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An antiquated, formerly mothballed destroyer flying under the Union Jack as part of the US wartime lend-lease agreement with Britain is the star of this well-paced WW II drama. Hugh Fraser (Trevor Howard), the by-the-book captain of The Gift Horse, court-martialed eight years earlier and trying to salvage his career, is vilified by his crew but eventually earns their respect in battle. The old warship and its crew (including Richard Attenborough and Sonny Tufts) also prove their mettle during an assault on the German docks and submarine pens at St. Nazaire, during which they are captured, but not before spearheading the successful mission. Liberties are taken with the facts of the actual spectacular navy commando operation.