# The Big Blockade > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Big_Blockade > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Big_Blockade.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Blockade > Source revision: 1355446222 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1942 British film by Charles Frend The Big Blockade Theatrical release poster Directed by Charles Frend Written by Charles Frend Angus MacPhail Produced by Michael Balcon Starring Leslie Banks Frank Cellier Will Hay John Mills Robert Morley Michael Redgrave Cinematography Wilkie Cooper Douglas Slocombe Edited by Compton Bennett Charles Crichton Music by Richard Addinsell orchestrated by Roy Douglas Production company Ealing Studios Distributed by United Artists Ltd (UK) Release date 19 January 1942 (1942-01-19) (UK) Running time 73 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English ***The Big Blockade*** is a 1942 British [black-and-white](/source/Black-and-white) dramatised documentary war [propaganda film](/source/Propaganda_film) [directed](/source/Film_director) by [Charles Frend](/source/Charles_Frend) and starring [Will Hay](/source/Will_Hay), [Leslie Banks](/source/Leslie_Banks), [Michael Redgrave](/source/Michael_Redgrave) and [John Mills](/source/John_Mills).[1] It was written by Frend and [Angus MacPhail](/source/Angus_MacPhail), and was [produced](/source/Film_producer) by [Michael Balcon](/source/Michael_Balcon) for [Ealing Studios](/source/Ealing_Studios), in collaboration with the [Ministry of Economic Warfare](/source/Ministry_of_Economic_Warfare).[2][3][4] ## Synopsis The film illustrates thr [British strategy of the economic blockade](/source/Blockade_of_Germany_(1939%E2%80%931945)) of [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany) through a series of scenes and sketches, combined with documentary footage. ## Cast - [Frank Owen](/source/Frank_Owen_(politician)) as narrator - [Leslie Banks](/source/Leslie_Banks) as Taylor, Civil Service - [Michael Redgrave](/source/Michael_Redgrave) as a Russian on the train - [Will Hay](/source/Will_Hay) as Skipper, Merchant Navy - [Bernard Miles](/source/Bernard_Miles) as Mate, Royal Navy - [Michael Rennie](/source/Michael_Rennie) as George, Royal Air Force - [John Mills](/source/John_Mills) as Tom, Royal Air Force - [Frank Cellier](/source/Frank_Cellier_(actor)) as Schneider - [Robert Morley](/source/Robert_Morley) as the senior Nazi Official, von Geiselbrecht - [Alfred Drayton](/source/Alfred_Drayton) as Direktor - [Marius Goring](/source/Marius_Goring) as German propaganda officer - [Austin Trevor](/source/Austin_Trevor) as U-boat Captain - [Morland Graham](/source/Morland_Graham) as civil servant - [Albert Lieven](/source/Albert_Lieven) as Gunter - [John Stuart](/source/John_Stuart_(actor)) as naval officer - [Joss Ambler](/source/Joss_Ambler) as Stoltenhoff - [Michael Wilding](/source/Michael_Wilding) as Captain - [George Woodbridge](/source/George_Woodbridge_(actor)) as Quisling - [Quentin Reynolds](/source/Quentin_Reynolds) as American journalist - [Elliott Mason](/source/Elliott_Mason) as German stationmistress - [Peter De Greef](/source/Peter_De_Greef) as RAF airman ## Release The film premiered at the [London Pavilion](/source/London_Pavilion) on 19 January 1942, and the premiere was attended by a group of [members of Parliament](/source/List_of_MPs_elected_in_the_1935_United_Kingdom_general_election) interested in economic warfare.[5] ## Reception *[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin)* wrote: "A sincere and well-constructed propaganda film in dramatic form. The direction and production are effective and the acting in most instances most admirable, especially that of Frank Cellier as Herr Schneider and Will Hay and Bernard Miles as the mate and skipper explaining navicerts. Frank Owen is a masterly commentator who obviously believes whole-heartedly in his subject."[6] *[Kine Weekly](/source/Kine_Weekly)* wrote: "Showmanlike documentary describing in prodigious and spectacular detail the vast, intricate and hazardous workings of the British blockade. The slow but sure stranglehold on Germany is depicted with authenticity. There are a number of impressive guest artistes ... There is no story in the real sense, but rather a straightforward, illuminating and spectacular statement of exciting facts."[7] *[The Daily Film Renter](/source/The_Daily_Film_Renter)* wrote: "Britain's blockade of Germany told in striking documentary, commentary and acted scenes. Strong patriotic and propagandist note enhanced by introduction of names-in-the-news personalities. Neat interludes of forthright humour leavening thrills and impact of sea and air warfare. Big scale canvas results in occasional obscurity of theme and repetition of argument. Lively acting. Imaginative direction. Powerful semi-documentary, with obvious additional asset of important star names, which should make widespread appeal to popular audiences."[8] *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))* wrote: "There is an absorbingly interesting plot, based on the almost forgotten fact by the man in the street that Britain applied blockade methods some time before she was at war with Germany by putting into operation the system of [navicerts](/source/Navicert) whereby she restricted the importation of all sorts of essentials to the Nazi war preparations, interfering with contraband, etc. Story starts with the observation that the British navy could not, at that time, destroy what Germany already possessed in supplies, but had in operation a navy at work preventing further imports. ... Inclusion of comedy, not to mention intensive drama, also enhances the film's potenticlities."[9] *[The Times](/source/The_Times)* wrote: "this particular hotch-potch is, as propaganda, woefully unconvincing. It is splendid to give audiences a glimpse of the devoted work done by the Services […] but actors got up as comic Nazi business men distort the lessons the more serious parts of the film are trying to drive home"[10] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BFIsearch_1-0)** ["The Big Blockade"](https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150123018). *British Film Institute Collections Search*. Retrieved 21 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["News From The Talkie Studios"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92372391). *[The Chronicle](/source/The_Chronicle_(South_Australia))*. Vol. LXXXIV, no. 4, 804. South Australia. 