The Sea Wolves is a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, and David Niven. It is based on the 1978 book Boarding Party by James Leasor, which tells the true story of Operation Creek, a covert mission carried out by the Calcutta Light Horse, part of the Cavalry Reserve in the British Indian Army, during World War II.
In March 1943, a group of retired British soldiers were called back into service to sink a German merchant ship in the neutral port of Mormugão Harbour in Goa, India. The ship, the S.S. Goa, was suspected of carrying a secret radio transmitter that was being used to transmit information about Allied shipping to U-boats operating in the Indian Ocean.
The operation was a daring one, as it required the team to operate in secret in a neutral country. However, it was successful, and the S.S. Goa was sunk on 9 March 1943. The team of British soldiers then had to make their escape from Goa before they were captured by the Portuguese authorities.
The Sea Wolves is a well-made and exciting film that tells the story of a daring wartime operation. It is also a moving tribute to the men who risked their lives to protect their country. The film explores themes of patriotism, duty, and sacrifice, and it is a reminder of the high cost of war.
In addition to the historical aspects of the film, The Sea Wolves also explores the personal stories of the men involved in the operation. The film shows how the war affected their lives and how they coped with the challenges they faced. The film also explores the relationships between the men and the bonds that they formed during the operation.
Cast
- Gregory Peck as Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Henry Owain Pugh, Royal Artillery (who later rose to the rank of major-general)
- Roger Moore as Captain Gavin Stewart (the real Gavin Stewart was a colonel)
- David Niven as Colonel W.H. Grice
- Trevor Howard as Jack Cartwright
- Barbara Kellerman as Mrs. Agnes Cromwell.
- Patrick Macnee as Major 'Yogi' Crossley
- Kenneth Griffith as Wilton
- Patrick Allen as Colin Mackenzie
- Wolf Kahler as Trompeta
- Robert Hoffmann as U-boat Kapitän
- Dan van Husen as U-boat First Officer
- George Mikell as Kapitän of Ehrenfels
- Jürgen Andersen as First Officer of Ehrenfels
- Bernard Archard as Underhill
- Martin Benson as Mr. Montero
- Faith Brook as Mrs. Doris Grice
- Allan Cuthbertson as Dickie Melborne
- Edward Dentith as Lumsdaine
- Clifford Earl as Sloane
- Vice Admiral RKS Ghandhi as the Governor
- Percy Herbert as Dennison
- Patrick Holt as Barker
- Donald Houston as Hilliard
- Glyn Houston as Peters
- Victor Langley as Williamson
- Terence Longdon as Malverne
- Michael Medwin as Radcliffe
- W. Morgan Sheppard as 'Patch' Lovecroft
- John Standing as Finley
- Graham Stark as Don Manners
- Keith Stevenson as Manuel
- Jack Watson as Maclean
- Moray Watson as Breene
- Brook Williams as Butterworth
- Marc Zuber as Ram Das Gupta
- Mohan Agashe as the Brothel Keeper
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Writers: Reginald Rose
Box Office Gross: $220,181
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: June 5, 1981