Clip from "Single-Handed"/"Sailor of the King" (1953)

Jeffrey Hunter, Peter van Eyck, Bernard Lee, John Schlesinger, Derek Prentice - and a very unfortunate crew - in "Sailor Of The King" (British title: "Single-Handed"), directed by Roy Boulting.

[@tedjohnson9329]

I saw this movie in 1953. It was booked into our theater. Most of us kids weren't that far from the actual WWII years and we drooled over the prospect of knocking off Germans. Great movie.

[@CurtisDrew1]

I think I saw it in 1958 on the Air Force Base we were living on at the time. I can remember also watching "4 days in Naples" around the same time.

[@nutjob9100]

I saw this a film back in the 80s there is 2 endings where this sailor gets a Victoria cross in one ending his mother is at Buckingham Palace reviving his medal the other he survives and is there with his proud mother. Such a well written film

[@hobo1452]

A lost classic! Not the best movie ever made, but the idea of one driven man keeping a powerful German warship hostage and trapped in a secluded harbor is epic. I was lucky enough to find a copy of this movie on DVD.

[@andrewsteele7663]

I watched this movie as a kid and loved it, brilliant, cheers

[@mred7030]

ditto

[@tag427]

I watched this film over 50 years ago on NBC's "Saturday night at the movies" But the movie never seem to air after that. Never forgot Hunter sniping away to delay the repairs! Thanks for posting!

[@QED_]

@tag427: "Saturday Night at the Movies" (!) Blast from the past . . .

[@davidhamilton6612]

@@QED_, don't forget "Magic Shadows".

[@dmutant2635]

My grandmother and I watched The Day the Earth Stood Still together thanks to Saturday Night At the Movies. Good call.

[@user-eo9wp3pr5x]

I saw it the same way...

[@blackbird5634]

This scene is worth a recruiting poster at the very least. It's all I ever wanted out of the Army: a chance to slow up the enemy, to gum up their works, to take a few of the fukkas down before I go, and the chance to prove an infantry man with his rifle is a force to be reckoned with.

[@jimstanga6390]

Jeffrey Hunter has a magical rifle. At long shots, it’s a Kar98 Mauser. In close-ups, it’s a No.4 Lee Enfield. It also never needs reloading.

[@joedunleavy7066]

And has an unlimited magazine

[@alecblunden8615]

He seems to fire 10 rounds at a sitting, which is fine for a No4, but not the K,98k. Then again, movie m agic always provided revolvers with 50 or more rounds.

[@joelgarner2588]

Ah the good old days lol

[@willfriar8054]

Isn't it amazing The Power of One Freedom seed. If you have a freedom seed projector. One man can do the work of hundreds. The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed under penalty of death they left a sentence out of the Constitution

[@lordeden2732]

It's a film for entertainment not a training film

[@andrewbolay1517]

Saw this years ago , very hard to track down . Thank you.

[@haydnjenkins7607]

Based on a book I read many years ago " Brown on Resolution" great story. In the book he didn't survive.

[@wallyjohns7312]

Also, the book was set in WW I.

[@evam2es]

Very good clip from "Sailor of the King". Great movie, indeed...Thanks for posting!!!!

[@stephenfelstead9802]

In my opinion one of the best films ever

[@mer2winable]

I saw this movie when I was a kid. I don't remember the title then and I wanted to watch it again. All I could remember from the movie was the scene of Jeffrey Hunter shooting Germans on a ship from a hill. I finally found a DVD copy from a Barnes and Noble bookstore. It is nice to watch it time and again.

[@bigbob1699]

Another one of my father's favorite movies.

[@spbryant]

Very good and underated movie.

[@drjohnson98]

I remember seeing this film on TV fifty years or more ago when I was a kid. It stuck with me for some reason. Never knew the title until now.

[@davehine3399]

Same here drjohnson98. Have been trying to find out what that movie was that I remembered seeing as a kid.

[@martinmiller1087]

The plot is from C.S. Forester's book 'Brown On Resolution.' It's a great read from an incredible writer and has my highest recommendation. Enjoy!

