The Cockleshell Heroes
Year:
1954
Production Country:
Great Britain / USA
The training of a group of volunteers as commandos to blow up ships in Bordeaux Harbour.
The following statement regarding the story appears after the opening credits: 'The Marines were formed 25th October, 1664. On 29th April, 1802, His Majesty, King George III, directed that they should be styled THE ROYAL MARINES
At a critical stage of the war, fast Merchant ships operating from Bordeaux were seriously endangering the British blockade. For political reasons saturation bombing was rejected: the Navy was unable to penetrate the defences without air cover.
The Royal Marines were given the job.
Portsmouth, England - March, 1942'
Cast & credits
Cast
- Major Jeffrey Stringer José Ferrer
- Captain Thompson Trevor Howard
- Myrtle Dora Bryan
- Sergeant Craig Victor Maddern
- marine Clarke Anthony Newley
- marine Ruddock David Lodge
- marine Stevens Peter Arne
- marine Lomas Percy Herbert
- marine Booth Graham Stewart
- marine Cooney John Fabian
- marine Bradley John Van Eyssen
- marine Todd Robert Desmond
- Gestapo commandant Walter Fitzgerald
- Mrs. Ruddock Beatrice Campbell
- assistant Gestapo officer Karel Stepanek
- policeman Sydney Tafler
- French fisherman Jacques Brunius
- barmaid Gladys Henson
- French fisherman Andrea Malandrinos
- W.V.S. woman Judith Furse
- Captain Alan Raikes, submarine commander Christopher Lee
- sailor Patric Doonan
- [lorry driver] Sam Kydd
- [Morris] John Blythe
Credits
Direction
- Directed by José Ferrer
- Associate Director Alex Bryce
- Assistant Director Max Varnel
- [2nd Assistant Director] Frank Ernst
- [3rd Assistant Director] John Young
- [2nd Unit Assistant Director] Norman Harrison
- Continuity Betty Forster
- Continuity Maisie Kelly
Production
- © Warwick Film Productions
- a Warwick Film production Warwick Film Productions
- Opening/Closing logo Columbia Pictures Corporation
- Executive Producer Irving Allen
- Executive Producer Albert R. Broccoli
- Produced by Phil C. Samuel
- Production Supervisor Ernest Holding
- Production Supervisor Bluey Hill
- Location Manager Harold Buck
- Location Manager Kevin McClory
- [Assistant to the producer] William N. Graf
- Produced at Shepperton Studios
Casting
- Casting Director Paul Sheridan
Writing
- Screenplay by Bryan Forbes
- Screenplay by Richard Maibaum
- From the story by George Kent
Photography
- Director of Photography John Wilcox
- Director of Photography Ted Moore
- [Colour consultant] Joan Bridge
- Camera Operator Dudley Lovell
- Camera Operator Ernest Day
- [Focus Puller] Ronnie Maasz
- [Focus Puller] Alan McCabe
- [Focus Puller] Peter Hall
- [Clapper Loader] Peter Nash
Stills
- [Stills] Bert Cann
Editing
- Editor Alan Osbiston
- [Assembly Cutter] Geoffrey Botterill
- [Assistant Editor] Marcel Durham
Design
- Art Director John Box
- Assistant Art Director Syd Cain
- [Draughtsman] Alan Withy
- [Draughtsman] Alec Gray
- [Draughtsman] Colin Grimes
Costumes
- Wardrobe Supervisor Elsa Fennell
Make-up
- Makeup Artist Freddie Williamson
- Hairdresser Anne Box
Music
- Music by John Addison
- March 'The Cockleshell Heroes' by F. Vivian Dunn
- 'The London I Love' Music by George Posford
- [Music] Played by London Symphony Orchestra
- [Music] Conducted by Muir Mathieson
Sound
- Sound Recordist Bert Ross
- Sound Editor Chris Greenham
Consultant
- Technical Adviser H.G. Hasler
- Technical Adviser W.E. Sparks
- Thanked in credits The Royal Marines
- Thanked in credits The Royal Navy