. Deffintaly worth seeing!
    searchanddestroy-1

    Great British war film

    As I recently said about SINK THE BISMARK, UK film industry in the fifties and early sixties brought us great films, war films, I mean. DAM BUSTERS, SINK THE BISMARK, this very one, CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE, BATTLE OF RIO DE LA PLATA, WE DIVE AT DAWN.... Not necessarily dumb propaganda films, such a most of Russian movies or even patriotic US features. Those British films were pretty well made, with solid characterization, suspense, and excellent camera work. German enemy was also not always showed as dumb Nazis whom we could nearly laugh at. These English features were for me the best war movies before THE LONGEST DAY like huge production emerged in the sixties. The rest of "Allied"( but not German !!!) cinema war films - except some rare items such as Bob Aldrich's ATTACK - the other war films are garbage for me. Good American and British against Evil Nazis. Evil, maybe, but certainly not jerks.....This submarine war film is not at the level of DAS BOOT, from director Wolfgang Petersen, of course - no film will ever arrive at its ankle - but I highly recommend it to any war film buff.
    6mailmartinbuckley

    Great war story marred by weak direction

    A lot of things about this film make you think director Ralph Thomas slept his way through the job. The scene when Donald Sinden tries to push off a mine with his feet is amazingly badly done. The film also fails to give you a real sense of what the mission achieved! (It did not, as the film implies, break the back of the ship -- but did succeed in putting Tirpitz out of action for half a year; the RAF finally destroyed her a year after the midget attack.) But there are plenty of decent scenes, and some real tension. The script isn't bad, and having the Germans speak in (unsubtitled) German adds authenticity. John Mills is, as always, excellent. Above all, the film tells a true story, of primitive, cramped baby submarines, poorly insulated diving suits and icy water. And real heroism.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Operation Source, the real life mission on which this film was based, was actually considered a failure in many respects. The Germans easily repaired the damage to Tirpitz. Historians William Garzke and Robert Dulin remarked that the successful repair effort was "one of the most notable feats of naval engineering during the Second World War."
    • Goofs
      The 100' Submarine Escape Training Tank in the early scenes wasn't built until 1954. Prior to this, it was a 15' tank.
    • Quotes

      Adm. Ryder: What the devil's that?

      Cmdr. Fraser: Proof sir.

      Adm. Ryder: Proof?

      Cmdr. Fraser: Yes sir. Those were dummy charges on the hull of this ship. If they hadn't been dummies, you'd be on the bottom now sir, for the duration.

    • Connections
      Featured in War Stories (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      The Skye Boat Song
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Arranged by Arthur Benjamin

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 26, 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Iznad nas su talasi
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, UK(Filming emergency submarine escape.)
    • Production companies
      • J. Arthur Rank Organisation
      • London Independent Producers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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