Directed by:
Charles FrendScreenplay:
Eric AmblerCinematography:
Gordon DinesComposer:
Alan RawsthorneCast:
Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, John Stratton, Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker, Virginia McKenna, Bruce Seton, Moira Lister, Alec McCowen, Don Sharp (more)Plots(1)
Jack Hawkins stars as the commander of a small convoy escort vessel during a brutal battle amidst an ocean that churns with equal parts heroism and horror, the captain and inexperienced crew of the HMS Compass Rose must wage a constant battle for survival against sudden torpedo attacks by Nazi U-boats as well as the unforgiving cruelty of the sea itself. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Jack Hawkins](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/099/162099092_f90485.jpg)
Jack Hawkins
UK
Best movies:
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
![Donald Sinden](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/371/371145_e1e1f4.jpg)
Donald Sinden
UK
Best movies:
The Day of the Jackal (1973)
Balto (1995)
Doctor in the House (1954)
![John Stratton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/859/160859301_392e23.gif)
John Stratton
UK
Best movies:
The Cruel Sea (1953)
The Long Arm (1956)
Seven Days to Noon (1950)
![Denholm Elliott](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267410_7cbbf8.jpg)
Denholm Elliott
UK
Best movies:
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Bangkok Hilton (1989) (series)
![Stanley Baker](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/494/494635_bb05f3.jpg)
Stanley Baker
UK
Best movies:
Richard III (1955)
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
![Virginia McKenna](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/072/312/72312488_6a5a62.jpg)
Virginia McKenna
UK
Best movies:
Born Free (1966)
Waterloo (1970)
A Town Like Alice (1956)
![Bruce Seton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/856/160856560_7ba471.jpg)
Bruce Seton
India
Best movies:
The League of Gentlemen (1960)
Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
Doctor in the House (1954)
![Moira Lister](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/962/159962222_35d5c1.jpg)
Moira Lister
South Africa
Best movies:
Trouble in Store (1953)
The 10th Kingdom (2000) (series)
The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
![Alec McCowen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/263/158263825_f2b4f0.jpg)
Alec McCowen
UK
Best movies:
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959)
The Secret Adversary (1983) (TV movie)
Don Sharp
Australia
Best movies:
The Cruel Sea (1953)
![Harold Goodwin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/364/161364579_39ac23.jpg)
Harold Goodwin
UK
Best movies:
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The Longest Day (1962)
The Dam Busters (1955)
![Megs Jenkins](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/739/159739551_b44ab9.jpg)
Megs Jenkins
UK
Best movies:
Tiger Bay (1959)
Trouble in Store (1953)
Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965)
![Alan Webb](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/366/160366932_6bf197.jpg)
Alan Webb
UK
Best movies:
Franco Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
King Rat (1965)
The First Great Train Robbery (1978)
Barry Letts
UK
Best movies:
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
San Demetrio, London (1943)
![Walter Fitzgerald](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/594/161594938_3a7809.jpg)
Walter Fitzgerald
UK
Best movies:
The Fallen Idol (1948)
San Demetrio, London (1943)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Meredith Edwards
UK
Best movies:
Tiger Bay (1959)
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
The Cruel Sea (1953)
![Glyn Houston](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/475/161475565_64907a.jpg)
Glyn Houston
UK
Best movies:
Tiger Bay (1959)
The One That Got Away (1957)
A Stitch in Time (1963)
Andrew Cruickshank
UK
Best movies:
Richard III (1955)
Murder Most Foul (1964)
The Cruel Sea (1953)
![Aileen Lewis](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/375/161375901_b39009.jpg)
Aileen Lewis
UK
Best movies:
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
From Russia with Love (1963)
![Fred Griffiths](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/384/161384925_45d6af.jpg)
Fred Griffiths
UK
Best movies:
To Sir, with Love (1967)
The Early Bird (1965)
Murder at the Gallop (1963)