The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

Submitted by Roger Mellor

The Battle of the River Plate (1956)
"Radio Times" film guide

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Director - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Screenplay - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Producers - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Starring - John Gregson & Anthony Quayle
Running Time - 118 mins
Country of Origin - UK

The Royal Performance film of its year promised much, its story based on one of the most exciting tales of the Second World War, the pursuit of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee by three British cruisers masquerading as a task force. It was directed, written and produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the distinguished team responsible for The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus among others, with photography by Christopher Challis in rich Technicolor. But what emerged was a dull, characterless, documentarist study, marred by appalling Pinewood mock-up and model shots, its cast enlivened only by Peter Finch's swashbuckling German captain, Hans Langsdorff. The directors seem to have little interest in maintaining a lively pace, and the whole remains a fascinating period disappointment.