[@paulcampbell5202]

This movie is obviously based on the British author C.S. Forester's novel, "Brown on Resolution"

[@bgbeck55]

Obviously

[@alecblunden8615]

There was an earlier adaptation set, somewhat more realistically and accurately, in WW1

[@deafsmith1006]

Turns out... it never happened but I understand the Queen of England said, "If it didn't happen, it ought to have!" Yes, Brown on Resolution!

[@sugarnads]

@@alecblunden8615 there was a book set in ww1 with a similar premise too.

[@S250385]

Thank you for the suggestion, @tedjinla. I took your advice and uploaded the Amesbury/Essen battle under the title "Single-Handed/Sailor of the King (1953) - Naval Battle". Certainly one of the most exciting and well filmed sequences in the movie.

[@DOLRED]

Bernard Lee also starred in the sea drama "Pursuit of the Graf Spee" and was a prisoner on the Graf Spee. That movie had two titles---the other being "The Battle of the River Platte." The Graf Spee is a true story. The Graf Spee was described as a "Pocket Battleship" by the Brits and considered a Raider. Since the Essen was disabled in this movie, there is a parallel theme between this movie and the true story of the fate of the Graf Spee...

[@chrisholland7367]

Battle of the river Platte good film but no a scratch on The cruel sea or in which we serve.

[@hamerdow]

Always good to see Jeffrey Hunter with his shirt off.

[@Inkling777]

If memory serves me correctly, the novel on which this is based, C.S. Forester's, "Brown on Resolution," has a less happy ending. He's killed but delays the repair long enough that the British capture and sink the ship, leaving no survivors. No one learns of his heroism.

[@theophilusthistle1988]

The studio actually filmed two endings Brown lives in one and dies in another ....audiences wanted him to survive.....The DVD extras shows the other ending...

[@trooperdgb9722]

Not only that... but the Captain of the British ship that sinks the raider is his father. (Not that either of them know it) Great book!

[@zen4men]

@@trooperdgb9722 And that is the whole point of the story!

[@soldierski1669]

Oh man, seen this with my dad as a kid in 80's sometime.

[@S250385]

You are very welcome, @evam2es. Those were the days when action heroes were not like cartoons...

[@rancidpitts8243]

I last saw this movies when there were only seven channels on TV in Los Angeles.

[@noididnt7972]

Seven channels? You were sh**ting in high cotton. In Sacramento in the '60's we had three channels and they went off at midnight after "High Flight". Of course they came back on around 6 AM with the farm report.

[@rancidpitts8243]

@@noididnt7972 I was working at McClellan in 1968. Bob Wilkinson on Saturday nights.

[@WithTwoFlakes]

OMG, you were so lucky! Here in the UK we had only 3 channels until the imaginatively titled Channel4 launched in November 1982, (nineteen eighty two!).

[@rancidpitts8243]

@@WithTwoFlakes When I was last there, East Anglia, in 1981 the only thing watching was "Dr. Who" only because Tom Baker was so odd. Any more than four now?

[@WithTwoFlakes]

@@rancidpitts8243 Yes, we have the usual hundreds of channels nowadays since TV went digital. Of course the dilution of advertising revenue and viewing figures across them all means nothing much in the way of decent new programs are made. It's all endless repeats. Only the BBC (public funding) seems to still be making the occasional half decent show. East Anglia you say? Im guessing lakenheath? mildenhall?

[@codyjoewhite2563]

Simple fact: If Sailor of the King came on TV, I watched it! Wonderful acting and realism. Except for the trivial rifle switch every thing was perfect. Before the big guns fire, Jeffrey uses a German Mauser M 98K. After the big guns stop firing they've switched his rifle to a British Lee Enfield Mark 5. Do note the longer stock's forearm with less barrel length showing and the 10 round magazine below the receiver.

[@rotorheadv8]

You have to wonder how the Continuity person missed that. And how Hunter didn’t say something.

