Writer: Robert Westerby
Director: Lewis Milestone
A series of Dirk Bogarde films have been re-released on DVD and Blu-ray in the past year celebrating some of the actor’s finest achievements. From The Servant to The Gentle Gunman, these films showcase a diverse career. But like all actors, Bogarde was also in plenty of duffers and the latest re-release of They Who Dare doesn’t add much to the film’s reputation. A meandering tale of invasion on a Greek island, even Bogarde fails to illicit any tension from this drawn-out premise.
Based on a true story, a British commando is asked to lead a mission to plant a series of explosive devices at two Italian airbases on the occupied island of Rhodes. Aided by some Greek military officers and a local guide, the team must traverse across the terrain without being caught, generating plenty of encounters along the way.
Despite the possibilities this story presents, and the daredevil opportunities involved in travelling across Rhodes on a secret mission, the cast spend far too much time hiding in a cave which may have been simpler to film but is symptomatic of a movie that fails to deliver on the high-stakes antics it spends too much time merely talking about.
Added to that, the rather antiquated view of Greek rural life and dismissive references to “foreigners” exhibited by some of the British commando team and it is a wonder They Who Dare was chosen for re-release at all. There may be a warning ahead of the film about these attitudes, but it doesn’t quell the awkwardness of scenes set in the Greek mountain villages or the anger directed at the poor guide who natural sneaks off to see his family while his sun-shy charges hide in a cave (of course they are waiting for nightfall but it’s hardly exciting cinema).
Bogarde is as good as ever as the lead, a reluctant hero just doing his job, although his rather blingy personal jewellery and spotted neckerchief don’t immediately scream undercover mission. He does have some anger issues when others defy his authority, and it is a shame that isn’t explored further.
The new restoration looks good and the film comes with a variety of extras, including an interview with historian Saul David, but the central drama just lacks verve. Even when the action finally occurs, it somehow can’t find the requisite levels of jeopardy, especially in the overlong aftermath that involves hiding now in churches, betrayal and loss. Again, it is realistic that having to been to the mission target location, the men would also need to get out again, but it does begin to feel that the audience has endured this rather endless journey with them.
They Who Dare is on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Platforms on 5 September.
