The Battle of the River Plate (1956): Cast & Plot
The Battle of the River Plate is a 1956 war drama directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, starring Roger Delgado as Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy, Chris Adcock and Peter Finch. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 59m (119 min)
- Directors
- Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Archers
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Battle of the River Plate About?
The premise of The Battle of the River Plate without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film follows the Royal Navy’s desperate effort early in World War II to safeguard Atlantic convoy routes essential to the British Isles. It dramatizes the hunt for Germany’s commerce‑raiding pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, which prowls the seas targeting merchant vessels, culminating in the historic Battle of the River Plate.
The Battle of the River Plate Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- chase
- sinking ship
- montevideo uruguay
- naval warfare
- german abroad
- ship's crew
- british military
- war at sea
- battleship
- navy
- royal navy
- naval
+38 more Show fewer
- atlantic ocean
- naval uniform
- british seaman
- kriegsmarine
- battle of the river plate
- year 1939
- pursuit
- uruguay
- soldier
- world war two soldier
- german soldier
- ship
- explosion
- british actor playing foreigner
- metal
- foreigner playing german character
- december
- south america
- december 13th
- 1930s
- warship
- british navy
- nazi uniform
- naval battle
- naval combat
- nazi soldier
- british soldier
- port
- neutrality
- nazi officer
- admiral
- world war two
- sea battle
- scuttled ship
- sea
- based on true story
- military
- montevideo
The Battle of the River Plate Cast & Characters
Roger Delgado leads the cast as Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy, with Chris Adcock as British Seaman (Prisoner on Graf Spee) (uncredited) and Peter Finch as Captain Langsdorff, "Admiral Graf Spee". Directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell; 39 actors are credited in all.
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Co-director Emeric Pressburger - Co-director Michael Powell
- Roger Delgado as Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy
- Chris Adcock as British Seaman (Prisoner on Graf Spee) (uncredited)
-
Peter Finch as Captain Langsdorff, "Admiral Graf Spee" -
Anthony Newley as Radio Operator, Tairoa, Prisoner on Admiral Graf Spee
Also Starring in The Battle of the River Plate
· 35 more- John Schlesinger Lieutenant, Graf Spee (uncredited)
- Nigel Stock Chief Officer, Tairoa, Prisoner on Admiral Graf Spee
- Brian Worth Radio Operator, Doric Star, Prisoner on Graf Spee
- Barry Foster Bill Roper - Capt. Bell's Messenger, HMS Exeter
- John Le Mesurier Reverend George Groves - Padre, HMS Exeter
- Howard Lang Guns - HMS Exeter (uncredited)
- John Gregson Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter
- Patrick Jordan Signalman, Aft-Conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
- John Forbes-Robertson Lt. McBarnett, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
- Ambrosine Phillpotts Mrs. Millington-Drake, Montevideo
- Douglas Wilmer M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Montevideo
- Anthony Bushell Sir Millington Drake, British Minister, Montevideo
- Peter Illing Dr. Guani, Foreign Minister, Uruguay
- John Chandos Dr. Langmann, German Minister, Montevideo
- Christopher Lee Manolo
- Bernard Lee Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
Show all 39 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Anthony Quayle Commodore Harwood - H.M.S. Ajax
- Donald Moffat Swanston - Lookout, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
- David Farrar Narrator
- Tony Wager Lookout, HMS Ajax
- Ian Hunter Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax
- Patrick Macnee Lieutenant Commander Medley, R.N.
- Michael Collins Chief Yeoman, HMS Ajax (uncredited)
- Michael Goodliffe Captain McCall, R.N., British Naval Attache, Buenos Aires
- Jeremy Kemp Gunner, HMS Achilles (uncredited)
- Lionel Murton Mike Fowler
- George Murcell Chief Officer, Newton Beach
- Patrick Westwood Archer, HMS Ajax
- Cyril Luckham Lieutenant Jasper Abbot, H.M.S. Achilles
- Jack Gwillim Captain Parry - H.M.N. Z. S. Achilles
- William Squire Ray Martin
- Andrew Cruickshank Captain Stubbs, 'Doric Star'
- Richard Beale Capt. Pottinger (uncredited)
- April Olrich Dolores
- Edward Atienza Pop
The Battle of the River Plate Plot Summary
What happens in The Battle of the River Plate from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the early months of the Second World War, the Kriegsmarine wields its new strategy of using fast, armed raiders to disrupt Allied supply routes. The Royal Navy responds with dedicated hunter groups whose mission is to hunt down these dangerous ships and prevent them from crippling Britain’s war effort. It is within this tense backdrop that a German battleship, the Admiral Graf Spee, is located in the vast Atlantic, not far off the coast of South America, by a trio of British cruisers. With its formidable speed and devastating gun power, the Graf Spee appears as a striking menace, capable of striking hard and far.
Full summary
The whole story of The Battle of the River Plate, scene by scene
The Battle of the River Plate Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Battle of the River Plate.
How Well Do You Know The Battle of the River Plate?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which German battleship is central to the film’s plot?
Cars in The Battle of the River Plate
11 cars on screen, including the 1935 Dodge Sedan and the 1935 Dodge Sedan.
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1935 Dodge Sedan Minor role -
1935 Dodge Sedan Minor role -
1936 Dodge Touring Sedan Minor role -
1951 Chevrolet Advance-Design Background role
The Battle of the River Plate Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Pursuit of the Graf Spee” and “Graf Spee”.
- Also known as
-
- Pursuit of the Graf Spee
- Graf Spee
- La Batalla del Río de la Plata
- La battaglia di Rio della Plata
- La Bataille du Rio de la Plata
- Panzerschiff Graf Spee
- A River Plate-i csata
- Havets tiger
- 血拼大西洋
- הקרב על נהר פלייט
- Jagad över haven
- Bitwa o ujście rzeki
+8 more Show fewer
- Битва у Ла-Платы
- A Batalha do Rio da Prata
- Bitva u La Plata
- Φον Σπεε, το καταδρομικό φάντασμα
- 라플라타 강의 전투
- Bitka na rijeci Plate
- La batalla del riu de la Plata
- Taistelulaiva Graf Spee
Seen The Battle of the River Plate?
Movies Like The Battle of the River Plate
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sink the Bismarck!, Action in the North Atlantic and We Dive at Dawn.
The Battle of the River Plate FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Battle of the River Plate, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).
When was The Battle of the River Plate released?
The Battle of the River Plate was released on October 30, 1956.
Who directed The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate was directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell.
More films by Emeric Pressburger Who is in the cast of The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate stars Roger Delgado as Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy, Chris Adcock as British Seaman (Prisoner on Graf Spee) (uncredited) and Peter Finch as Captain Langsdorff, "Admiral Graf Spee", among 39 credited actors.
Does The Battle of the River Plate have a post-credit scene?
No. The Battle of the River Plate has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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