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Noel Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles, Celia Johnson, Joyce Carey ... see more see more... , Kay Walsh , Derek Elphinstone , Richard Attenborough , Michael Wilding , Robert Sansom , Phillip Friend , Ballard Berkeley , James Donald , George Carney , Kathleen Harrison , Hubert Gregg , Kenneth Carton , Gerald Case , Penelope Dudley-Ward , Leslie Dwyer , Walter Fitzgerald , Geraldo's Orchestra , Everley Gregg , Dora Gregory , Geoffrey Hibbert , Roddy Hughes , Daniel Massey , Juliet Mills , Robert Moreton , Brefni O'Rourke , Lesley Osmond , Wally Patch , Eileen Peel , Norman Pierce , Frederick Piper , Charles Russell , Jonathan Singer , Ann Stephens , Barbara Waring , Caven Watson , John Boxer , John Varley , Johnnie Schofield , Lionel Grose , Kay Young , Michael Whittaker

Few morale-boosting wartime films have retained their power and entertainment value as emphatically as Noël Coward's In Which We Serve. To witness Coward's sober, no-nonsense direction (in collaborati... read more read more...on with his co-director/editor, David Lean) and to watch his straightforward portrayal of navy captain Kinross, one would never suspect that he'd built his theatrical reputation upon sophisticated drawing-room comedies and brittle, witty song lyrics. The real star of In Which We Serve is the British destroyer Torrin. Torpedoed in battle, the Torrin miraculously survives, and is brought back to English shores to be repaired. The paint is barely dry and the nuts and bolts barely in place before the Torrin is pressed into duty during the Dunkirk evacuation. The noble vessel is finally sunk after being dive-bombed in Crete, but many of the crew members survive. As they cling to the wreckage awaiting rescue, Coward and his men flash back to their homes and loved ones, and, in so doing, recall anew just why they're fighting and for whom they're fighting. Next to Coward, the single most important of the film's characters is Shorty Blake, played by John Mills. (Trivia note: Mills' infant daughter Juliet Mills appears as Shorty's baby.) Even so, the emphasis in the film is on teamwork; here as elsewhere, there can be no stars in wartime. For many years, the only prints available to television were from the bowdlerized American version, which crudely cut out all "hells" and "damns." Fortunately, this eviscerated American release has since been shelved in favor of the full, glorious 115-minute version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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81% liked it

682 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

15 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Noel Coward, David Lean

Release Date: October 16, 1942

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2007

Stats: 89 reviews

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Co-Directors Production Still Giving Bad News Noel Coward
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Flixster Reviews (89)

  • codyfranklin2
    April 3, 2009
    codyfranklin2
    A good British war film about a stranded crew of a British Destroyer on a life raft. The whole film is told in flashbacks and that is what I think hurts the film. It was original then, but it takes you out of the story almost every time it happens. Coward's screenplay is great an... read mored all of the characters are strong. David Lean helps him with the direction, which makes it look good and really helps the acting. Entertaing film all around, but I wish it was set up a little different without the all of the flashbacks.
  • jam233
    August 20, 2009
    jam233
    One of the finest World War II dramas, a superb cast, excellent direction and score. Very moving story. It can be a bit schmaltzy, but then again, it was made at the peak of the war. Exceptional in every aspect.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
November 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

No less than half a dozen credits for this film go to Noel Coward. And they're well earned. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

One of the most eloquent motion pictures of these or any other times had its American premiére at the Capitol Theatre last night. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Perhaps the most honored propaganda film of World War II, in which the survivors of a torpedoed British battleship recall their reasons for fighting through individual flashbacks. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
May 4, 2012
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online

... an accomplished, sincere, and moving piece of filmmaking that honors the characters and involves the audience. Full Review

Matt Brunson
April 25, 2012
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

Noel Coward, who also co-directed and wrote the script, brings weight and dignity to the role of Captain Kinross. Full Review

James Kendrick
April 16, 2012
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

a particularly memorable World War II British propaganda film, having successfully outlived its initial propagandistic value and solidified into a timelessly moving drama of human determination and te... Full Review

Emanuel Levy
February 1, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though agit-prop and sentimental, this UK WWII drama is superior to Hollywood's patriotic flagwavers, and it's important historically, featuring the directorial debut of David Lean (with Noel Coward),... Full Review

Steve Crum
January 10, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Coward is at his peak in this patriotic, thoughtful WWII British production.

November 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Noel Coward performed with unexpected brilliance here as co-director, writer, musical composer, and star of this stirring WWII drama. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 22, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It's dated, but still holds up as one of the better flagwavers. Full Review

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In Which We Serve Trivia

  • *** In Which We Serve Was Set During Which War***  Answer »
  • In which film did David Lean make his directorial debut, and Richard Attenborough his acting debut?  Answer »
  • In the 1942 war movie In Which We Serve, which British playwright shared directing credit with David Lean?  Answer »
  • Which was the first movie for which Sir David Lean received a directing (or co-directing) credit?  Answer »
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