Geoffrey Haskins
I saw this film when it first came out just after the war started and enjoyed it for what it was - a schoolboy adventure story (I was then thirteen). I next found it in Singapore showing at the Cathey cinema in 1945; it was reputed to have been found on the premises after the Japanese surrendered, having survived the occupation in the manager's custody.Since I sensibly recorded it one afternoon I have found it a "once a year" nostalgic one-off. The scenes of the RNC Dartmouth are absolutely genuine and the local settings a good historical record. The Dartmouth Railway station is still there today: it never had a railway line, passengers had to cross to Kingswear on the ferry to catch a train. Finally - the police sergeant's role was played by my actor uncle, but IMDb was no record!
Chris Gaskin
Sons of the Sea was screened recently on BBC2 and I was pleased I taped it. This is a rare early British colour movie from 1939.The Captain of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth is murdered and and his replacement fears he was the intended target. With the help of his son who is at the college, he tries to find out what exactly happened. Also, there is an agent from the Secret Service staying at the college and the professor at the local observatory isn't acting normal either. Strange goings on...This movie was filmed on location at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and as a regular holidaymaker in this area at Paignton, I have visited several of the locations filmed in this, including Dartmouth and Kingswear. The railway scenes were shot on what is now the preserved Paignton and Dartmouth Railway. Not a lot has changed since 1939.The cast includes Leslie Banks, Kay Walsh, Cecil Parker and Nigel Stock. Good parts from all.Sons of the Sea is worth a look at if you get the chance. Very enjoyable.Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
Marlburian
I'm writing this (my first contribution to IMDb) after as long weekend in the locale where the film was shot. Can't say that I recognised Plymouth in the film, nor Brixham (as one or two others claim to have done)but several other settings were familiar, not least the little tower (now sadly dilapidated) where the commander embarks in the boat. The modern telephone directory lists two "Tradesmen's Arms" pubs locally (an inn of than name featured as a backdrop) but I didn't have a chance to check these out.I thought the plot creaked terribly and some of the acting was poor. It wasn't too clear whether the film was set in the war or in peacetime, but I've found out that production was announced in July 1939, with the premiere held the following March, so I guess that the plot was tweaked a bit as production continued, with the patriotic closing shots contributing to some flag-waving. When the enemy spy is finally unveiled he seemed very cheerful considering he would be facing the death penalty
ekgee
I first saw "Sons Of The Sea" during the war (circa "40/41) in Victoria and was struck by the vibrant color of the film. The story line was not memorable and I completely forgot what the story was about. The only actor who's name I remember was Leslie Banks. (That may have been partly because I associated him with the FIRST color film made in the UK, "Wings Of The Morning". (I was about 15 at the time.) In later years, as I became more involved in film (working in television and later in the National Film Board of Canada, in distribution), I kept looking for some mention of this title, but to no avail. I happened to mention to my son, just the other day, about this title, since we had been discussing "Wings..", its' color and its' female lead, Annabella. Today, he called me in to my computer, where he had located IMDb on the Internet, and there was my long lost film! I'm so happy to have found it again and learn more about ITS' history, from then to now. Has a DVD been released of this film? ..or a VHS tape (NTSC!) I'll be back to check soon. Thanks again for finding me!