Battle of the River Plate, The

Ten days before war was declared, the surface raider Admiral Graf Spee sailed on secret orders from a German port towards the southern Atlantic.

With his ship MS Africa Shell sunk off the coast of Portugal, Captain Dove and his Crew are rescued by the enemy and taken to Captain Hans Langsdorff aboard the Admiral Graf Spee.

Suffering damage after being fired on by HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax and HMNZS Achilles, the Admiral Graf Spee makes for the neutral port of Montevideo in Uruguay.

The morning after the British Ambassador, the French Chargé d'affaires and the German Ambassador approach the Uruguayan Foreign Minister with their views, crowds congregate on the quayside. The docks at the Port of Montevideo in Uruguay.

In need of repairs, the Admiral Graf Spee, played by USS Salem, lies across the harbour.

The Port of Montevideo, Uruguay with the tower of the Customs Building in the centre distance.

British Naval Attaché Captain McCall arranges a 24 hour watch on the disabled pocket battleship. The Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta.

On the waterfront, American radio reporter Mike Fowler (Lionel Murton) prepares to broadcast news about the appearance of the German ship.

Carrying headlines of the Graf Spee's arrival, newspapers are sold from the back of trucks. This appears to be the corner of Juncal in Montevideo with the Palacio Salvo beyond Plaza Independencia in the background.

At the British Embassy, Mr Millington Drake looks down into the streets where people are gathering to volunteer their services. The junction of Rincón and Misiones in Montevideo.

While the Ambassador Doctor Langmann and Captain Langsdorff meet with Foreign Minister Doctor Guani, Citizens await the next move.

The camera pans right across the crowd who keep their eyes on the ship that has been given just 72 hours to make repairs.

Awaiting their release, British Prisoners assemble on the deck of the Admiral Graf Spee. Looking towards the Port of Montevideo with the Customs Building in the right distance.

Captain McCall boards the launch that will take him to meet with Commodore Harwood aboard HMS Ajax off the Uruguayan coast. This very Maltese looking landscape is of Lourdes church above the coastal village of Mgarr on the island of Gozo, Malta.

Returning to shore, Captain McCall telephones the British Ambassador in Buenos Aires and speaks on an insecure line about ships sailing to Bahia Blanca to refuel. Rincón with the corner of Misiones to the bottom centre and Escollera Sarandí stretching out into the mouth of the Rio de La Plata, River Plate to the top right.

After leaked news breaks on Sunday morning that half the British fleet is en route to Punta del Este, Mr. Beasley of the SS Trevanion and Captain Dove of the MS Africa Shell are driven to the Port of Montevideo.

The car enters the docks where Captain Langsdorff's former prisoners meet with Captain McCall at his lookout position.

Just before 8pm at the end of third day of repairs, smoke appears from the Admiral Graf Spee's funnels as her diesel engines burst into life. Valletta with the King George V Hospital, since 1976 the Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, to the bottom right.

The spectators stand in silence as the battleship moves towards the River Plate. The Grand Harbour, Valletta seen from the Siege Bell War Memorial.

Taken from a much higher and more distant vantage point, this view shows the whole length of the Ricasoli East Breakwater as well as the Siege Bell War Memorial to the left. (PW)

Admiral Graf Spee leaves the safety of the harbour. Looking out towards the Mediterranean Sea from the Siege Bell War Memorial in Valletta with the Ricasoli East Breakwater to the right.

Crowds watch as the German merchant ship SS Tacoma follows the Graf Spee. Escollera Sarandí stretching out into the mouth of the Rio de La Plata, River Plate, with Montevideo in the left distance.

Mike Fowler speaks to his audience "The mighty battleship has come to a halt. We're all in suspense. The sun is just touching the horizon and through my glasses I can see quite clearly that a big launch has left the battleship and is proceeding to the SS Tacoma. I can see that the launch is full of men. I can assure you that although we're able to follow every move, it's impossible to imagine what will happen next."

A short Post-Script comprised of publicity stills, reviews of the film and excerpts from his book provided by John Gregson, son of the production's star. Here, John Gregson is being made up in the company of the real Captain Frederick Bell of the HMS Exeter. The 'Battle of the River Plate' was nominated for three BAFTA Awards in 1957, "Best British Film", "Best British Screenplay" and "Best Film From Any Source.”

Empire Magazine Review: ‘A cut above most stiff-upper-lip British 50’s war pictures, this tells the account of the scuttling off Montevideo of the German warship Graf Spee. Peter Finch is the decent enemy, disgusted by the Nazis, while John Gregson and Anthony Quayle are the Brits who recognise Finch’s old school values but still want to sink him. Connoisseurs of British character playing will spot Bernard Lee, Patrick MacNee (later of ‘Avengers' television fame) and Christopher Lee - speaking Spanish!’ Another critic wrote: ‘The film is most memorable for its dramatic, stunningly realistic action sequences, which were achieved with the co-operation of the Royal Navy and the US Navy in the Mediterranean. These make effective use of VistaVision to evoke a sense of scale and awesome military might as British and German warships lock horns.’

From ‘Personal Call’ by Bridget Jones (Picturegoer reporter): “Don’t make me laugh.” Commanded John Gregson as we sat down to lunch at Pinewood Studios the other day, “or my nose may fall off into the soup!” The reason for John’s concern is a false nose that he’s wearing for his new film, ‘The Battle of the River Plate.’ John is playing the part of Captain Bell of HMS Exeter – and because the real captain is nicknamed ‘Hooky Bell’ on account of the shape of his nose, John decided that in the interests of authenticity he would have his built up. “And very pleased with it,” said he. “It makes me look more distinguished. My own nose used to be rather like this until I fell flat on my face off my bicycle as a boy.” Dressed in tropical Naval uniform and resplendent with all the gold braid due to his rank as a captain, John spends his working days in command of the bridge on HMS Exeter reconstructed in the studios. “I met Hookey – that’s Captain Bell – before the film began,” Gregson recounted. “I was rather alarmed. We didn’t look much alike. I suggested I might grow a beard to portray him. Bell looked at me. ‘Beard?’ he said. Whatever for? I’d be a laughing-stock. You ought to have a false nose.” Make-up man Jack Rodway placed a layer of gauze on the Gregson nose. Gregson looked grim and winced. “I have to come in an hour earlier every morning for this nose.” Captain Bell wandered in. He is a technical adviser on the picture. You might call him a Nasal Consultant. “What does it feel like?” He asked. “Not as comfortable as yours,” said Gregson. Make-up man Rodway applied wax. “Mortician’s wax,” explained Gregson. “No wisecracks please!”