15 January 1942. p. 33. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Britain's New War Film"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247497050). *[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph_(Sydney))*. Vol. II, no. 42. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1941. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["San Demetrio LONDON"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133936469). *[The World's News](/source/The_World's_News)*. No. 2214. New South Wales, Australia. 13 May 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia. It intersperses actual film footage with sections of acting. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *The Times*, 20 January 1942, page 2: *News in Brief* - found in The Times Digital Archive on 26 February 2014 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "The Big Blockade". *[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin)*. **9** (97): 13. 1 January 1942. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1305818934](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305818934). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "The Big Blockade". *[Kine Weekly](/source/Kine_Weekly)*. **299** (1813): 18. 15 January 1942. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [3127094481](https://www.proquest.com/docview/3127094481). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "The Big Blockade". *[The Daily Film Renter](/source/The_Daily_Film_Renter)* (4224): 15. 14 January 1942. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2594636948](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2594636948). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "The Big Blockade". *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. **145** (11): 8. 18 February 1942. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1285805551](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1285805551). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** *The Times*, 14 January 1942, page 6: *"The Big Blockade" - Fact and Fiction* - found in The Times Digital Archive on 26 February 2014 ## External links - [*The Big Blockade*](https://web.archive.org/web/20160310004445/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f4b2339/) at the [British Film Institute](/source/British_Film_Institute) - [*The Big Blockade*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034512/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) v t e Films directed by Charles Frend The Big Blockade (1942) The Foreman Went to France (1942) San Demetrio London (1943) The Return of the Vikings (1944) Johnny Frenchman (1945) The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947) Scott of the Antarctic (1948) A Run for Your Money (1949) The Magnet (1950) The Cruel Sea (1953) Lease of Life (1954) The Long Arm (1956) Barnacle Bill (1957) Cone of Silence (1960) Girl on Approval (1961) Torpedo Bay (1963) The Sky Bike (1967) v t e Films produced by Michael Balcon The Rat (1925) The Sea Urchin (1926) The Triumph of the Rat (1926) The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1926) The Mountain Eagle (1926) Blighty (1927) Downhill (1927) The Rolling Road (1927) Easy Virtue (1927) One of the Best (1927) The Vortex (1927) A South Sea Bubble (1928) A Light Woman (1928) The First Born (1928) The Wrecker (1929) The Return of the Rat (1929) City of Play (1929) Taxi for Two (1929) Woman to Woman (1929) Jack's the Boy (1932) I Was a Spy (1933) It's a Boy (1933) Friday the Thirteenth (1933) Princess Charming (1934) Evergreen (1934) Red Ensign (1934) Along Came Sally (1934) The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Car of Dreams (1935) First a Girl (1935) Me and Marlborough (1935) The 39 Steps (1935) Stormy Weather (1935) Things Are Looking Up (1935) The First Offence (1936) Tudor Rose (1936) The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936) Secret Agent (1936) Where There's a Will (1936) Windbag the Sailor (1936) Doctor Syn (1937) A Yank at Oxford (1938) The Gaunt Stranger (1938) The Four Just Men (1939) Cheer Boys Cheer (1939) Let George Do It! (1940) The Proud Valley (1940) The Ghost of St. Michael's (1941) Ships with Wings (1941) Turned Out Nice Again (1941) The Big Blockade (1942) Went the Day Well? (1942) The Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942) My Learned Friend (1943) The Foreman Went to France (1942) Undercover (1943) The Bells Go Down (1943) San Demetrio London (1943) Nine Men (1943) For Those in Peril (1944) Champagne Charlie (1944) The Halfway House (1944) Fiddlers Three (1944) Dead of Night (1945) Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945) They Came to a City (1945) Johnny Frenchman (1945) The Captive Heart (1946) The Overlanders (1946) Hue and Cry (1947) It Always Rains on Sunday (1947) The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947) The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947) Frieda (1947) Against the Wind (1948) Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) Another Shore (1948) Scott of the Antarctic (1948) Train of Events (1949) Passport to Pimlico (1949) Whisky Galore! (1949) A Run for Your Money (1949) Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Cage of Gold (1950) The Blue Lamp (1950) The Magnet (1950) The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) Pool of London (1951) The Man in the White Suit (1951) Mandy (1952) The Cruel Sea (1953) The Maggie (1954) The Night My Number Came Up (1955) Touch and Go (1955) The Ladykillers (1955) The Long Arm (1956) Barnacle Bill (1957) The Man in the Sky (1957) The Shiralee (1957) Dunkirk (1958) The Siege of Pinchgut (1959) The Scapegoat (1959) The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Big Blockade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Blockade) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Blockade?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.