San Demetrio London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Demetrio London |
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Original British quad format cinema poster
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| Directed by | Charles Frend Robert Hamer (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon |
| Screenplay by | Charles Frend Robert Hamer F. Tennyson Jesse |
| Starring | Arthur Young Walter Fitzgerald Ralph Michael |
| Music by | John D. H. Greenwood |
| Cinematography | Ernest Palmer |
| Editing by | Eily Boland |
| Studio | Ealing Studios |
| Distributed by | Associated British Film Distributors (United Kingdom) 20th Century Fox (United States) |
| Release date(s) | 21 February 1944 |
| Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
San Demetrio London is a British movie from 1943. It tells a true story from World War II. The film is about a brave group of sailors. They worked on a ship called the MV San Demetrio. In 1940, their ship was attacked and caught fire. The crew had to leave it behind. But some of them later went back to save it! This amazing story happened during the Battle of the Atlantic. The movie was made by Michael Balcon at Ealing Studios. Charles Frend was the director.
The Amazing True Story
The movie shows what really happened to the British oil tanker, MV San Demetrio. This ship was carrying oil home from Galveston, Texas. A German warship, the Admiral Scheer, attacked it. The San Demetrio caught fire from the shells. Her crew had to leave the burning ship.
They escaped in three lifeboats. Two of these boats were later rescued by other ships. But the third lifeboat drifted alone for three days. On this boat were the chief engineer and the second officer. They couldn't believe what they saw next. The burning San Demetrio was still floating!
They decided to be incredibly brave. They went back onto the fiery ship. They worked hard to put out the fires. Then, they managed to get the engines working again. It was a miracle! They sailed the damaged ship all the way back to Britain. Ten days later, they arrived safely in the River Clyde.
Who's in the Movie?
- Arthur Young as Captain George Waite
- Walter Fitzgerald as Chief Engineer Charles Pollard
- Ralph Michael as 2nd Officer Hawkins
- Barry Letts as Apprentice John Jones
- Michael Allen as Cadet Roy Housden
- Frederick Piper as Boatswain W.E. Fletcher
- Gordon Jackson as Messboy John Jamieson
- Robert Beatty as "Yank" Preston
- Mervyn Johns as Greaser John Boyle
- Lawrence O'Madden as Captain E.S.F. Fegen V.C. – HMS Jervis Bay
How the Movie Was Made
Charles Frend started directing the film. But he became ill during filming. So, another director, Robert Hamer, finished the movie. The real chief engineer from the San Demetrio, Charles Pollard, helped with the film. He was a special adviser. This made sure the movie was as accurate as possible.
