The Sea Shall Not Have Them

It is the autumn of 1944. Allied armies are sweeping through France towards Germany. A British Lockheed Hudson has been damaged in aerial combat with a German Messerschmitt, with both aircraft ditching in the North Sea, twenty miles off the Dutch coast. The four crew from the British aircraft are unable to send a complete mayday alert, although a signal fragment reaches England. Among them is Air Commodore Waltby who has a briefcase containing secret German plans for the successor to the V1 and V2. Flight Sergeant Mackay assumes a leading role in the rescue dinghy, tying everyone together to prevent anyone falling overboard, and sharing his boots with the pilot despite the cold. As the weather closes in and a freezing cold night descends, aircraft suspend their search, leaving the now waterlogged dinghy to face the sea alone. Waltby orders the others that if he dies, they must get the briefcase to London or throw it overboard should they face capture.

An RAF Air Sea Rescue sea launch joins the search. Commanded by Flying Officer Treherne, Launch 2561, or "Sixty One" in radio signals, struggles against the bad weather, mechanical problems and a fire in the galley. Second in command, Flight Sergeant Singsby dominates the crew, playing a benevolent but demanding hand with the questionable seamanship of the junior ranks. On the second day, updated intelligence about the dinghy's likely location is received from the downed German Messerschmitt pilot, whom the RAF has rescued. RAF Air Sea Rescue is now aware the dinghy has drifted inshore, far from its ditching point. As the weather clears, "Sixty One" sights the dinghy and approaches it under fire from enemy shore batteries and through a mine field. Launch 2561 safely returns to England where the briefcase with secret documents is delivered. An injured Flying Officer Treherne and Flight Sergeant Mackay are applauded by senior officers.

The film was based on a 1953 book by Max Hennessy, which became a best seller.^[5][6]

In August 1953, it was announced that both Rank and ABPC were competing for the film rights, which were expected to go for $20,000.^[7]

Producer Dan Angel arranged one of the strongest male casts of the era.^[8] It was one of a number of sea-related themes made in Britain following the success of The Cruel Sea.^[9] It was one of a number of war movies Anthony Steel made in which he supported an older British star.^[10]

There were six weeks filming on location in Felixstowe, followed by studio work at Riverside.^[11]

Referring to the film's title, Noël Coward said of the film's two male stars, "I don't see why not. Everyone else has." Redgrave was reportedly bisexual, while Bogarde was homosexual.^[12]

The film was shot at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith and Felixstowe in Suffolk. Filming had finished by June 1954.^[13]