The Silver Fleet

The Silver Fleet
Esmond Knight in a scene from the film
Directed by	Vernon Sewell Gordon Wellesley
Written by	Vernon Sewell Gordon Wellesley
Produced by	Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger
Starring	Ralph Richardson Googie Withers Esmond Knight
Cinematography	Erwin Hillier
Edited by	Michael C. Chorlton
Music by	Allan Gray
Distributed by	General Film Distributors
Release date	15 March 1943 (1943-03-15)
Running time	88 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Silver Fleet is a 1943 British war film written and directed by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley and produced by Powell and Pressburger under the banner of "The Archers".

Plot[]

In the early years of the Second World War, the Nazis overrun the Netherlands and take over the shipyard where Jaap van Leyden is the chief engineer. The yard was building two submarines for the Royal Dutch Navy. The German Gestapo "Protector" Von Schiffer wants van Leyden to "cooperate" with the new regime and resume construction, but for the Germans. While pondering his decision, van Leyden overhears a teacher telling her pupils about Piet Hein, a long-ago Dutch hero who captured the Spanish silver fleet and inspired his compatriots into continuing to fight for their freedom. Van Leyden decides to take charge of the shipyard.

This leads to many problems for van Leyden and his wife when everyone sees them as collaborators. Van Leyden undertakes a covert campaign of sabotage, leaving notes and graffiti signed under his nom de guerre, Piet Hein.

When one submarine is ready for its first sea trial, some of the Dutch workers learn of it and decide to hijack it. Grocer Cornelius Smit is to smuggle their pistols aboard in the food. However, Smit's nephew Johann is a traitor. He goes to warn van Leyden. Van Leyden manages to write the letter "Q" on the back of his coat in chalk and sends him back to the shop, where the plotters have gathered, telling Johann that they must avoid suspicion until the men can be caught in the act. When the conspirators notice the mark, Johann makes a break for it. In the ensuing night chase, he is shot by a German sentry. The Dutch take over the submarine and sail to England.

Van Leyden then conceals an explosive aboard the second submarine. During a dinner party, he persuades various Nazis to come along on its maiden sea trial, including the most important government administrator in Holland. Meanwhile, the Germans search for Dutch resistance fighter Bastiaan Peters, tracking him to van Leyden's place. Peters, seeing there is no escape, plans to shoot van Leyden, but van Leyden convinces him he is Piet Hein. When soldiers enter to search the house, Peters does his best to divert any suspicion from van Leyden by shooting himself. Van Leyden claims he shot the fugitive, causing a rupture with his wife. She refuses to let him talk to her in private.

Later, the second submarine sinks during its sea trial, dooming van Leyden and the many Nazi officials on board.

Cast[]

In order of appearance, as per ending credits

Production[]

Some scenes were filmed in the town of King's Lynn.

External links[]

• The Silver Fleet at IMDb
• The Silver Fleet at the BFI's Screenonline Full synopsis and film stills (and clips viewable from UK libraries).
• Reviews and articles at the Powell & Pressburger Pages