{"id":45933,"date":"2019-11-24T21:38:58","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T04:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45933"},"modified":"2020-12-31T20:32:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T03:32:48","slug":"in-which-we-serve-1942","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45933","title":{"rendered":"In Which We Serve (1942)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;A ship can&#8217;t be happy unless she&#8217;s efficient, and she certainly won&#8217;t be efficient unless she&#8217;s happy.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Poster-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-45936\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Poster-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Poster-95x128.jpg 95w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Poster.jpg 742w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring World War II, a captain (Noel Coward) boosts the morale of his men &#8212; including Seaman &#8220;Shorty&#8221; (John Mills) and CPO Hardy (Bernard Miles) &#8212; as they survive the sinking of their ship and reflect back on their loved ones at home. Meanwhile, Coward&#8217;s wife (Celia Johnson) cares for their two children, Mills&#8217; wife (Kay Walsh) prepares to have a baby, and Miles&#8217; wife (Joyce Carey) stoically holds things together as their village suffers from German blitzes.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>At Sea<\/li>\n<li>Celia Johnson Films<\/li>\n<li>David Lean Films<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>John Mills Films<\/li>\n<li>Noel Coward Films<\/li>\n<li>Richard Attenborough Films<\/li>\n<li>Sailors<\/li>\n<li>Survival<\/li>\n<li>World War II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis wartime propaganda film was made with the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/In_Which_We_Serve\">direct assistance of Britain&#8217;s Ministry of Information<\/a> and co-directed by David Lean, but otherwise creatively helmed by Noel Coward &#8212; who produced, co-directed, co-starred, wrote the screenplay (based on the exploits of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Louis_Mountbatten%2C_1st_Earl_Mountbatten_of_Burma\">Lord Mountbatten<\/a> in the Royal Navy), and crafted the score. It remains a surprisingly potent and satisfying movie, with tensions kept high both during the initial battle sequence aboard the &#8220;H.M.S. Torrin&#8221; (we see it being built as the film opens):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-1024x777.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Building2.png 1379w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and then as we&#8217;re gradually given numerous watery flashbacks into the memories of the men holding on for their lives as their ship sinks. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-1024x762.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-1024x762.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Watery.png 1383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While centered on the birth, life, and death of the Torrin, this is really an ensemble tale of <em>all<\/em> the men and women who worked together during World War II to fight and maintain their British way of life. They&#8217;re shown celebrating small moments of joy (a hilltop picnic, a brief honeymoon):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-1024x749.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-1024x749.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Honeymoon.png 1385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and giving support to one another through thick and thin; surprisingly (and happily), none of it comes across as sappy, and it&#8217;s appropriately balanced with somber reality: a sailor (Richard Attenborough) is chastised for his cowardice:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-1024x764.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Attenborough.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; men lose limbs; and numerous characters die. My favorite scenes include Mills feeding and providing drink to Dunkirk survivors; Mills learning both joyous and deeply distressing news in one letter; and Coward &#8212; in a wonderfully and respectfully extended sequence &#8212; providing a handshake to each individual man he&#8217;s served with.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-768x577.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Handshake.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Many touching moments<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-1024x753.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-1024x753.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Still-1.png 1393w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Closing.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ronald Neame&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60818\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography-1.png 1395w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-1024x779.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"487\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-1024x779.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-768x584.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3-355x270.png 355w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/In-Which-We-Serve-Cinematography3.png 1361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its historical value as a highly effective propaganda film, and for Coward&#8217;s prodigious efforts. Listed as a film with Historical Importance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0034891\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/79162\/in-which-we-serve#articles-reviews?articleId=115746\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1942\/12\/24\/archives\/in-which-we-serve-depicting-cruel-realities-of-this-war-is.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3845lean.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/review\/2748\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;A ship can&#8217;t be happy unless she&#8217;s efficient, and she certainly won&#8217;t be efficient unless she&#8217;s happy.&#8221; Synopsis: During World War II, a captain (Noel Coward) boosts the morale of his men &#8212; including Seaman &#8220;Shorty&#8221; (John Mills) and CPO Hardy (Bernard Miles) &#8212; as they survive the sinking of their ship and reflect back on their loved ones at home. Meanwhile, Coward&#8217;s wife (Celia Johnson) cares for their two children, Mills&#8217; wife (Kay Walsh) prepares to have a baby,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45933\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45933"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60826,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45933\/revisions\/60826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}