[@johneyon5257]

doesn't seem a likely mistake - maybe they had only one mauser - and it was damaged or lost - and being in Malta - they had endfields available - they likely thought it could be substituted since few of the audience would notice - - such compromises are done all the time in war movies - guns - uniforms - tanks - etc - - hell - Top Gun had american fighters (F5s) substituting for russian fighters - more people would have noticed that

[@kevingodkin8299]

no it was an Enfield Number 4 rifle

[@S250385]

Quite right, @bandersnatch2005. Thanks for adding this info.

[@fragmaka]

"Keep it up Buster"

[@KentHaughton]

I saw this movie when I was 6 From then on I was hooked on all things shooting

[@billhuber2964]

I saw this when I was a kid. Anything navy got my attention , equal and undivided.

[@flyop312]

great movie

[@mikebryant8122]

The 1935 film is "Forever England." Both it and "Sailor of the King" are here on Utube, currently (2020). The ship in "Forever England" is steam/coal powered, and there are interesting scenes to do with that. And British-y things like a bit of storyline to do with Admiral Horatio Nelson. I think John Mills is more effective in a way, as he is quite young, not seeming a potential hero at first, or Hollywood dreamboat. But he's got pluck! Glad to have seen both films.

[@Delogros]

Weird, as far as I can tell in the wide shot he is aiming a proper mauser but in the closeups it's definitely a lee Enfield action :S

[@joedunleavy7066]

Mauser has a 5 round magazine but he was getting off rounds quickly for a bolt action and reloading just as fast

[@Inkling777]

Movie productions are supposed to have people who're there to catch these inconsistencies. Apparently this one did not.

[@joedunleavy7066]

@@Inkling777 it's a British movie if that helps explain it. Did you also notice the Mauser has a 5 round magazine and the Enfield has a 10. He also had trouble with using the bolt action but was cranking out the rounds mighty fast

[@welshpete12]

@@joedunleavy7066 A trained man could . I have seen it done . And very accurately too !

[@daviddirom7429]

Lee enfield magazine is very distinctive

[@eugenrpoole8818]

Good movie

[@S250385]

Good observation :). The entire film was posted in YT some time ago, but I think it has been deleted. You can buy or rent it, though, since it was released on DVD and, recently, on Blu ray, too.

[@rogerdickinson920]

May 3 2020, I found it again on UTube. Google Sailor of the king or Singlehanded. They will show up. I did have it saved to favourites some time ago but id did disappear. Now it's back.

[@astridvallati4762]

Have seen both versions of the story.In this one, Hunter gets about with a German Kar98k ( the ship's rack has long Gew98 !) But the close-ups of firing are Rifle No.4!!! OC gun aficionado

[@josephcorsbie2753]

it was filmed in color . it was distributed to TV stations in B&W for broadcast .

[@harryplummer6356]

No Joseph it was originally filmed in black and white.

[@tedjinla]

The best part of the movie is the sea battle where the Essen destroys HMS Amesbury. Its one one of the most accurate depictions of a ship to ship engagement ever filmed, including the lag between the flash of the guns and the boom. You should post that. Thanks for this. Thanks

[@captainswoop8722]

It's tosh. Watch Battle of the River Plate.

[@louisavondart9178]

Everyone notices the Lee Enfield No.4 mk 1 but no-one sees the Bofors AA gun on the ship.

[@deafsmith1006]

Well it was the HMS Manxman.... fitted for the film with large mock-up gun turrets over her 4" guns. But it had 2 pounder Mk VII AAA guns.

[@ralphkilloran8065]

Can't this movie in full be found and loaded? I remember watching about 1960 on B/W TV with antenna. No cable back then and very few channels but we still saw good movies.

[@QED_]

@Ralph Killoran: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iV6cf6J5q82Sd5Y

[@DOLRED]

This movie and "Pursuit of the Graf Spee" (American Title) are two of my favorite war movies. Interesting comment below on the gun used by Hunter. In the Graf Spee movie, German Sailors on the Graf Spee wore American Helmets because an American warship was used as the Graf Spee. At the time of filming, The US Navy would not allow German war symbols on the ship (So I learned). In this movie, The Brits call the German Ship "Essen" a "Raider." This is what the pocket Battleship Graf Spee really was.

