On 21 November 1916,
the British hospital ship “Britannic” (sister to the similarly
ill-fated “Titanic”) sank off the coast of the Greek  island of Kea. The rumors say it
was torpedoed by a German submarine because the Germans thought it was
carrying munitions for the British war effort. Though this rumor
was never confirmed, the story has persisted. The TV movie Britannic takes off from this
intriguing legend, with the usual fanciful blend of fact and fiction.Like any good adventure story, the movie has drama (There’s a German spy on board), suspense (Will they discover the German spy? Will the Germans sink the ship?) conflict (The British have a spy too but she’s a woman and the Captain doesn’t take her seriously) and romance (implausibly, between the two spies). The first two-thirds of the movie make for a moderately interesting story, in spite of the fact that we are shown at the beginning the identity of the German spy. Go figure. The British spy, Vera, played quite well by Amanda Ryan, has just the right amount of reticence and daring. At least at first. Captain Barrett, played by John Rhys-Davies, later to appear again with Bruce in Never Say Never Mind, is annoyingly condescending to her. He won’t take her seriously and interferes with her pursuit of the spy. This rings unpleasantly true for 1916 when women didn’t even yet have the right to vote (not till 1928 in Britain). She’s new to the spy game and backs down at his gruffness. Until later when she saves the day and the Captain with her bravery and a handy gun. To his credit, the Captain apologizes. Ah, sweet comeuppance. Meanwhile what is Bruce doing? He’s playing Major Baker, the ship’s Chief Medical Officer. Once again, Bruce proves he is one of the most  versatile actors in the movie
business, as the suave and debonair doctor. No trace of the arrogant
Kell, the haughty warlock Covington or the psycho Rane. Instead we see
the perfect British gentleman, gracefully trading witty repartee with
Lady Lewis, wife of the British Ambassador to Greece. When she tells
Major Baker that she has a hip injury from a fall off a horse and her
regular governess has been replaced by the authorities with a stranger
(Vera), he says to her: "And yet though gravely wounded and without
your Margaret, you press on undaunted and unafraid." Lady Lewis
archly replies: "Do you always satirize your patients, Doctor?" Or waxing poetic while talking to Vera after she has fainted and come to him for medical attention: Dr. Baker: "I love being at sea. What was it Byron who said: 'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean - roll! Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain, something....'”  Vera: "Ten thousand fleets sweep
over thee in
vain, Man marks the earth with ruin. His control Stops at the shore." Though the role of Baker is a secondary one, the character is the conscience of the film. While the others sit around the Captain’s dinner table extolling the virtues of the war with much bravado, Major Baker quietly remarks: "It's one thing to die for a noble cause, it has to be  said. What are we really fighting for, Arabia's oil,
mining rights to Africa?" How timely still is that message! Quite
intentionally so, we suspect. But unfortunately, shortly after that high point, the ship starts sinking metaphorically long before the Big Splash at the end. Vera, the British spy, hops into bed with Reynolds, the German spy. Oh, please give us a break. Later, in a critical moment when any sensible and honorable spy would blow the guy’s head off without hesitation, she hesitates. No matter that this is a man who has just killed…well, we won’t say who.. in cold blood right in front of her eyes and is now trying to sabotage the ship. A ship with wounded soldiers, women, and children on board. (Would any woman, let alone a spy, really be that goofy and selfish?) Vera actually risks her life to save this despicable spy from drowning. Is this supposed to be high romance? Oh puh-lease. But wait, there’s more. The ending---OK, we won’t give away the ending, just in case you haven’t seen the film, but we think it’s pretty silly. Let’s just say that Bruce’s charming portrayal of Major Baker is what ultimately saves the film. But hey, that’s our opinion; maybe you’ll see it differently. |
