The Battle of the River Plate
“Pursuit of the Graf Spee”
Synopsis
In the early years of the World War II, the Royal Navy is fighting a desperate battle to keep the Atlantic convoy routes open to supply the British Isles, facing the great danger posed by the many German warships, such as the Admiral Graf Spee, which are scouring the ocean for cargo ships to sink.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Battle of the River Plate (1956) - Sending ships to the bottom
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-07-15
Top Cast
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John Gregson
Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter
Anthony Quayle
Commodore Harwood - H.M.S. Ajax
Ian Hunter
Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax
Jack Gwillim
Captain Parry - H.M.N. Z. S. Achilles
Bernard Lee
Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
Lionel Murton
Mike Fowler
Anthony Bushell
Sir Millington Drake, British Minister, Montevideo
Peter Illing
Dr. Guani, Foreign Minister, Uruguay
Michael Goodliffe
Captain McCall, R.N., British Naval Attache, Buenos Aires
Patrick Macnee
Lieutenant Commander Medley, R.N.
John Chandos
Dr. Langmann, German Minister, Montevideo
Douglas Wilmer
M. Desmoulins, French Minister, Montevideo
William Squire
Ray Martin
Roger Delgado
Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy
Andrew Cruickshank
Captain Stubbs, 'Doric Star'
Christopher Lee
Manolo
Edward Atienza
Pop
April Olrich
Dolores
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 1, 1957
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$280K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$750K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.68x
+$470K net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
- Screenplay & Story
- Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
- Original Score
- Brian Easdale
- Original Title
- The Battle of the River Plate
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- German, English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Production Budget
- $280K
- Worldwide Gross
- $750K
- Production Studios
- The Archers
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Brian Easdale
Christopher Challis
Reginald Mills
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Earl St. John
Department Leadership Roster
Michael Powell
Director
Emeric Pressburger
Director
Emeric Pressburger
Writer
Michael Powell
Writer
Brian Easdale
Original Music Composer
Reginald Mills
Editor
Christopher Challis
Director of Photography
Arthur Lawson
Production Design
Michael Powell
Producer
Emeric Pressburger
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Battle of the River Plate.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Battle of the River Plate.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Battle of the River Plate
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Battle of the River Plate about?
In the early years of the World War II, the Royal Navy is fighting a desperate battle to keep the Atlantic convoy routes open to supply the British Isles, facing the great danger posed by the many German warships, such as the Admiral Graf Spee, which are scouring the ocean for cargo ships to sink.
Who directed The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate was directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger.
Who stars in The Battle of the River Plate?
The principal cast of The Battle of the River Plate includes John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Ian Hunter, Jack Gwillim, Bernard Lee.
When was The Battle of the River Plate released and how long is it?
The Battle of the River Plate was released in 1956 with a total runtime of 1h 59m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate had a reported production budget of $280K and grossed $750K at the worldwide box office (2.68 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Battle of the River Plate?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Battle of the River Plate was composed by Brian Easdale.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Battle of the River Plate?
The Battle of the River Plate holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).