The subtitles to scenes in which characters are speaking in German are annoying, since almost everything is also translated verbally for the benefit of Davies who does not speak the language.That said, this is quite a tense film, and gives a very true rendering of the novel.The scenery and props are quite superb. And ah! 1979; 1 hr 35 mins Drama, Suspense, Action & Adventure PG Watchlist. With Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Simon MacCorkindale, Alan Badel. My motto is compromise under pressure. Entering this maelstrom is Flight Lieutenant Peter Ross, an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot. Anonymous, "Coming events cast their shadows before." [4], The script was basically faithful to the novel although some details and the ending were changed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_of_the_Sands_(film) "[8] The Guardian also praised the cinematography but complained "the set pieces are none too convincing and the whole regrettably lacks the eye for detail that could have made it into an entirely convincing period piece. He narrates further that whilst sailing together along the coast in a gale Dollmann had, when Davies had tried to put into a particular estuary for shelter, inexplicably prevented him from entering by executing a deliberately hazardous sea-manoeuvre, to the degree that both their lives had been endangered by it. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. Davies then reveals to Carruthers that his real interest in the area is that he suspects that the Imperial German Navy is engaged in covert military activity of some nature in the Frisian Islands, with the intention of threatening the security of the North Sea from the British perspective, which the Royal Navy is strategically misdirected to meet, and he is engaged in trying to discover what it is. Filming was done in the Netherlands, West Germany and at Bushey Studios, Hertfordshire, England. [4], While filming on the Johanna Lucretia, playing the Medusa, cinematographer Christopher Challis and camera operator John Palmer would hold the camera in place with slings of rope and elastic, soaking up the ship's motion and allowing the operator free rein. Simon MacCorkindale. Melvyn Bragg and guests discusses the prescient thriller ‘The Riddle of the Sands’ about the decline Anglo-German relations before the First World War. "[9], The New York Times called the film a "slow but affable period piece"[10] while the Los Angeles Times said it "has the quaint, old fashioned sound of a Hardy Boys mystery about it" which "plays like a slightly more lethal boys' adventure story. Among the changes were the inclusion of the Kaiser (although his presence at the trial towing of the lighter is hinted at in the book) and the fate of the character of Dollman (in the original novel he drowned himself; in the film he is mortally wounded after being shot, then killed when the Germans ram his yacht.) This film was never made.[5]. The few action sequences, which are almost always seen from the viewpoint of others, tend to fall flat and spoil the overall continuity. Set in 1901, and starring Michael York , Simon MacCorkindale and Jenny Agutter , it concerns the efforts of two British yachtsmen to avert a plot by the German Empire to launch a military seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom. Michael Yorke and Simon McCorkindale are right for the parts they play. Jenny Agutter. Critic Reviews for The Riddle of the Sands All Critics (1) | Rotten (1) Perhaps director Tony Maylam was being too literal in adapting the novel to the screen, a novel that didn't translate well. Though wars with Germany would become a central issue for Britain for much of the 20th century, few Britons anticipated that before 1900. Von Brüning (as Jurgen Andersen) Michael Sheard ... Böhme: Hans Meyer ... Grimm: Wolf Kahler I believe he was an opportunist to the bitter end. ... Clara. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Written by While boating around the Frisian Islands ostensibly correcting antiquated British sea charts of the coastline's shifting topography, by chance he had met a retired German sailor called Dollmann on the yacht Medusa with his wife and daughter, Clara, with whom Davies has initiated a romantic attachment. Was this review helpful to you? In the early 20th Century, two British yachtsmen stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. Melvyn Bragg and guests discusses the prescient thriller ‘The Riddle of the Sands’ about the decline Anglo-German relations before the First World War. The film was not the hoped for success at the box office and was one of the last films financed by the Rank Organisation. (1979). This technique was developed by Challis and Palmer when they made The Deep (1977).[4]. Riddle of the Sands, The : Robin Hood [1972] Robinson Crusoe : Roobarb : Scarab : Scorpio : Scrubbers : Silver Dream Racer** Soft Cell's Non-Stop Exotic Video Show* Soldier Blue : Stud, The : Svengali : Swiss Family Robinson [1972] Sword and the Sorcerer, The : Thank God It's Friday* That's Entertainment, Part 2* The Stranglers- The Video Collection 1977-1982* But let's face it, the whole of life's a compromise. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. Dollmann and his wife are murdered by the pursuing German authorities — led by Kaiser Wilhelm II, in person — when the Dulcibella is rammed and destroyed. Use the HTML below. Stephanie Komack was a high-class hooker and assassin for the Italian Mob. Certificate: GP The film ends with the yacht bearing Carruthers, Davies and Clara bound for the Netherlands, with a Carruthers' voiced narration detailing how their return to Britain with the information would lead to a shift in the United Kingdom's sea defence strategy towards Germany, that would avert the threat of war by tactical deterrent. Maylam: The failing of the book is that Dollman falls apart as a character in the last chapter. The unit was partly based in the town of Enkhuizen in the Netherlands; although that town had no relevance to the novel, its harbour provided easy access to the Zuider Zee where the unit could shoot sailing sequences all day unhampered by tidal delays. The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 British spy thriller cinema film based upon the novel of the same name written by Erskine Childers.Set in 1901, and starring Michael York, Simon MacCorkindale and Jenny Agutter, it concerns the efforts of two British yachtsmen to avert a plot by the German Empire to launch a military seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom. The next moment he is a defeated man. 1942 and the island of Malta is battling for survival. Things start to get really complicated. Cast (in credits order) verified as complete. [6] It was not released in the US until 1984. The threat of invasion by Axis forces is increasing as air raids wear down its defence. She finds a dark secret. Davies's yacht is a joy to look at from the outside and suitable poky in the interior shots. Additional finance was provided by the National Film Finance Corporation. The film achieves much of what it set out to do, but some extra elements grafted on to the original plot slightly spoil it for me.The plot features Davies, an English amateur yachtsman (brilliantly played by Simon MacCorkindale) who stumbles onto something strange while pottering around the bleak Friesian coast in northern Germany. Action. Produced by the public television and radio station Radio Bremen, and starring Burghart Klaußner as Davies and Peter Sattmann as Carruthers - the novel's two British yachtsmen and amateur spies. Riddle of the Sands suffers to some extent in this way. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. A young journalist sets out to find the true identity of a reclusive recording artist. More information. This the pretext of the "holiday" that he has invited Carruthers upon, given Carruthers' ability to speak German along with his professional contacts within Whitehall, if they should discover something warranting the alarm being raised within the halls of the British Government. Davies' boat, the Dulcibella, was converted from an Isle of Wight lifeboat. In a vein similar to the James Bond movies, British Agent Philip Calvert (Sir Anthony Hopkins) is on a mission to determine the whereabouts of a ship that disappeared near the coast of Scotland. Tweet [3], Tony Maylam and Drummond Challis, son of photographer Christopher Challis, formed a production company to make the film and succeeded in raising the finance from the Rank Organisation, who had recently decided to get back into film production. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. When she finds out that he's also a highly manipulative womanizer, it's too late - she's already too much in love to quit him. One hopes one doesn't have to compromise too much. Mystified, he summons his old friend Carruthers (Michael Yorke) to help uncover the secret.As a detective tale or spy story viewed through the eyes of either Davies or Carruthers, the film works. Simon MacCorkindale Arthur Davies. The Riddle of the Sands. Jenny Agutter , Michael YorkASpect Ratio Of This Copy 1.85x1 Add the first question. Several scenes were also shot in the German village of Greetsiel. In 1901, two British yachtsmen visiting Germany's Frisian Islands accidentally discover a German plot to invade England. View production, box office, & company info. Carruthers and Davies go on, amidst cryptic warnings-off from circling German naval officers, sailing expeditions among the Frisian isles and inlets, and fights, to carry out covert surveillance at the estuary in question, to discover that the German Empire is using a naval base hidden in the islands to carry out rehearsals for a seaborne passage across the North Sea of a German army with the aim of militarily invading Britain, and that Herr "Dollmann" is in fact Lieutenant Thomas, an embittered former Royal Navy officer who is treasonously assisting their preparations with his detailed knowledge of the British coast and key naval defences. how good it was to be out in the wholesome rain again, hurrying to the harbour with my two charges, hurrying them down the greasy ladder to that frail atom of English soil, their first guerdon of home and safety. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Reviews, interviews and features from the international film magazine. Jonathon Dabell . The wartime daily routine on a British bomber base in southeastern England is revealed through the eyes of newly arrived Flying Officer Peter Penrose (Sir John Mills). Melvyn Bragg discusses the prescient thriller ‘The Riddle of the Sands’ and the decline Anglo-German relations before the First World War. In one breath he is a total opportunist who would do anything for his grand plan. Screenwriter: Tony Maylam, John Bailey. The Riddle of the Sands. Michael York Charles Carruthers. A young woman has a perfect love affair with a zealous writer. The train scenes are filmed between Twisk and Medemblik (Bensersiel and Emden in the film respectively) on the track and in the carriages of the Hoorn–Medemblik heritage railway. The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Riddle Of The Sands, by Erskine Childers This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. In March 1914, a mining engineer named Richard Hannay tries to prevent Prussian Agents from executing a political assassination designed to trigger World War I. Nevertheless this is a pretty good attempt at transferring the book to film. The Riddle of the Sands is often hailed as the original spy novel that laid the groundwork for th But for her I should never have got him away. Just nine years before The Riddle of the Sands, William Le Queux published The Great War in England, raising the specter of a French surprise invasion of England, reaching London – with Germany cast as Britain's loyal ally, rushing to hel… Many of the crew lived on board a cruiser during the shoot because it was cheaper than staying in local accommodation, of which there was a shortage. But we feel it is still very much in the Childers style."[3]. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 British spy thriller cinema film based upon the novel of the same name written by Erskine Childers. Anonymous, "Coming events cast their shadows before." Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Now working in London as a waitress, and a single mother to her seven year old daughter, the Mob track Stephanie ... See full summary ». You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. During the Battle of the Bulge, an anachronistic count shelters a ragtag squad of Americans in his remote 10th Century castle hoping a battle there against the advancing Germans will not lead to its destruction and all the heritage within. This FAQ is empty. Set in 1901, and starring Michael York, Simon MacCorkindale and Jenny Agutter, it concerns the efforts of two British yachtsmen to avert a plot by the German Empire to launch a military seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom.[2]. Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale - the best they've ever been - are the yachtsmen discovering a fiendish pre-emptive strike against England by the Germans, way ahead of the First World War. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. I owe a big debt to people like Alan Parker and Ridley Scott, who proved to the film establishment that a young film director can get it all together and deliver. In 1901, two British yachtsmen visiting Germany's Frisian Islands accidentally discover a German plot to invade England. Without bastardising the story, we are making the characters more defined and the ending is now much more believable and exciting.[4]. In 1903 an Englishman called Charles Caruthers went sailing in the North Sea and stumbled upon a German military plot. The film was Tony Maylam's feature film debut. Time Out says. Maylam thought the novel "had a rather more anti-climactic ending, and we felt a more up-beat ending was essential for a feature film. The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 British spy thriller cinema film based upon the novel of the same name written by Erskine Childers.Set in 1901, and starring Michael York, Simon MacCorkindale and Jenny Agutter, it concerns the efforts of two British yachtsmen to avert a plot by the German Empire to launch a military seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom. The Riddle of the Sands (1979) - IMDb Directed by Tony Maylam. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. This ceased to be a problem when the novel passed into the public domain. Riddle Of The Sands Part 1 Starring Michael York Jenny Agutter Simon MacCorkindale. If this is a commercial and artistic success it can only help my generation of filmmakers. Search for "The Riddle of the Sands" on Amazon.com, Title: German television series based on the 1903 novel The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers. Film, Action and adventure. A history of the sudden and terrible invasion of England by the French, in the month of May, 1852, London, T. Bosworth, 1851 According to I.F. Historically, it was France which was the traditional enemy of England and Britain, from the Hundred Years' War until the Napoleonic Wars. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. The sequence of Carruthers and Davies navigating their way between sandbanks in the Frisian Islands was shot on Frensham Ponds in Surrey with the aid of nine large fog machines; this was done because the tidal flows and sands of the Frisian Islands would have made actually filming there very difficult. Where to Watch. In the Autumn of 1901, Carruthers, an aristocratic junior official in the British Foreign Office, is invited on a yachting and duck-shooting holiday by an old University acquaintance called Arthur Davies. On Carruthers' arrival on Germany's northern coast to join the yacht Dulcibella, Davies explains to him that he has a hidden agenda for the trip and the invitation beyond duck-hunting. Sent to destroy a Nazi petrol dump in the North African desert, a British commando team unexpectedly discovers a large Nazi tank unit, and must inform headquarters in time. You may ... and squeezing the results into cast-iron schedules. It was the feature film debut for both Challis and Maylam. The Riddle of the Sands ... Carruthers. The Riddle of the Sands. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? After sabotaging one of the rehearsals, whilst escaping to the Netherlands by sea in two roped yachts with the information about it, along with a badly wounded Dollmann and his family as prisoners, Davies abandons Dollmann with his wife in the Dulcibella to allow him to return to Germany to seek medical attention for his wounds at the insistence of Clara, who agrees to accompany Davies and Carruthers back to Britain in the Medusa with his papers revealing the German plans in detail. Cast and crew Director: Tony Maylam. Carruthers, an official in the British Foreign Office, is invited on a yachting holiday by his old friend Arthur Davies. In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. 16 of 18 people found this review helpful. The Riddle of the Sands. The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 British spy thriller cinema film based upon the novel of the same name written by Erskine Childers. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. A history of the sudden and terrible invasion of England by the French, in the month of May, 1852, London, T. Bosworth, 1851 According to I.F. Many scenes were shot on the Frisian Islands on the North Sea coast of Germany and the Netherlands, the same locale as in the book. Erskine Childers - The Riddle of the Sands BBC Radio 4: Saturday Night Theatre Broadcast: Saturday 8th January 1994 @ 7:50 p.m. Charles Carruthers was finding London, in September 1903, a dull place. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Cast: They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. He said during filming: So much rests on this picture. Oh, the purists will have a go at me, definitely, but in all other respects we have strived to remain faithful to the book. Cast See All. Released from prison after twelve years, a wrongfully convicted British man seeks revenge on the witnesses who lied at his trial. The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 English Film stars Simon MacCorkindale , Tony Maylam , Erskine Childers , Tony Maylam , Drummond Challis , Howard Blake , Christopher Challis , Peter Hollywood , Hazel Peiser , Michael York , Jenny Agutter , Alan Badel , Jürgen Andersen , Michael Sheard , Olga Lowe , Hans Meyer , Wolf Kahler , Ronald Markham , directed by Tony … All these toys are linked by the fact that they involve sand flowing from one place to another. Documentary about the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck 1976. Several producers and directors had tried to make a film based on the novel but the Childers family had not wanted to sell the rights. In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other, or can be made to have seemed to do so. The flat coastal scenery is very atmospherically shot and the costumes are very good.Except for a rather wooden "Kaiser Bill", the acting is excellent, though this is no less than one would expect from such as Alan Badel and Jenny Agutter.This film is very enjoyable, but best watched with one's thinking cap on. All of his friends were out of town shooting in Scotland or on the Riviera and he was at a loose end - a very loose end, indeed. [4], During filming, Michael York took an option for the film rights on a biography on Erskine Childers, The Zeal of the Convert by Burke Wilkinson. "[11], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Riddle_of_the_Sands_(film)&oldid=1003877614, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 January 2021, at 03:36. Neither are my favourite actors but I don't think many others would have portrayed the characters, warts and all, as realistically. Tony Maylam (and Christopher Challis - read his autobiography, "Are they really so awful") went all-out in this film to recreate a feel for Erskine Childers's slightly jingoistic novel, and for the joy of messing about in boats. In the United States, the film was released in April 1984. [7], The critic from the Observer called the film "an affectionate, commendably straight adaptation... the excitement somewhat abates in the perfunctorily handled scenes ashore... the cinematographer Christopher Challis uses the Panavision screen to fine dramatic effect. 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