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In Which We Serve Overview:

In Which We Serve (1942) was a Drama - War Film directed by Noel Coward and David Lean and produced by Noel Coward, Herbert Smith and Anthony Havelock-Allan.

Academy Awards 1943 --- Ceremony Number 16 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Special AwardTo Noel Coward for his outstanding production achievement in In Which We Serve.Won
Best PictureTwo CitiesNominated
Best WritingNoel CowardNominated
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In Which We Serve BlogHub Articles:

In Which We Serve (1942)

By Beatrice on Aug 29, 2014 From Flickers in Time

In Which We Serve Directed by Noel Coward and David Lean Written by Noel Coward 1942/UK Two Cities Films First viewing/Netflix rental This has been the best yet in my mini-festival of 1942 British films made to prepare the populace for hard times to come. In Which We Serve is a tribute to a ship,... Read full article

In Which We Serve

By Alyson on Apr 12, 2010 From The Best Picture Project

“This is the story of a ship.”  It’s also about the men who served her and their wives who know they come second to her.  Real life survivor of the H.M.S Torrin, Noel Coward directs with David Lean in Lean’s first and Coward’s only film. After the H.M.S Torrin, a British destroyer, is su... Read full article

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In Which We Serve Quotes:

[first lines]
Voice: [voiceover] This is the story of a ship...
[long sequence of ship-building and launch]
[last lines]
Voice: [voiceover] Here ends the story of a ship, but there will always be other ships; we are an island race, through all our centuries the sea has ruled our destiny. There will always be other ships and men to sail in them. It is these men, in peace or war, to whom we owe so much. Above all victories, beyond all loss, in spite of changing values and a changing world they give to us, their countrymen, eternal and indominitable pride.
[sequence of ships launching and at sea]
Capt. Edward V. Kinross: Open fire!
Voice: God bless our ships... and all who sail in them.
[close-up of the Royal Navy ensign]
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In Which We Serve Facts
After about three weeks of shooting, Coward realized that (a) Lean knew a lot more about the film-making process than he did and (b) he didn't care much for the long hours. So Coward effectively handed the entire directorial reins over to his partner at that point.
Noel Coward vetoed the casting of James Mason in a key role because of his stance on the war.
The film utilized actual real war combat footage.
Michael Anderson, who plays Albert Fosdike (billed as "Mickey Anderson"), was the First Assistant Director, but "won" the part when the original actor, William Hartnell, turned up late for his first day of shooting. Noel Coward berated Hartnell in front of cast and crew for his unprofessionalism and then fired him. Anderson, who'd filled in for Hartnell while they'd rehearsed, got his moment of glory (once a false moustache had been found).
The film was shown to all new Royal Navy recruits after it was released to give them an idea and an impression of what life in the Navy was like.
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