IN WHICH WE SERVE

David Lean and Noel Coward co-directed "In Which We Serve" which, we are told, is 'the story of a ship' and which begins in fine documentary fashion before getting down to the serious business of jingoism and what Coward could do to help the war effort, (remember this was only 1942 and the War was still at its height). It is, of course, incredibly British, ('cocoa, sir), and with nary a quiver of its stiff upper lip but it's also deeply moving and beautifully made, a classic in fact, with some splendidly realistic action sequences, (Ronald Neame's superb cinematography must take a lot of the credit).

Coward produced the picture, wrote it, composed the score as well as co-directing and taking the lead and the Academy thought enough of him to give him an honory Oscar. As an actor he was very much of the old school, but you can't fault him for sincerity and his 'big' moments are genuinely touching while Celia Johnson, John Mills, Bernard Miles, Richard Attenborough, Joyce Carey, Kay Walsh and Kathleen Harrison are all outstanding. At a time when American entries to the war effort were largely ham-fisted affairs, ("Mrs Miniver, anyone), this is refreshingly forthright, honest and intelligent.