Twelve Royal Marines in December, 1942, were deposited by sub with their six kayaks at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. Their mission was to paddle in the middle of winter for three days, upriver at night and laying low during the day, until they reached the docks of Bordeaux. There, they would attach limpet mines to German shipping, blow up or damage as many ships as possible, then escape overland and eventually return to Britain.
Any volunteers? (And read no further if you don't like conclusions.) Of the six two-man teams, only two Marines made it back. One kayak was damaged getting it in the water and these two men remained on the sub. One kayak capsized and the two men drowned. One kayak became separated and the two men were captured and immediately shot by the Germans. Another kayak became separated and then capsized. The two men were betrayed by the French, captured by the Germans and later shot. Two kayaks made it. The four men attached their mines and damaged several ships. The four men got to shore safely. Later, two were betrayed by the French and later shot by the Germans with their two comrades who had been captured earlier. Two men eventually made it back home.
Did their raid make any difference to WWII? None whatsoever. Cockleshell Heroes is based on this real story. It has its flaws, but, once we get to the ten men leaving the sub it builds excitement and tension. But it also underlines the extent to which brave and resourceful men and women in time of war can be called upon to undertake harebrained risks with little payoff, thought up or approved by enthusiastic senior commanders and their civilian bosses. In this case, we can thank our stars that the military direction of WWII was in the hands of men like Alan Brooke and George Marshall and not Louis Mountbatten, who is supposed to have thought the idea was splendid and gallant.
Jose Ferrer, who also directed, stars as Major Stringer. The raid is his idea. He wants to build his two-man teams from men he can motivate and train unconventionally. He is a believer in trust. His second in command, Captain Thompson, played by Trevor Howard, is old-school. He's just as sure that discipline and pride must come first. Guess who's right. The movie's great flaw is the standard portrayal of the men as tough but rambunctious lower-class lads who need the firm but understanding leadership of their upper-class officers. Ferrer does a fine job as the smart, dedicated officer who gets off on the wrong foot with the men, but who proves himself just as brave and resourceful as they are. Trevor Howard, however, is the key to the movie...a soldier of the old school, a skeptical man and a professional soldier to his fingertips. "Keep the line straight, boys," are his last, laconic words, and they pack an emotional wallop.
Any volunteers? (And read no further if you don't like conclusions.) Of the six two-man teams, only two Marines made it back. One kayak was damaged getting it in the water and these two men remained on the sub. One kayak capsized and the two men drowned. One kayak became separated and the two men were captured and immediately shot by the Germans. Another kayak became separated and then capsized. The two men were betrayed by the French, captured by the Germans and later shot. Two kayaks made it. The four men attached their mines and damaged several ships. The four men got to shore safely. Later, two were betrayed by the French and later shot by the Germans with their two comrades who had been captured earlier. Two men eventually made it back home.
Did their raid make any difference to WWII? None whatsoever. Cockleshell Heroes is based on this real story. It has its flaws, but, once we get to the ten men leaving the sub it builds excitement and tension. But it also underlines the extent to which brave and resourceful men and women in time of war can be called upon to undertake harebrained risks with little payoff, thought up or approved by enthusiastic senior commanders and their civilian bosses. In this case, we can thank our stars that the military direction of WWII was in the hands of men like Alan Brooke and George Marshall and not Louis Mountbatten, who is supposed to have thought the idea was splendid and gallant.
Jose Ferrer, who also directed, stars as Major Stringer. The raid is his idea. He wants to build his two-man teams from men he can motivate and train unconventionally. He is a believer in trust. His second in command, Captain Thompson, played by Trevor Howard, is old-school. He's just as sure that discipline and pride must come first. Guess who's right. The movie's great flaw is the standard portrayal of the men as tough but rambunctious lower-class lads who need the firm but understanding leadership of their upper-class officers. Ferrer does a fine job as the smart, dedicated officer who gets off on the wrong foot with the men, but who proves himself just as brave and resourceful as they are. Trevor Howard, however, is the key to the movie...a soldier of the old school, a skeptical man and a professional soldier to his fingertips. "Keep the line straight, boys," are his last, laconic words, and they pack an emotional wallop.