A German spy is passing on information about the location of Allied ships in the neutral harbor of Goa, India, with catastrophic results. Unable to undertake a full military operation in the Portuguese stronghold, English intelligence brings out of retirement a crew of geriatric ex-soldiers, veterans from World War I, using their age as cover. These old soldiers are asked to take to the seas and pull off an unlikely undercover mission.
Acting
Three screen legends clearly having the time of their lives.
Production
Shot on location in Goa with actual period ships.
Director
Andrew V. McLaglen
Gregory Peck
Col. Lewis Pugh
Roger Moore
Capt. Gavin Stewart
David Niven
Col. W.H. Grice
Trevor Howard
Jack Cartwright
Barbara Kellerman
Mrs. Cromwell
Patrick Macnee
Major 'Yogi' Crossley
Kenneth Griffith
Charlie Wilton
Patrick Allen
Colin Mackenzie
Wolf Kahler
Trompeta
Robert Hoffmann
U-Boat Captain
Dan van Husen
U-Boat First Officer
Bernard Archard
Underhill
Martin Benson
Mr. Montero
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Calcutta Light Horse was a real regiment of British expatriate businessmen, and their 1943 raid on the German ship Ehrenfels actually happened—though considerably less cinematically.
David Niven was genuinely ill during filming and died just two years later, making his twinkling final scenes unexpectedly poignant.
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