Britannic (film)
Encyclopedia
Britannic is a romantic drama film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith
. It stars Edward Atterton
and Amanda Ryan
as star-crossed lovers on the forgotten sister ship of the , the HMHS Britannic
. The film's co-stars include Jacqueline Bisset
, Ben Daniels
, John Rhys-Davies
and Bruce Payne
.
in 1916, where the Britannic (sister ship of Titanic) has been refitted as a hospital ship for wounded soldiers fighting on the Western Front
and elsewhere. Among the nurses who are to serve aboard her is Lady Lewis (Jacqueline Bisset
), who is being delivered to Greece
via Naples
, where her husband has become Ambassador
for Great Britain. Traveling with her is Vera Campbell (Amanda Ryan
), an operative of British Intelligence posing as Lady Lewis' governesss. Campbell is constantly unnerved by the voyage, having survived the sinking of the four years previously.
Meanwhile, a German spy has boarded the Britannic posing as the ship's chaplain, Chaplain Reynolds (Edward Atterton
), and soon discovers that the Britannic is indeed carrying small arms as was believed - although he is unaware that Captain Bartlett (John Rhys-Davies
) has placed the small arms aboard as a means of protection against mutiny
. Under the articles of war, Reynolds considers his actions against the Britannic to be legal (any attack on a hospital ship in wartime is considered to be a war crime) and sets about initiating a series of sabotage attempts to try and either take over the Britannic or otherwise sink her, including allying himself with the Irish stokers, all members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
, to mutiny and take over the ship.
Over the course of the film, each sabotage attempt is foiled by Vera Campbell - with the eventual co-operation of the ship's crew. Unaware that Campbell is responsible, Reynolds finds himself growing attracted to Campbell whilst the voyage continues. As the two of them spend time together, they fall in love and Campbell finally has sex with Reynolds. However, Campbell soon discovers Reynolds' true identity, that he's a German spy, not a chaplain. Reynolds blows a hole in the port side bow of the ship which blasts a gaping hole in its hull. The Britannic, mortally wounded, tries to sail for Kea Island 7 miles away, but the beaching operation causes the hospital ship to sink faster. Campbell soon discovers one of Lady Lewis's children has disappeared and she goes and gets him. Reynolds helps her and they manage to get the boy to the lifeboat before it is lowered. An explosion causes Reynolds to be trapped in a flooding room under debris and he can't get out. Campbell helps Reynolds out and the two of them fight their way throughout the ship, swimming through flooded rooms, vents, grates, and corridors. Finally they make it outside and watch a lifeboat filled with evacuees get cut to pieces by the still spinning propellers. Reynolds ties Campbell to a line that was thrown from Lady Lewis's lifeboat. Despite her protests, Reynolds throws her into the sea after kissing her one last time. Reynolds floats in the boat and is chewed up by the propellers. Then a warship rescues the survivors.
Brian Trenchard-Smith
Brian Trenchard-Smith is an English film and television director, producer, writer, consultant and actor who is notable for his contributions to the horror and action genre during the 1970s and 1980s in Australia. Most of his work has been in television, and the majority of his films have been...
. It stars Edward Atterton
Edward Atterton
Edward Atterton is an English actor.Atterton's first television role was in an episode of ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot in 1993. The same year, he was cast in the recurring role of Dr. Alex Taylor in the ITV drama series Medics...
and Amanda Ryan
Amanda Ryan
Amanda Ryan is a British actress who trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She is best known for her role on TV series Shameless as Sgt...
as star-crossed lovers on the forgotten sister ship of the , the HMHS Britannic
HMHS Britannic
HMHS Britannic was the third and largest of the White Star Line. She was the sister ship of and , and was intended to enter service as a transatlantic passenger liner. She was launched just before the start of the First World War and was laid up at her builders in Belfast for many months before...
. The film's co-stars include Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
, Ben Daniels
Ben Daniels
Ben Daniels is an English actor. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art , he has taken on roles in numerous productions...
, John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
and Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
.
Plot
The film opens in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1916, where the Britannic (sister ship of Titanic) has been refitted as a hospital ship for wounded soldiers fighting on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
and elsewhere. Among the nurses who are to serve aboard her is Lady Lewis (Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
), who is being delivered to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
via Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, where her husband has become Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
for Great Britain. Traveling with her is Vera Campbell (Amanda Ryan
Amanda Ryan
Amanda Ryan is a British actress who trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She is best known for her role on TV series Shameless as Sgt...
), an operative of British Intelligence posing as Lady Lewis' governesss. Campbell is constantly unnerved by the voyage, having survived the sinking of the four years previously.
Meanwhile, a German spy has boarded the Britannic posing as the ship's chaplain, Chaplain Reynolds (Edward Atterton
Edward Atterton
Edward Atterton is an English actor.Atterton's first television role was in an episode of ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot in 1993. The same year, he was cast in the recurring role of Dr. Alex Taylor in the ITV drama series Medics...
), and soon discovers that the Britannic is indeed carrying small arms as was believed - although he is unaware that Captain Bartlett (John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
) has placed the small arms aboard as a means of protection against mutiny
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
. Under the articles of war, Reynolds considers his actions against the Britannic to be legal (any attack on a hospital ship in wartime is considered to be a war crime) and sets about initiating a series of sabotage attempts to try and either take over the Britannic or otherwise sink her, including allying himself with the Irish stokers, all members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
, to mutiny and take over the ship.
Over the course of the film, each sabotage attempt is foiled by Vera Campbell - with the eventual co-operation of the ship's crew. Unaware that Campbell is responsible, Reynolds finds himself growing attracted to Campbell whilst the voyage continues. As the two of them spend time together, they fall in love and Campbell finally has sex with Reynolds. However, Campbell soon discovers Reynolds' true identity, that he's a German spy, not a chaplain. Reynolds blows a hole in the port side bow of the ship which blasts a gaping hole in its hull. The Britannic, mortally wounded, tries to sail for Kea Island 7 miles away, but the beaching operation causes the hospital ship to sink faster. Campbell soon discovers one of Lady Lewis's children has disappeared and she goes and gets him. Reynolds helps her and they manage to get the boy to the lifeboat before it is lowered. An explosion causes Reynolds to be trapped in a flooding room under debris and he can't get out. Campbell helps Reynolds out and the two of them fight their way throughout the ship, swimming through flooded rooms, vents, grates, and corridors. Finally they make it outside and watch a lifeboat filled with evacuees get cut to pieces by the still spinning propellers. Reynolds ties Campbell to a line that was thrown from Lady Lewis's lifeboat. Despite her protests, Reynolds throws her into the sea after kissing her one last time. Reynolds floats in the boat and is chewed up by the propellers. Then a warship rescues the survivors.
External links
- http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800416667/infoBritannic at Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
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