[@mikeroby1313]

The cruiser USS Salem (CA-139) was the stand-in.

[@KateLicker]

powerful enough guns to outshoot any ship fast enough to catch it, too fast for those powerful enough to destroy them...that was the jingle of Admiral Scheer class.Internal combustion engines like a U-boat instead of boilers and turbines, equals a little slower than a steamship might have been but 10000km cruising endurance? Originally there was one named 'Deutschland"...why a mere 6X11" ship got named for the nation is unclear, but Hitler worried, 'what if a ship named for the nation is sunk?" so , it was renamed Lutzow.. After that huge build-up and suspense on the final day as Spee sailed out of Montevideo, Langsdorf cheats us all of the big climax fight by scuttling the fucking thing. From memory the force waiting for him was barely any more powerful than the one he had effectively seen off previously.Cumberland instead of Exeter, the two banged up 5.9" cruisers, and --maybe-- an aircraft carrier whose CAG, probably a dozen Swordfish if you are lucky , would have had insufficient striking power against large warships anyway to make any effective participation certain, so would have mostly been standing and watching the gunboats settle it.

[@iansnell8897]

Known as the Battle of the River Plate in the rest of the world. I think INS Delhi ex HMNZS achiles played herselff

[@deriter64]

The movie ended on an upbeat note but I found the grim irony of Brown On Resolution the most depressing thing Forester ever wrote.

[@gordonfrickers5592]

+deriter64 Forester was saying despite what many lefties and feminists say about western men, there are men who will do their duty, do what they think right, until death even if it means 'falling on their own sword'. The old word to describe that, now very un PC, very unfashionable and often derided is "duty". "As in "England expects that every man this day will do his duty".

[@janvanv]

Plenty of lefties in all countries did their duty and fought for their countries..You seem to forget that the baddies were the very definition of as far right ultra nationalists as the world has ever seen..I have to wonder which side you think is right..

[@johnberger2851]

Yes, "lefties" fight for their countries just like "righties" do -- some willingly, some because the law says they have to, some because they're afraid of what will happen to them if they refuse.

[@ziblot1235]

janvanv That’s your leftist opinion.Most of the commies fought as partisans against German soldiers who were fighting for their country against the most evil regime of all time, Stalin. Stalin killed millions, Christians, Ukrainians who welcomed the German army and fought alongside them under Vlassov. History learned from Hollywood is always gonna be skewed.

[@PaulBaird]

It is a bit boys own, isn’t it. Plucky Brit sailor single handedly delays warship. Doesn’t die of thirst or heat stress.

[@williamclifford4441]

C.S. Forrester was fascinated by detail and logistics. In the book this film is based upon in particular how small things can alter the path of history. Brown's father, who Brown had never met, commands the British Fleet which will destroy the Essen.

[@bandersnatch2005]

This 1953 film is based on C.S Forester's WW1 nautical novel entitled " Brown on Resolution". John Mills starred in the 1935 vesion.

[@shooterqqqq]

Born For Glory [1935]

[@carlcurtice7914]

That is some seriously fast bolt action shooting

[@welshpete12]

A trained man, would be able to fire at that speed accurately with a Lee-Enfield rifle .

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Continuity error. Curiously when Brown is climbing up the mountain he is carrying a Mauser Kar 98K, in the close ups when he is shown firing the rifle it is a Lee-Enfield No.4.

[@mpetersen6]

Jeffery Hunter starred in another film about a sailor hunted by and evading the enemy. No Man is an Island.

[@celticman1909]

As in any military situation perimeter security is crucial. I would think that upon arrival at a suitable place to conduct such emergency repairs a detachment of Marines would first be deployed to reconnnoiter the area to know what is beyond the sight of the ship. If the area is truly vacant of threat than a roving patrol of Naval Infantry would be tasked to maintain perimeter security. Not a military man myself, but gotta fiqure that that is written in procedure somewhere. Sorry to be a kill Joy. Or to pop the bubble of the plot of the film.

