The Riddle of the Sands (1979): Cast & Plot
The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 action drama directed by Tony Maylam, starring Michael York as Charles Carruthers, Simon MacCorkindale and Jenny Agutter. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Tony Maylam
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Rank Organisation
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Riddle of the Sands About?
The premise of The Riddle of the Sands without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Amid shifting dunes where men vanish without a trace, two British yachtsmen—Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale—discover a German scheme to invade England’s east coast using a fleet of specially built barges. Determined to stop the plan, they must outwit the best of the Imperial Navy and confront Kaiser Wilhelm himself.
The Riddle of the Sands Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- motorboat
- rowboat
- voice over narration
- man wrapped in a towel
- male frontal nudity
- male nudity
- horse and carriage
- bare chested man
- m. york and agutter
- barge
- england
- schooner
+38 more Show fewer
- hiding in a lifeboat
- ship run aground
- marching soldiers
- telegraph
- rowing in fog
- cigar smoking
- guard dog
- german shepherd
- barbed wire fence
- split lip
- black eye
- hit with an oar
- close up of eye
- beached boat
- hand injury
- storm at sea
- broken glasses
- wooden crate
- camera shot of feet
- passenger train
- voice over letter
- spyglass
- yacht
- skinny dipping
- map
- year 1901
- male rear nudity
- baltic sea
- 1900s
- intrigue
- sailing
- sea
- spy
- boat
- military
- world war one
- invasion
- agent
The Riddle of the Sands Cast & Characters
Michael York leads the cast as Charles Carruthers, with Simon MacCorkindale as Arthur Davies and Jenny Agutter as Clara Dollmann. Directed by Tony Maylam; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Tony Maylam
-
Michael York as Charles Carruthers - Simon MacCorkindale as Arthur Davies
-
Jenny Agutter as Clara Dollmann -
Alan Badel as Dollmann
Also Starring in The Riddle of the Sands
· 6 more- Olga Lowe Frau Dollmann
- Wolf Kahler Kaiser Wilhelm II
- Michael Sheard Boehme
- Hans Meyer Grimm
- Ronald Markham Withers
- Jürgen Andersen Von Brüning
The Riddle of the Sands Plot Summary
What happens in The Riddle of the Sands from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the autumn of 1901, Charles Carruthers [Michael York]—a refined junior official in the British Foreign Office—is invited on a yachting and duck-shooting holiday by his old university associate, Arthur Davies [Simon MacCorkindale]. As they sail toward Germany’s northern coast to join the yacht Dulcibella, Davies drops a secret: the trip carries a hidden purpose beyond sport and sea air. On board, Davies reveals that he has already become entangled with the tale of a retired German sailor, Dollmann [Alan Badel], who travels with his wife, Frau Dollmann [Olga Lowe], and their daughter Clara [Jenny Agutter], a girl who has drawn Davies’ protective attention.
Full summary
The whole story of The Riddle of the Sands, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Riddle of the Sands?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- 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
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the British Foreign Office official Charles Carruthers?
The Riddle of the Sands Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Geheimkommando R.O.T.S.” and “Sandbankarnas gåta”.
- Also known as
-
- Geheimkommando R.O.T.S.
- Sandbankarnas gåta
- Bei Nacht und Nebel
- Загадки песков
- A homokpart rejtélye
- Le mystère des sables
- Gådefuld sejlads
Seen The Riddle of the Sands?
Movies Like The Riddle of the Sands
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Twist of Sand, Seas Beneath and When Eight Bells Toll.
The Riddle of the Sands FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Riddle of the Sands, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Riddle of the Sands?
The Riddle of the Sands runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was The Riddle of the Sands released?
The Riddle of the Sands was released on October 2, 1979.
Who directed The Riddle of the Sands?
The Riddle of the Sands was directed by Tony Maylam.
More films by Tony Maylam Who is in the cast of The Riddle of the Sands?
The Riddle of the Sands stars Michael York as Charles Carruthers, Simon MacCorkindale as Arthur Davies and Jenny Agutter as Clara Dollmann, among 10 credited actors.
Does The Riddle of the Sands have a post-credit scene?
No. The Riddle of the Sands has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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