Not very well known war movie despite being directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Ian Carmichael, Tommy Steele and Benny Hill, and having a novel setting - the world of the men who manned searchlights.
It's based on a play and you can tell. It's more an ensemble piece and I wondered at times if it wouldn't work better as a straight up star vehicle for Hill and Steele who play brothers and are in good form. Hill is a good actor - handling the comedy well of course but also some dramatics like when he discovers Steele has knocked up a girl. It's a real shame Hill didn't do more dramatic acting. Steele is good too. Actually I can't fault the acting. I just found it dull.
It all felt so familiar - man hears about son dying. Squabbling in the mess. Knocking up a local girl. Worried about girlfriend.
The one really good bit is the final attack and the death of one of the crew. More seriousness maybe would have worked.
Carmichael just pops in and out of the film. The book ending scenes in the present day watching a cricket match where he's got a silly moustache seem strange.
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