[@Fierbepere]

Good eye and knowledge, Dan Johnston! At 8:06 the actor has a different rifle.

[@colintraveller]

I need to find this film ....

[@user-xt9kl1vm3z]

Good luck

[@rogerdickinson920]

Sailor of the King and Singlehanded both bring up the same movie on UTube. I had it saved but it disappeared.

[@hoodoo2001]

At around 8:00 his rifle changes from a German Mauser 98K 8MM to a British Enfield No. IV .303 rifle. The magic of filmmaking. Was the German rifle lost between filming? I really would like to see this complete film again, it's been about 25 or so years.

[@Trimtank]

Did you mean a Lee-Enfield No.4? The rifle in the film is a Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III. There was never a IV. Good catch though.

[@davvvvo]

It could be that the Mauser's weren't reliable enough with blanks so they swapped to the Enfield's instead (for reference the movie Sergeant York had a Luger in place of a 1911 due to the problem of converting them to fire blanks).

[@ancientmariner7473]

Hmmmm..."Mauser" rifle fitted with Lee Enfield No4 rifle parts: cocking piece, bolt, action, rear sight but with the magazine detached...... Firing up to nine successive rounds with insufficient time to reload the "Mauser" (which had a five round integral magazine...) Weren't there enough surplus Mausers after the War...?

[@rancidpitts8243]

Continuity blew it. Sometimes it's a Mauser K98 , other times it's a No.4. Enfield.

[@tonybarnes9194]

category: entertainment. it's a movie. and an amazing scene overall.

[@ancientmariner7473]

Tony Barnes You're quite right - in the grand scheme of things its irrelevant. The film is good. I'm just a bit pedantic, old and cantankerous!

[@rogerdavies6226]

movie majic guns

[@rancidpitts8243]

@@rogerdavies6226 yes, exactly. That is just like the scenes where the good guy is ambushed by 10 bad guys with automatic weapons and all miss, but with one sweep of his, he gets them all. Movie magic guns.

[@jayvissers5301]

What skill and courage it took for this guy to put bullets into unsuspecting, helpless men! Really embodies the fighting spirit of Nelson at Trafalgar, doesn't it?

[@trooperdgb9722]

Really? So you think war is like the mythical western gunfight in the street?

[@drcovell]

Considering they sank his ship, seems justifiable. Don’t want to get shot? Do not shoot a people! Sometimes it makes them mad!

[@DanBeech-ht7sw]

They seemed to be shooting back.

[@PatrickTyrrell-jd5zy]

They sunk his ship. They were trying to kill him - a ship full of Germans vs 1 Canuk.

[@KR72534]

Silly boy. The goal of war is to make the enemy run and then shoot him in the back or to slice him to pieces under an impersonal rain of steel. It ain’t pretty and never was. God help us all.

[@vonmazur1]

Which is it? No 4 MK 1, or a GEW 98K ?? Prop Dept screw ups...

[@pdm3284]

It's very interesting to read the book (Brown on Resolution) and then watch the movie. The move has a completely different and positive ending.

[@vincentharriman3283]

There were two endings filmed. One sees him die while the other sees him live. Audiences at the cinema were asked to vote which ending they preferred. Overall the voting was in favour of where he lives.

[@pdm3284]

@@vincentharriman3283 Didn't know that. Thanks.

[@Richard500]

The Dido class cruiser HMS Cleopatra plays both the fictional Royal Navy ships "HMS Amesbury" and "HMS Stratford".

[@scubaleotard]

At 3:04 he is aiming a mauser rifle, at 3:10 he is firing a Lee Enfield rifle.

[@david9783]

Man I noticed the same thing! Seems like they could have had him use the Mauser throughout. Plus,ddid you notice how fast he was popping off those rounds? Pretty fast for a bolt action.

