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The Big Blockade

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The Big Blockade
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCharles Frend
Written byCharles Frend
Angus MacPhail
Produced byMichael Balcon
StarringLeslie Banks
Frank Cellier
Will Hay
John Mills
Robert Morley
Michael Redgrave
CinematographyWilkie Cooper
Douglas Slocombe
Edited byCompton Bennett
Charles Crichton
Music byRichard Addinsell
orchestrated by Roy Douglas
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists Ltd (UK)
Release date
  • 19 January 1942 (1942-01-19) (UK)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Big Blockade is a 1942 British black-and-white dramatised documentary war propaganda film directed by Charles Frend and starring Will Hay, Leslie Banks, Michael Redgrave and John Mills.[1] It was written by Frend and Angus MacPhail, and was produced by Michael Balcon for Ealing Studios, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Warfare.[2][3][4]

Synopsis

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The film illustrates thr British strategy of the economic blockade of Nazi Germany through a series of scenes and sketches, combined with documentary footage.

Cast

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Release

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The film premiered at the London Pavilion on 19 January 1942, and the premiere was attended by a group of members of Parliament interested in economic warfare.[5]

Reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A sincere and well-constructed propaganda film in dramatic form. The direction and production are effective and the acting in most instances most admirable, especially that of Frank Cellier as Herr Schneider and Will Hay and Bernard Miles as the mate and skipper explaining navicerts. Frank Owen is a masterly commentator who obviously believes whole-heartedly in his subject."[6]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Showmanlike documentary describing in prodigious and spectacular detail the vast, intricate and hazardous workings of the British blockade. The slow but sure stranglehold on Germany is depicted with authenticity. There are a number of impressive guest artistes ... There is no story in the real sense, but rather a straightforward, illuminating and spectacular statement of exciting facts."[7]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Britain's blockade of Germany told in striking documentary, commentary and acted scenes. Strong patriotic and propagandist note enhanced by introduction of names-in-the-news personalities. Neat interludes of forthright humour leavening thrills and impact of sea and air warfare. Big scale canvas results in occasional obscurity of theme and repetition of argument. Lively acting. Imaginative direction. Powerful semi-documentary, with obvious additional asset of important star names, which should make widespread appeal to popular audiences."[8]

Variety wrote: "There is an absorbingly interesting plot, based on the almost forgotten fact by the man in the street that Britain applied blockade methods some time before she was at war with Germany by putting into operation the system of navicerts whereby she restricted the importation of all sorts of essentials to the Nazi war preparations, interfering with contraband, etc. Story starts with the observation that the British navy could not, at that time, destroy what Germany already possessed in supplies, but had in operation a navy at work preventing further imports. ... Inclusion of comedy, not to mention intensive drama, also enhances the film's potenticlities."[9]

The Times wrote: "this particular hotch-potch is, as propaganda, woefully unconvincing. It is splendid to give audiences a glimpse of the devoted work done by the Services […] but actors got up as comic Nazi business men distort the lessons the more serious parts of the film are trying to drive home"[10]

References

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  1. ^ "The Big Blockade". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. ^ "News From The Talkie Studios". The Chronicle. Vol. LXXXIV, no. 4, 804. South Australia. 15 January 1942. p. 33. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Britain's New War Film". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. II, no. 42. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1941. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "San Demetrio LONDON". The World's News. No. 2214. New South Wales, Australia. 13 May 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia. It intersperses actual film footage with sections of acting.
  5. ^ The Times, 20 January 1942, page 2: News in Brief - found in The Times Digital Archive on 26 February 2014
  6. ^ "The Big Blockade". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 9 (97): 13. 1 January 1942. ProQuest 1305818934.
  7. ^ "The Big Blockade". Kine Weekly. 299 (1813): 18. 15 January 1942. ProQuest 3127094481.
  8. ^ "The Big Blockade". The Daily Film Renter (4224): 15. 14 January 1942. ProQuest 2594636948.
  9. ^ "The Big Blockade". Variety. 145 (11): 8. 18 February 1942. ProQuest 1285805551.
  10. ^ The Times, 14 January 1942, page 6: "The Big Blockade" - Fact and Fiction - found in The Times Digital Archive on 26 February 2014
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