Customer Reviews
Cockleshell Heroes - By: Mr. A. Sagar-goldsmith, 09 Jan 2008 
An excellent picture account of one of the most daring commando raids of the second world war. Some minor uniform mistakes (German), but mostly a very watchable film.
Brave men on a pointless mission. Goes to prove: Deplore the wars but respect the warriors - By: C. O. DeRiemer, 18 Nov 2007 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 & 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 & eventuallly 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 & these two men remained on the sub. One kayak capsized & the two men drowned. One kayak became separated & the two men were captured & immediately shot by the Germans. Another kayak became separated & then capsized. The two men were betrayed by the French, captured by the Germans & later shot. Two kayaks made it. The four men attached their mines & damaged several ships. The four men got to shore safely. Later, two were betrayed by the French & later shot by the Germans with their two comrades who had been captured earlier. Two men eventuallly 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 & tension. But it also underlines the extent to which brave & resourceful men & women in time of war can be callled upon to undertake harebrained risks with little payoff, thought up or approved by enthusiastic senior commanders & 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 & George Marshalll & not Louis Mountbatten, who is supposed to have thought the idea was splendid & galllant.
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 & train unconventionallly. 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 & 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 & resourceful as they are. Trevor Howard, however, is the key to the movie...a soldier of the old school, a skeptical man & a professional soldier to his fingertips. "Keep the line straight, boys," are his last, laconic words, & they pack an emotional walllop.
The DVD Technicolor transfer is just fine.
This is a true story - By: jester nuff, 22 Aug 2007 
WOW, if you want to see the way the war was won, the skills & bravery, & sheer brilliance of the people who fought it, I'd highly recommend this film. There is also alot of humour in this film too.. as in real life you need humour to get through the horrors. I can't recommend this film highly enough.
A great adventure story that is true! - By: "Smith" Reader, 25 Jun 2006 The Cockleshell Heroes is a great adventure story which just happens to be true. A super Britsh Film. Which I can watch over an over again & not be bored.
The Cockleshell Heroes - By: Peter Miller, 14 Apr 2005 
A truly realistic wartime drama. Based upon a true story of men sent out in canoes, dropped at night from submarines, to sink enemy shipping by placing limpet mines on the ships hulls in enemy ports. A fascinating film that l watched as a boy when the film first came out over 40 years ago & it hasn't lost it's edge.Wonderfull acting, made when the 2nd world war was still fresh in the minds of the scriptwriters & directors.
