Above Us the Waves

Date: 1955
Director: Ralph Thomas
Production Company: J. Arthur Rank Organisation, London Independent Producers

Stars: John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Michael Medwin
Location(s): Dorset, Guernsey, Hampshire

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

An account of the attack by British submarines on the enemy battleship ‘Tirpitz’ in a Norwegian fjord during the Second World War.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

Jimmy Snow worked on special effects at both Pinewood and Denham Studios but a name that often remained uncredited, as with this film. An interesting Biography and her Memories of him has been written for us by his granddaughter Brigitte, all of which can be read here.

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

An establishing shot of the base where Commander Fraser will assemble and train a force of British officers and ratings to attack the enemy vessel, Tirpitz. Portland Harbour in Dorset.

  • Capture 2
  • 'Now' required

Looking up at the tower of the escape training tank, Smart (Michael Medwin) shields his eyes from the sun. Steven Oliver tells us that his Grandad was a serving CPO at HMS Dolphin and is the one that shouts out instructions when the crane is being operated. "He used to say the Navy got paid loads to use personnel, however, the men never saw any of it".

  • Capture 3
  • 'Now' required

Smart, a former steward, follows other trainees into the building. This is the base of the Submarine Escape Training Tank (SETT) at HMS Dolphin in Gosport, Hampshire. The base closed as a submarine base in September 1998.

  • Capture 4
  • 'Now' required

Lieutenant Alec Duffy (John Gregson) jokes with Lieutenant Tom Corbett (Donald Sinden) as they approach the tower. The SETT remains at the former base in Gosport which is now known as Fort Blockhouse.

  • Capture 5
  • 10 Sep 2017

Abercrombie (James Kenney) salutes as Commander Fraser (John Mills) comes aboard. IMDB mentions Castle Pier in St. Peter Port Harbour, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

More cluttered now but the railings remains. SJ

  • Capture 6
  • 10 Sep 2017

Panning right: one of a number of extra stills focused on Guernsey.

Castle Cornet comes into view. SJ

  • Capture 7
  • 10 Sep 2017

The injured rating watches his Commander leave after a telling off for taking risks. St Peter Port Harbour, Guernsey.

The south end of the harbour. SJ

  • Capture 8
  • 10 Sep 2017

Now travelling to Norway for the failed first mission.

But the islands on the horizon are Jethou in front of Herm so no trip for the crew to Norway. Taken from the Doyle Column, Route de Jerbourg, Guernsey but a shot at sea would be more accurate. SJ

  • Capture 9
  • 19 Sep 2018

After the completion of intensive training, the mission goes ahead and the men aboard Ingebord seek out the enemy battleship, Tirpitz.

This is taken from the area of an old gun battery covering Saint's Bay and looking over Moulin Huet further east. The tide is lower and I should be just a little higher up the cliff path behind me. SJ

  • Capture 10
  • 10 Sep 2017

The approach of a German naval patrol sparks alarm.

This is Saints Bay Harbour which can just be made out in the top left of the "then". SJ

  • Capture 11
  • 19 Sep 2018

Houses on the cliff in the Saints Bay area.

This replaces my shot from the previous year, though, as mentioned then, a shot from the sea would be a better match. This is taken from the east cliff of Saint's Bay, and the houses are, from left to right, Icart House, a new building, and La Pastorelle on Icart Road. SJ

  • Capture 12
  • 'Now' required

The patrol approaches suspiciously.

  • Capture 13
  • 10 Sep 2017

Coming in for boarding. Graham Coff identifies the boat as an inshore survey vessel, possibly HMS Enterprise, Echo or Egeria.

The rocks at Jerbourg point, the southeastern-most part of Guernsey, match. SJ

  • Capture 14
  • 10 Sep 2017

The Germans board for inspection.

Saints Bay with its eye-catching loophole tower, one of the 12 surviving towers (out of 15) - and not to be confused with the later and larger Martello Towers - built in 1787-1788. SJ

  • Capture 15
  • 'Now' required

When the mission fails, the men make their way home via neutral Sweden and Scotland. Portland Harbour was seen in 'You Know What Sailors Are', 'Morning Departure', 'Further Up the Creek', 'The Key', 'The Bulldog Breed' and 'Petticoat Pirates'.

  • Capture 16
  • 'Now' required

Commander Fraser supervises the delivery of the new X-craft. The Portland submarine base in Dorset.

  • Capture 17
  • 'Now' required

Smart arrives back at the base to join his colleagues.