The book is an absolute classic, but it is not a very easy one to adapt at all. While not quite succeeding, Riddle of the Sands is a very solid film. It is quite slow in places and the actor playing Kaiser is very wooden. However, the film is beautifully shot, with striking locations, interesting fashions and exquisite photography. Howard Blake's haunting score compliments the mood of the film brilliantly and the story and the script are very interesting. The sailing scenes are excellently done, and there is a fine cast, excepting Kaiser. Michael York and Simon McCorkindale are excellent, actually in regards to McCorkindale I don't think I have seen him this good before, while Alan Badel is appropriately sinister and Jenny Agutter provides an emotional weight that wasn't there in the book but was welcome here. So all in all, solid and worth watching. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Have not read the novel about two Brits trying to uncover Imperial German skullduggery in 1901 around the Wadden Sea and Frisian islands in NW Germany, so cannot comment whether it captures its essence. What you get is a slow paced, tribute to messing about in small boats, kind of detective tale that does not really convince. Some holes here and there, some rush at exposition at vital moments, prevent the piece from fully working. There's a lot of good humour between York and McCorkindale as two ill assorted Oxford men, but when the action hots up, the film is a little unconvincing and a trifle rushed. While Hitler from Indy and the Last Crusade appears as a German spy at the turn of the century - yes, the Germans are a bit clichéd in portrayal yet again. A pity we do not find out why Dollman is a traitor! The film needed perhaps a Hitchcock to make it a classic like '39 Steps' which is set very similarly in theme and time. Must read the book or get to see the German TV version - German actors playing Edwardian Brits!!!!

This must be one of my favourite films. It is so beautifully made and features a wonderful cast. Simon MacCorkindale is really great alongside Michael York who always puts is a great performance. Jenny Agutter is so beautiful and works so well beside the two male leads. This film captures the whole period very well and is a real boys own adventure sort of film. Alan Badel is great as Dollman as is Olga Dowe as his cranky wife Frau Dollman. She is the perfect foil for the beautiful Agutter. The baddies in this film are really great. What a shame we don't see more performances from Juergen Andersen, Michael Sheard, Hans Meyer and Wolf Kahler. I particularly like the scene where Michael York is in town having his breakfast. It is delightful and sums up his stiff upper lip Englishness. The village where he breakfasts is also truly delightful. Don't miss the beautiful scene on the beach with Agutter either. Do see it as you will enjoy the journey if you like romantic adventure films. It is beautiful.

The people who commented obviously loved it so much. So did I. No movie can be perfect, and anything with a strong nautical theme is very, very hard to get looking right. Look at all the pirate movies where it is obvious that a period ship, recreated at huge expense, has its sails hanging slack and is being propelled through the water by engines. There was a Columbus movie not long back where the bottom edge of a sail was flapping round his face while he said something deep and meaningful.RofS is one of the few films that manage to sustain realistic nautical action and atmosphere right through. My only very minor quibble was that in the scene below decks where Clara puts on the kettle, there is far too much space above her head. But that could not detract from the "awkward English chap" conversation Arthur has with her.Of course anything with Jenny Agutter in it is a good movie, but with Jenny and sailing boats as well, this is one to love.