. ▁ ▁At ▁one ▁stage , ▁the ▁film ▁was ▁known ▁as ▁Sie ge . ▁ ▁Plot ▁This ▁is ▁a ▁propag anda ▁film ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁British ▁strategy ▁of ▁the ▁economic ▁block ade ▁of ▁Naz i ▁Germany ▁is ▁illustrated ▁through ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁scenes ▁and ▁sketch es , ▁combined ▁with ▁document ary ▁foot age . ▁ ▁Main ▁cast ▁ ▁Les lie ▁B anks ▁as ▁Taylor , ▁Civil ▁Service ▁Michael ▁Red gra ve ▁as ▁the ▁Russian ▁Will ▁Hay ▁as ▁Ski pper , ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁Bernard ▁Mil es ▁as ▁Mate , ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁Michael ▁R enn ie ▁as ▁George , ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁John ▁M ills ▁as ▁Tom , ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁Frank ▁Cel lier ▁as ▁Schne ider ▁Robert ▁Mor ley ▁as ▁von ▁Ge is el bre cht ▁Alfred ▁D ray ton ▁as ▁Dire ktor ▁Mar ius ▁G oring ▁as ▁German ▁propag anda ▁officer ▁Austin ▁Tre vor ▁as ▁U - bo at ▁Captain ▁Mor land ▁Graham ▁as ▁Civil ▁Serv ant ▁▁ ▁Albert ▁Lie ven ▁as ▁G unter ▁▁ ▁John ▁Stuart ▁as ▁Naval ▁officer ▁▁ ▁J oss ▁Amb ler ▁as ▁St ol ten hoff ▁▁ ▁Michael ▁Wild ing ▁as ▁Captain ▁ ▁George ▁Wood bridge ▁as ▁Qu is ling ▁▁ ▁Qu entin ▁Reyn olds ▁as ▁American ▁journalist ▁ ▁Elli ott ▁Mason ▁as ▁German ▁station m ist ress ▁ ▁The ▁film ' s ▁comment ary ▁is ▁made ▁by ▁the ▁journalist ▁and ▁former ▁Liberal ▁MP ▁Frank ▁O wen . ▁ ▁Release ▁The ▁film ▁premier ed ▁at ▁the ▁London ▁Pav il ion ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4