[@Fulton-wg2qo]

Pretty clearly carrying a K98 Mauser at 2:02 This guy trades guns faster than I do lol.

[@awest6004]

@@david9783 British infintry training included the Magic Minute for elite marksmen which required 20 rounds on target in 60 sec starting with 10 rounds in magazine which required two 5 round stripper clips to be added during session. Enfield SMLE had a very smooth and short bolt action. Not sure if the Royal Navy had such a program.

[@david9783]

@@awest6004 Thank you for that info.Do you feel his rate of fire was historically accurate?

[@jasoncohen7443]

where can I watch the full movie.................its a great film

[@S250385]

It was uploaded on YT some time ago, but was taken down due to copyright issues. It is available both on DVD (region 1) and Blu-ray (see Amazon etc).

[@jasoncohen7443]

thank you

[@ziblot1235]

This is a remake of the John Mills flick.lmit is supposed to take place during WW1. NotWw2.

[@QED_]

@jason cohen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iV6cf6J5q82Sd5Y

[@victorboucher675]

Mausers w/o sight hoods ... and magically changes into a SMLE when shooting.

[@glynluff2595]

This was the film of the book Brown on Resolution.

[@JohnnieE1961]

One of those films that gives the impression a couple of our blokes in a pedalo could have sunk the German navy and marched into Berlin for the surrender in a week.

[@paulsteele6120]

In the book this film was based on the hero ends up dead. Liberties taken by the film industry with literature, a common practise.

[@davidkaminski615]

Skipper of the DMS Caine at the end of the clip? He went from one derelict scow to another!

[@deafsmith1006]

How did he get ahold of that No. 4, MK 1 .303 rifle? Earlier it was a Mauser 7.92... then a No. 4.. then a Mauser... weird.

[@samanli-tw3id]

Using naval cannons as anti personal weapons is pure overkill.

[@larss337]

This was originally a book, sadly I can't remember the title.

[@S250385]

"Brown on Resolution" by C. S. Forester.

[@sapper82]

@@S250385 Originally set in The Great War, not WW2.

[@stevenpilling5318]

KMS Essen was obviously portrayed by a British Abdiel class minelaying cruiser. Those amazing ships were capable of FORTY KNOTS. During the siege of Malta, two of them (HMS Manxman and Welshman) did yeoman's service. I wonder which ship was used.

[@ariadnekorais9031]

It was HMS Manxman (myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hmsmanxman/photos/single_handed/film.htm).

[@KateLicker]

so great that around 1973 maybe Airfix eventually got around to kitting it.

[@danjohnston3422]

Quite the guy. He hauls a K98 all the way up the cliff, and then it magically transforms it into an Enfield when he shoots it. Shame about the continuity error.

[@dongarrett6228]

I bet the k98 wouldn't set off the dummy round......

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Good Eye upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Lee-Enfield_No_4_Mk_I_%281943%29_-_AM.032027.jpg All the shots of him aiming the rifle (but not firing it) are of him with the Mauser - but when he is actually firing it and working the bolt - it's the No4. The giveaway is that rear sight location. My guess would be that they simply didn't have the ammunition type they wanted to use for the Mauser. .

[@tomtonkyro7209]

Gotta love those cardboard turrets at 6:10. You see real British cruisers with real six inch guns in other parts of the movie. It's not just the disappearing Mauser!

[@agwhitaker]

My goodness ! You mean they are not real ? One wonders what would happen if a rifle bullet hit the oxy - acetylene welding gas bottles.

[@Weesel71]

Really really short gun barrels as well.

[@jerrymtanking]

Being a weapons guy, on long camera shots it's shown Hunter carrying a Mauser K98 rifle, but on closeup's, it show him firing a British Enfield SMLE rifle (oh - it's a British film)… LOL I saw this film so long ago...

