The Cockleshell Heroes

Plot:

Jose Ferrer was both star and director of the British WW2 drama Cockleshell Heroes. Ferrer is cast as Major Stringer, the officer in charge of a delicate naval operation. Stringer and seven volunteers are expected to paddle four canoes into Nazi-held waters, plant limpet mines on enemy boats, and return safely to their own lines. Of the eight courageous saboteurs, only two survive. The story is abundant with suspense, humor and irony, buoyed by a top-rank supporting cast, including Trevor Howard, Victor Maddern and Anthony Newley (Christopher Lee shows up briefly as a German sub commander). Howard delivers the best performance as a subtly resentful officer who was passed up for promotion in order to work with Major Stringer. Cockleshell Heroes was released in the US by Columbia Pictures.

Cast:

José Ferrer as Major Stringer (as Jose Ferrer)
Trevor Howard as Captain Thompson
Dora Bryan as Myrtie
Victor Maddern as Sgt. Craig
Anthony Newley as Marine Clarke
David Lodge as Marine Ruddock
Peter Arne as Marine Stevens
Percy Herbert as Marine Lomas
Graham Stewart as Marine Booth
John Fabian as Marine Cooney
John Van Eyssen as Marine Bradley
Robert Desmond as Marine Todd
Walter Fitzgerald as Gestapo Comdt.
Karel Stepanek as Assistant Gestapo Officer
Beatrice Campbell as Mrs. Ruddock
Sydney Tafler as Policeman
Gladys Henson as Barmaid
Jacques B. Brunius as French Fisherman (as Jacques Brunius)
Andreas Malandrinos as French Fisherman (as Andrea Malendrinos)
Judith Furse as W.V.S. Woman Motorist
Christopher Lee as Submarine Commander Grieves
Patric Doonan as Marine Claridge rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Blythe as Maurice - Mrs. Ruddock's Lodger (uncredited)
Jess Conrad as Extra (uncredited)
Sam Kydd as Uncredited (uncredited)
Pat McGrath as Marine (uncredited)
Yana as Wren Singer in Pub (uncredited)