Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Am I Missing Something?

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The Cockleshell Heroes is a wartime story that is primarily true, but it carries some story embellishments that might be viewed as baggage or entertainment. Like The Dirty Dozen, a ragtag group of "volunteers" is assembled to attempt a daring, death-be-damned mission. The lead up to the mission is filled with some conventions of the genre: an untested younger officer who is put in command of a seasoned officer of lesser rank; He uses unconventional methods; obedience is a problem; the odds against success are nearly impossible.The actual mission is rather linear. As the group encounters German forces along the way, their ranks are reduced until only one pair completes the mission without capture.The value of the mission is not clearly established. The viewer is left to assume that blowing up boats must be important. But if the mission's objective had been better explained as integral to larger military objectives, the viewer might buy into the drama with more emotion. An alternative would have been to give the enemy a face, perhaps by creating a German officer given the task of protecting the vital German ships. (See The Bridge on the River Kwai for an example of this approach).A young Anthony Newley is the surprise of this film. Who knew his talents would later be shown to be so multifaceted?This movie is a rather uncomplicated story that entertains, but is not inspiring. Competent but not a tour de force.

World War II and German battleships are safely docked upriver in Bordeaux, Royal Marine Major Stringer and Captain Thompson select volunteers for a highly secretive mission. The mission is to canoe thru enemy waters and blow up the battleships, will they achieve their goal?, will any of them survive?, these are the questions asked about the men who became known as The Cockleshell Heroes.Directed and starring José Ferrer {Stringer}, The Cockleshell Heroes is an above average war picture telling a gutsy tale that almost beggars belief. The volunteers plucked for this mission come from a rag-tag band of men, it's almost like the Dirty 10 {as opposed to the Dozen}, but under intense training and controlled discipline courtesy of Trevor Howard's Captain Thompson, these men shape up just fine, and we believe that this mission, as hazardous as it is, may just succeed. The first half of the picture {during the training and selection process} is guilty of being a tad over jovial, but it doesn't harm the film per se, in fact it kind of lulls you into a false sense of expectation for the mission. The mission itself is capably handled and Ferrer manages to ring out the tension to close the film out successfully, perhaps a war film to not linger long in the memory, but none the less an entertaining piece about actual events. 6/10

Twelve Royal Marines in December, 1942, were deposited by sub with their six kayaks at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. Their mission was to paddle in the middle of winter for three days, upriver at night and laying low during the day, until they reached the docks of Bordeaux. There, they would attach limpet mines to German shipping, blow up or damage as many ships as possible, then escape overland and eventually return to Britain. Any volunteers? (And read no further if you don't like conclusions.) Of the six two-man teams, only two Marines made it back. One kayak was damaged getting it in the water and these two men remained on the sub. One kayak capsized and the two men drowned. One kayak became separated and the two men were captured and immediately shot by the Germans. Another kayak became separated and then capsized. The two men were betrayed by the French, captured by the Germans and later shot. Two kayaks made it. The four men attached their mines and damaged several ships. The four men got to shore safely. Later, two were betrayed by the French and later shot by the Germans with their two comrades who had been captured earlier. Two men eventually made it back home. Did their raid make any difference to WWII? None whatsoever. Cockleshell Heroes is based on this real story. It has its flaws, but, once we get to the ten men leaving the sub it builds excitement and tension. But it also underlines the extent to which brave and resourceful men and women in time of war can be called upon to undertake harebrained risks with little payoff, thought up or approved by enthusiastic senior commanders and their civilian bosses. In this case, we can thank our stars that the military direction of WWII was in the hands of men like Alan Brooke and George Marshall and not Louis Mountbatten, who is supposed to have thought the idea was splendid and gallant. Jose Ferrer, who also directed, stars as Major Stringer. The raid is his idea. He wants to build his two-man teams from men he can motivate and train unconventionally. He is a believer in trust. His second in command, Captain Thompson, played by Trevor Howard, is old-school. He's just as sure that discipline and pride must come first. Guess who's right. The movie's great flaw is the standard portrayal of the men as tough but rambunctious lower-class lads who need the firm but understanding leadership of their upper-class officers. Ferrer does a fine job as the smart, dedicated officer who gets off on the wrong foot with the men, but who proves himself just as brave and resourceful as they are. Trevor Howard, however, is the key to the movie...a soldier of the old school, a skeptical man and a professional soldier to his fingertips. "Keep the line straight, boys," are his last, laconic words, and they pack an emotional wallop.

The movie was based on a real mission, called Operation Frankton. It was a successful Commando raid, despite the loss of life. The number of casualties in the film is accurate to those in real life. The training regime is somewhat questionable, and some elements would of only been added to make the movie more fun. However, a lot of training has been cut from the movie, as it simply would not be enjoyable to watch at all. All in all the film is fun to watch, you'll learn something about WW2 and although no film cannot capture just exactly what those men went through, it's a brilliant tribute to those who did not make it back.