In Which We Serve (1942)

The grim subject of a destroyer's history had a positive effect on Coward, leading to a film with excitement and consistently good acting. Minor issues are offset by strong performances, including Bernard Miles as a chief petty officer.

The film depicts the cruel realities of war through the story of a British destroyer and its crew. It highlights the experiences of the men and their families amid the conflict.

No less than half a dozen credits for this film go to Noel Coward, and they are well earned. It is a grim tale sincerely picturized and splendidly acted throughout, with stark realism as the keynote.

The critic credits David Lean's co-direction with making this stiff-lipped flagwaver durable despite Coward's inexperience, and praises the credible classless patriotism from the ensemble cast including John Mills and Celia Johnson. The flashback scenes are noted as dated but valuable for documenting a vanished way of life.

The film follows a destroyer crew's flashbacks after their ship is sunk in the Battle of Crete. It now appears patronising in its depiction of class snobbery and stiff-upper-lip attitudes, interesting mainly as a historical reminder of social structures that influenced postwar politics.

The critic finds the film dated but effective at capturing Britain's 1942 mood through its focus on the crew and their families. Praise goes to the stiff-upper-lip stoicism and domestic scenes that convey the Blitz's dangers and community spirit.

The critic is lukewarm on the film, viewing it as a solid but period-specific propaganda piece with strong characterization that does not always flatter its subjects. They single out the deep character work brought by Noël Coward for praise amid the wartime context.