They Who Dare ** (1954, Dirk Bogarde, Denholm Elliott, Akim Tamiroff, Gérard Oury, Eric Pohlmann, David Peel) – Classic Movie Review 11,494

Director Lewis Milestone’s 1954 British war film They Who Dare tells a mildly stirring World War Two story about British lads going on a commando raid on German-occupied Rhodes, Greece. They Who Dare offers lots of bangs, flashes and bombs but little substance or real tension.

The stouthearted performances by a strong cast give it a needed lift and the American Lewis (All Quiet on the Western Front) Milestone directs efficiently in picturesque Technicolor.

Dirk Bogarde is first rate as Lieutenant Graham, who is sent on a mission to destroy two German airfields on Rhodes possibly threatening Egypt, while Denholm Elliott and David Peel are sturdy in star support as Sergeants Corcorran and Evans.

William Russell (later to be Sir Lancelot du Lac on 50s TV in The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, 1956-1957) was billed as Russell Enoch, and plays Lieut. Poole. William Russell was born William Russell Enoch on 19 November 1924.

It also stars Akim Tamiroff as Captain George One, Gérard Oury as Captain George Two, Eric Pohlmann as Captain Papadapoulos and Alec Mango as Patroklis.

Also in the cast are Sam Kydd as Marine Boyd, Kay Callard, Harold Siddons as Lieut. Stevens R.N, Lisa Gastoni, Michael Mellinger as Toplis, Peter Burton as Marine Barrett, Anthea Leigh and Eileen Way.

It runs 107 minutes.

The screenplay by Robert Westerby is based on Operation Anglo in World War Two in the Dodecanese islands where Britain’s Special Boat Service tried to disrupt the Luftwaffe from threatening Allied forces in Egypt.

The title accesses the Special Air Service motto Who Dares Wins.

It is partly shot on location in Cyprus and Malta.

Westerby’s screenplay was re-written by Milestone and producer Maxwell Setton re-edited the finished film. Bogarde recalled ‘the film was improvised as they went along’ and Milestone insisting the cast wear 90 pound backpacks, and finally that one film reviewer referred to it as How Dare They.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,494

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/