[@astondriver]

Jeffrey Hunter was an excellent actor. Shame he died young

[@jeffturnbull9661]

I believe he died on June 6th, 1944, helping to push Bangalore torpedoes under a wall

[@michaelmayfield4304]

@@jeffturnbull9661 - not even close, he died May 27, 1969 from cerebral hemorrhage. He was Captain Pike on Star Trek in the 1960's

[@welshpete12]

@@jeffturnbull9661 there's always one , sad !

[@astondriver]

@@jeffturnbull9661 unfortunately a movie stunt went wrong and he died from effects of an explosion as @Michael Mayfield says, below. He was excellent in "The Searchers"

[@TheKira699]

From the C.S. Forester book Brown on Resolution.

[@keithfritz6280]

Why don't they play this on TCM?

[@jessgatt2306]

Anyone notice that the rifle he's shooting is a British Enfield Mk-4?? I did.

[@tembot6363]

Started from mauser then changed to a number 4 smle

[@humble41011]

I remember seeing this movie on TV years ago. Jeffrey Hunter spends the whole movie with his shirt off. Funny to see one innocent looking young man shooting other innocent looking young men. That's war.

[@fragmaka]

+humble41011 Sad but yes....they could be having a beer if things were different

[@garypulliam3740]

Does he ever reload. I saw no provisions for extra ammo. Only a water canteen.

[@Delogros]

He had a bangalor coming off the inflatable so he did have extra ammo, unless that wasn't what it looked like but in theory if it was should give him about 40 rounds + the 5 in the rifle

[@dennismckown4951]

guess he doesnt know about the prickly cactus and its water content, not much would quench his thirst

[@williamclifford4441]

Was this an adaptation of C.S. Forrester's Brown on Resolution?

[@delilahrosesmith4871]

I have seen this movie when i was younger.it is a very good navy war movieq

[@tubbers20]

That old rifle stock sure taking a beating.

[@davidinsvaz7883]

Now, I could never understand how a rack of Mauser rifles and a Mauser bandoleer (leather) could turn into a Brit #4 Enfield. Ammo not nearly the same.

[@jimc-w9312]

That ship looks like The Manxman with fake turrets. HMS Manxman was a fast mine layer with 3 stacks

[@andrewstackpool4911]

It is HMS Manxman; once the RN's fastest ship. She was out in the Far East in the late 60s.

[@davidchampkin5999]

Yes it's the mamxman with some strange turrets added.Also one of the germans brown shoots who is climbing up the rocks is my Uncle Fred . He was a real sailor of the king who served on the Manxman

[@johnberger2851]

Question 1: Does any one remember why Brown didn't take his shirt with him along with the rifle and ammunition? Question 2: Given his relatively limited amount of ammunition doesn't he seem to be shooting it off at a pretty rapid rate? Two or three rounds would have sufficed to scare off the Germans when they went back out to resume repairs but he shot significantly more than two or three. Question 3: Was there no way for the Germans to turn the ship around, even if it required briefly going back out into the open ocean? Brown would have had a long and dangerous climb/crawl to a new firing position. Question 4: Should the Germans have landed their counter-sniper group immediately to hunt Brown instead of waiting as long as they did? I like the movie much more than the (original) book.

[@pnonnymouse4840]

One its a film . They needed to show off the beefcake. But yes its silly as he rowed ashore instead of swimming. Two its a film the rifle does not need to be reloaded just like a lot of the cowboy sixshooters firing ten to twenty shot, also to show more shots and the rate of fire is high for long range rifle shots but he does have a full bandolier of ammo. But yes its a bit far fetched. And has been pointed out in other comments the rifle changes from shot to shot being in one a British in the next German. Three its a film in the original book they had to go into a sheltered cove to repair the damage to the ship because they had to make the ship unseaworthy by raising the damaged side out of the water heeling the ship over onto its sides. In order to repair the damage which would normally underwater. Making moving whilst damaged extremely risky or impossible. In the film they do not really show this or explain it very well. They need the shelter of the cove as they cannot take the risk in the open sea , as the ship might capsize due to the waves. So they cannot move it until repaired Four yes they should have sent out a search part much sooner.

