Gift Horse
Synopsis
Compton Bennett's war drama The Gift Horse follows the fortunes of ageing destroyer The Ballantrae and her crew from the time they come together in 1940 until the climactic raid on occupied St Nazaire in 1942. Trevor Howard plays Lt Cmdr Hugh Alginon Fraser, the newly appointed captain, back in service after having left the navy following a court martial.
Main Cast
Richard Attenborough
Dripper Daniels
James Donald
Lt. Richard Jennings, No. 1
Sonny Tufts
Yank Flanagan
Trevor Howard
Lt. Cmdr Hugh Alginon Fraser
Bernard Lee
A.S. 'Stripey' Wood
Dora Bryan
Glad Flanagan
Hugh Williams
Captain David G. Wilson
Robin Bailey
Lt. Michael Grant, Pilot
Meredith Edwards
Jones
John Forrest
Appleby the Captain's Steward
Trailer
User Reviews
CinemaSerf
Trevor Howard makes for an eminently plausible "Lt. Cdr. Fraser" in command of a dilapidated ex-USN destroyer - renamed HMS Ballantrae - whose stiff upper lip, by the book, approach to his men causes considerable resentment. Gradually, though - and not before the ship has a few mishaps - he begins to turn them around before their ultimate mission to attack a Nazi-occupied French dry dock. A good ensemble cast including James Donald, Bernard Lee and Richard Attenborough help keep the pace quick and interesting. The latter part of the film is based on a real-life raid on St. Nazaire and is quite an exciting ride. I enjoyed this.
