In Which We Serve (1942)

Set during WWII, the surviving crew of the destroyer HMS Torrin desperately cling to life after being attacked by German bombers during the battle of Crete. As the men await their rescue, they reflect on their lives prior to the attack. Written, produced and co-directed (with David Lean, who directed the actions scenes while Coward focused on the actors) by Noel Coward, who also plays the film's lead and composed the film's score. WWII propaganda films were prolific during the war years (1941-1945). I can understand the necessity of such movies during the trying time of a world conflict, hoping to keep the morale up while so many lives were being destroyed. But posterity has not been kind to most of them because, well ..... they weren't very good. Most of the Hollywood product were jingoistic but some of the films showed the hardships and bravery of the men in battle and of the homefront where (especially in England with the blitz) civilians were touched by the war. In that respect, IN WHICH WE SERVE holds very well in spite of the distance of 80 plus years. With Celia Johnson, John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Kay Walsh, Bernard Miles, Michael Wilding, Joyce Carey, James Donald, Daniel Massey and Juliet Mills.