[@williamdean4101]

Jeffrey Hunter went on to portray Jesus in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and met an untimely death when he fell down stairs in his home and broke his neck.

[@Renshen1957]

After being the Captain of the Enterprise in the first Star Trek pilot which he turned down the part.

[@henryzammitcordina2800]

You have the wrong film . Jesus was played by Max Von Sydow in The Greatest Story Ever Told . Jeffrey Hunter played Jesus in King of Kings

[@KateLicker]

I had no idea that's what happened to him.. so, kind of what happened to John Wayne's character in that WW2 USN aircraft-carrier movie..except he survives into a wheel-chair.. Hunter did two good Pacific war movies that I know of. the slightly biographical "Hell to Eternity"..and 'No Man is an Island"...

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Old school iron sights

[@ZuluLifesaBeech-]

Know someone has probably stated this but, during the Falklands War didn't some SAS Soldiers blast the bridge on an Aregintine warship make it beat feet all ahead aft? Life imitating art?

[@pnonnymouse4840]

I believe it was part of the Royal marine contingent in the first hours of the invasion using a Carl Gustav antitank recoliless at close range. Do not think that they hit the bridge. But did cause enough damage for that ship to withdraw to Argentina.

[@stevek8829]

Why clips? Isn't a 1953 movie past its copyright period.

[@ogden700]

Based on the book "Brown on Resolution" by C.S. Forester I would imagine...

[@ziblot1235]

Isn’t this the same movie as the one by John Mills made in 35?

[@KateLicker]

more or less. From same novel. Obviously Mills was fighting WW1 evil sailor Huns, and Hunter probably WW2 evil sailor Huns.

[@aussievaliant4949]

'Brown On Resolution'.

[@astondriver]

In some shots he is using a Lee Enfield rifle but in others he is carrying the stolen Mauser

[@royperkins3851]

As a soldier or sailor would know there is one way to weaken the enemy the most is to kill the officers and noncoms, all the salutes would have singled them out for a dedicated one man band such as this film is depicting! Don't waste your ammo on the grunts hit the feather beds and you can cripple the enemy!

[@cariboupetepeterson3711]

He climbs ashore with a German Mauser and ends up shooting a British SMLE rifle????? WTF?

[@tomgray2294]

cariboupete Peterson Bull, he is firing 98K it just look like SMLE because of a strait camera shot

[@dougbowser2208]

No there are 2 different rifles.

[@grantbernard3004]

Yes, he is using a Lee Enfield no. 4 mk. 1 at 8:09

[@vonmazur1]

You are correct! First a GEW 98K, then a SMLE No.4 MK 1....Continuity screwed up!

[@bigbob1699]

Rule #1 , Don't piss of a good shot who has a Mauser .

[@azcop2]

In these scenes the seaman switches from shooting an Enfield to a Mauser. Not sure where he would have gotten an Enfield on a German ship.

[@josephcorsbie2753]

it was filmed in color , where is the original?!

[@S250385]

+JOSEPH CORSBIE It was filmed in Black & White (see also its IMDB page, "Technical Specs", www.imdb.com/title/tt0046267/), even though most of its posters (and its DVD cover) are coloured.

[@kerrycraig5519]

@@S250385 I saw this film as a kid in the mid 1950s and could have sworn it was in color. Just shows the sort of tricks memory can play on you.

[@brianwinters5434]

A lopsided battle. A mauser 98 k vs a cruiser.

[@deadhorse1391]

Brian Winters well he did manage to find an Enfield to use 😃

[@welshpete12]

Yes, that's the whole point of the movie . One determined man who is welling to sacrifice he's life , can make all the difference to the outcome.

[@oscarharriet7030]

Carries a Mauser up the hill and then does all his shooting closeups with a No4 Lee Enfield?

[@PatrickTyrrell-jd5zy]

Don't mess with an angry canuk.

[@BeachsideHank]

Nobody did German better than Peter Van Eyck!

[@marcwitt8507]

Indeed he played in the bridge at remagen