This has been a favorite movie of mine for many years. Its narrative relates the story of a group of eccentrics--the British Army leaders were looking for imaginative minds--to undertake a hazardous mission is small rowing boats--cockleshells--against the Nazis' ships berthed up a river. The body of this very-entertaining film comprises four parts: 1. recruiting the volunteers. 2. early training of the successful applicants. 3. later training under better discipline and 4. the raid itself and its aftermath. The underlying theme here is that even minds free of dictatorial-system thinking require self-discipline, and regulation by authorities. The films is B/W and very ruggedly filmed. The director was Jose Ferrer also, with major contributions by writers Bryan Forbes, Richard Maibaum and George Kent. Music by John Addison adds greatly to the proceedings. The serviceable cast includes Jose Ferrer as the group's enigmatic and unorthodox leader, Trevor Howard as the man who wants more discipline and is proved correct, Anthony Newley, Victor Madden, Dora Bryan, David Lodge, Peter Arne, Percy Herbert and many others. The highlight of the early part of the film is an illegal challenge exercise--the volunteers hare told to try to get back to camp from a long way off with no resources whatever. Training at managing the kayak-like craft to be used on the raid also provides some early laughs. This is an honest, well-mounted and vastly- entertaining film whose subject is really human nature and the demands made on imagination and on self-discipline in times of war. The great raid itself is staged mostly at night and is extremely well-presented visually and in its blocking. The escape following the success of the raiders' efforts against German ships that are their targets is the final achievement in this taut and very-well-made film. But the individuals, their relationships, characters and actions are what one remembers. A very-well remembered film, and one admired by many, including myself.

A romanticized and entertaining account of a very daring raid. These piratical exploits seem to suit something in the British psyche.

Colonel 'Blondie' Haslar, the leader of the raid, became a well-known sailor after WW2. I was told that after discovering he had incurable cancer, he set sail alone for the Antarctic fully intending to die doing what he loved best. He was never seen again. Perhaps a reader could confirm this.

You can read the report online in the Navy News of the December 9, 2002, of the death of Bill Sparks, the last survivor of the raid. There is a walking trail in France named after him, which follows the escape route he took through that country to neutral Spain.

THE COCKLESHELL HEROES is a decent example of a men-on-a-mission war movie, presided over by an interesting cast of famous faces and with a true story hook for added intrigue. This WW2-set tale is about some important German ships moored on the river in Bordeaux and the British plan to send ten men up the river in canoes to attach limpet mines to the ships to sink them. Anyone who's a fan of suspenseful modern war films like MAX MANUS: MAN OF WAR will enjoy this one too. The emphasis is on sneakiness here as the marines must go in quietly to avoid getting captured; I won't spoil what happens, only to say it treads the fine line between documentary-style realism and excitement.

Although I normally don't like films that take a long time to get to the 'meat' of the story, I didn't mind it with THE COCKLESHELL HEROES because the training sequences are fun to watch. I particularly loved the 'test' undergone by the heroes in which they must make their way across England undercover; plenty of laughs ensue. Plus, the constant battle of wills between Jose Ferrer (who also directed) and the reliable Trevor Howard is never less than watchable.

Cast-wise, the likes of Anthony Newley and Victor Maddern stand out, and there are plenty more familiar faces around including David Lodge, Peter Arne, John Van Eyssen (of Hammer's Dracula),Percy Herbert and even Christopher Lee in a small role. This isn't really a guns-blazing type movie but the high humour quotient more than makes up for the lack of action; my favourite scene is the one where David Lodge goes A.W.O.L. to take care of family business.