Quote:
Originally Posted by topol
Unless I've missed it, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "San Demetrio London", one of the most moving films from WW2, which my Dad took me to see during the war.
It's about the oil tanker San Demetrio when hit by enemy fire, the crew abandon ship. But after several days adrift in a lifeboat, some of the crew find the ship miraculously still afloat. With courage and determination they steer the tanker home.
Couple of links here for anyone interested.
http://ww2today.com/6th-november-194...ard-their-ship
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/457226/
But then, perhaps you're all too young..........................  |
I have the DVD of this, and a VHS copied from the telly, and a VHS original. I also read the story about San Demetrio in an annual of boy's stories received as a Christmas present, and the book by Calum MacNeil. A bit of an obsession you might say, but then my Dad had served in the Eagle Oil, and was 3rd Mate on the San Cipriano when she was used in the film to represent San Demetrio. The sound of the telegraphs ringing was recorded on Saturday afternoon when she was still berthed in Newcastle after a refit. Dad and his mates had planned to watch a football match but were coerced into helping the film crew by the agent. Dad told me he rang the telegraphs more vigorously than would have been normal because, a) he was p***d off at missing Newcastle United, and b) the film crew wanted a lot of noise. He also told me that they made the actor portraying the Master of San Demetrio run along the catwalk several times because he hadn't "done it properly."
Dad had seen the San Demetrio when she arrived on the Clyde when he was still an apprentice in Shell.
Roy.