Sound recording: Philip Dorte, T.S. Lyndon-Haynes. British Acoustic Film Sound System. Producer: Michael Balcon. Made on location and at Gaumont-British Studios, Shepherd's Bush. A Gaumont-British Picture, presented by the Rank Organisation and released in the U.K. by International Film Renters.Copyright 15 May 1935 by Gaumont British Picture Corp. of America. New York opening at the Globe: 20 October 1935. U.K. release: 11 November 1935. London opening at the New Gallery: 12 May 1935. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: December 1935. 80 minutes. (The USA version only is available only on a middling quality Carlton VHS). U.S. release title (in a 70-minute version): BORN FOR GLORY. Shooting and pre-release title: BROWN ON RESOLUTION. U.S.A. alternative title: TORPEDO RAIDER.SYNOPSIS: Lone British sailor corners German battleship.NOTES: First non-documentary to be made with the full co-operation of the British Admiralty, who lent four warships plus 270 naval personnel to Gaumont-British.Re-made in 1953 as Sailor of the King.COMMENT: Although Forde didn't like John Mills in the lead part, I thought he was very effective, his diminutive stature further reinforcing the tension and irony of the central situation. I thought him far superior in every respect, including acting, credibility and charisma to the remake's Jeffrey Hunter. In fact, the whole film is more entertaining and suspenseful. True, the only version currently available is the American, which was cut by some ten or eleven minutes. Lord knows what's missing — perhaps some training sequences or on-shore high-jinks — as there are no gaps in the story-line which moves admirably fast and manages to introduce more conflict in its 70 minutes than "Sailor of the King" in 84. It was a stroke of genius to introduce an early mate-ship between Brown and a German sailor (remarkably well played by Howard Marion Crawford, looking amazingly youthful and fit, and effecting a most convincing German accent as well), and why this suspenseful device was not retained for the re-make is a mystery. Not only is the pace faster, the story more engrossing, the characters more sympathetic, but the staging is superior too. The action spots are most excitingly contrived. This version has a freshness and vitality in its acting and direction that makes the newer film look dated and old-hat. (It was a big mistake for "Sailor of the King" to update the plot to WW2. A story that is believable in 1914 can sound incredible in a setting 30 years later).Production values are excellent too, with real warships and crowded studio sets.Admittedly, Betty Balfour is a shade old-fashioned but her role (at least in this 70 minute version) is much smaller than her top billing would imply. Barry Mackay carries himself with quiet authority, whilst Percy Walsh is realistic as the German captain. Photography (not seen at its best in this somewhat dupey print) and other credits are first-rate.

A truly splendid idea: make a film about World War I, in the film-lookouts that were fashionable one hundred years ago. In this respect 'Forever England' is marvelous.But unfortunately this film's plot provides us with the usual cheap stuff about the English, coming out superior against a bunch of slightly retarded Germans. This below-level picture is aggravated by the extensive use of boy scout-morals, insulting your common sense.The reality from World War I was far different: a grim & merciless struggle. In the end Germany was defeated because its opponents England and France were greatly supported by the USA. Before this American intervention, England's superior navy deadlocked Germany's superior army.

This is a great film version of CS Forrestor's book of the same title.I love the book and I love the movie.Great story of determination in the face of long odds.Brown one of two able seaman to survive a cruiser sinking after an engagement with a German cruiser is picked up by the damaged German cruiser.The German cruiser needs repairs and chooses a bay on a rocky inhospitable island.While the ship is immobile Borown steals a rifle and escapes ashore - he manages to snipe at the Germans repairing the ship for long enough for the rest of the British squadron to find and engage the German cruiser.

Brown on Resolution is an interesting film as one of the actors, an Irishman Henry Hugh Gordon Stoker was in World War I the Captain of an Australian Submarine "AE2". In 1915 this submarine was the first to penetrate the mined narrows of the Dardanelles, to enter the Sea of Marmara and after a series of naval engagements was scuttled. H.G. Stoker became a prisoner-of-war where his natural acting talents were used in a number of ways including unsuccessful escape attempts. He left the Navy about 1921 to persue an acting career. He was recalled to active service in 1939. He plays the part of Captain Holt with a certain authenticity.