Morning Departure
Date: 1950
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Production Company: J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Jay Lewis Productions
Stars: John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Bernard Lee, Kenneth More, Nigel Patrick, George Cole
Location(s): Dorset, London, Middlesex
Region(s): London M-N, South East M-Q, South West
Storyline:
Can the crew of a sunken submarine be rescued before their air runs out?
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
Also known as ‘Operation Disaster’ (US Title)
Jimmy Snow, special effects technician, for whom we have a fulsome summary of his career written by his granddaughter Brigitte, together with her memories of him, worked on this film. All that she has shared with us can be read here.
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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
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
- 04 Nov 2020
Beneath the credits, a view across Portland Harbour in Dorset opens the film. The harbour features in 'You Know What Sailors Are', 'Further Up the Creek', 'The Key' and 'Petticoat Pirates'.
Kevin Mullarkey provides this view over Portland Harbour now.
- Capture 2
- 04 Feb 2026
As dawn breaks, Lieutenant Commander Armstrong and his wife Helen awake to the cries of their new born baby. 22 Oak Avenue, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Middlesex at the time of filming now Greater London. At the time of filming it was apparently the home of W/Cdr. F.W.T. Pryer. (RL)
Antony Blair took this shot 72 years on to find a burglar alarm, satellite dish and television aerial giving away that he wasn't in the days of black & white.
- Capture 3
- 04 Feb 2026
Helen Armstrong (Helen Cherry) accompanies her husband Peter (John Mills) to the front gate as he sets off for a routine day. 22 Oak Avenue, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Middlesex at the time of filming now Greater London. (RL)
The outside number 22, recreated by Antony Blair.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Sub-Lieutenant J. McFee (Andrew Crawford) catches up with Lieutenant Commander Armstrong as he arrives in his car with Chief Petty Officer Barlow (Michael Brennan).
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Running late, Able Seaman Higgins (James Hayter) and Able Seaman Nobby Clark (Wylie Watson) pass their Officers on the way to the launch that will take them to their submarine. The background buildings make an appearance in 'The Bulldog Breed',
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Lieutenant Commander Peter Armstrong, his Number 1, Lieutenant Manson (Nigel Patrick) and Sub-Lieutenant Oakley (Peter Hammond) stand in HMS Trojan's conning tower as the vessel begins to move.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
HMS Trojan leaves harbour. This is the Eastern Ship Channel with Portland Breakwater Lighthouse standing to the left at the southern end of the north-eastern breakwater.