Vashirdfel
Simply A Masterpiece
Monkeywess
This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind
Madilyn
Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Leofwine_draca
UNDER TEN FLAGS is a deeply interesting Italian WW2 picture exploring naval combat in and around the Indian Ocean. It's notable insofar as not all of the Germans are presented as Nazis rabid for death and destruction, although they certainly are present in the cast. Instead, Van Heflin is cast well against type as the German captain of a warship who displays sympathy and courage in his dealings with the enemy; the one 'good German', perhaps.Films which present characters in shades of grey such as this rather than stark black and white always work better on a realistic level, and UNDER TEN FLAGS is well worth a look as a result. This is less an action picture than one exploring the morals of the situation and the effects of war on each of the opposing sides. There are some fine moments of dilemma and peril, and good twists to boot.For an Italian production, it has a remarkably international cast, with Charles Laughton fitting naturally into the part of the British admiral absolutely determined to bring down the German destroyer. Cecil Parker also gets his teeth into one of those meaty little roles that he always excelled as. UNDER TEN FLAGS is well worth a look for those who think they've seen all the WW2 movies under the Sun.
triumph-tsx
Rarely seen like it's subject matter, a film whose story is well told and a world away from the child-like American war epics released later in that decade. The surface raider Atlantis was perhaps the most successful of it's type preying upon merchant shipping destined for Great Britain and her allies. The performances top-to-bottom are splendid although the silent scenes at the German Atlantic Naval Headquarters in Paris ratchet up the tension like little else on celluloid-more so because of it's being based on truth. Superior to naval films both those that came before and after it because it's story is so compelling, true and hardly known. There are no sides to be taken and yet one wishes both sides well in this game of naval chess. Indeed, the captain of the merchant ship Abdullah who -in war circumstances would be considered a hero- comes out as the only villain of the piece. That the Germans mostly all speak with American accents is forgotten easily in the action and minor characters are well-sketched by their players. There is none of the John Wayne -machismo and black and white simplicity that makes most war films loud but laughable but rather admiring the quiet professionalism of sailors at war- highly recommended, indeed !
carolted
It has been many years since I saw this film but I remember it to be interesting with a differant view of the war through the eyes of the captain of the german raider, Atlantis. He is shown to be compassionate in saving as many lives as he can from the ships that he sinks and is not at all in agreement with Hitler's policies but his country is as war and so he obeys his orders. It is a shame that this film is not available on tape or otherwise as it depicts the other side of German officers not in "lock step" with Hitler.
bikerbob75
Under Ten Flags..Is in my opinion one of the best acted and directed movies dealing with world war II. It depicts a man's duty to country.. his personal honor to himself in up-holding honest and humanitarian beliefs even when required to do his duty and kill the enemy. The lead is by veteran actor Van Heflin.,who plays the captain of the German Raider "Atlantis".,this is based on a true story and facts of the german surface raider "Pacas" during world war two. This type of war movie needs to be returned to the screen to show our younger generation that although war is brutal and even unavoidable man can still win or lose with dignity and honour. I would like to see this movie made available on Video and returned to TV.
