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The Riddle of the Sands

Play trailer Poster for The Riddle of the Sands 1979 1h 38m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Two Oxford buddies (Michael York, Simon MacCorkindale) discover a German plot to invade 1901 England with troops on barges.
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The Riddle of the Sands

Critics Reviews

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Chris Bennion The Times (UK) 06/28/2022
Don’t you just hate it when an old university pal invites you on a sailing holiday in the North Sea, only to find out that he has brought you there to help him stop Germany invading Britain? Go to Full Review
John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis 10/13/2011
5/10
Perhaps director Tony Maylam was being too literal in adapting the novel to the screen, a novel that didn't translate well. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Dr. Scott G Nov 17 What was the point of this movie? It's a confusing mess. Nice locations, supposedly, but filmed so amateurishly you can't really tell. The film looks like a BBC low-budget made for TV thing from 1971, but it's from '79 and was made for the cinema. The characters are awkward and forgettable; the plot meanders along without tempo or focus and the two male leads look so much alike that from time to time you confuse one for the other. Nobody acts or reacts like actual people...their motivations seem cloaked or nonexistent. It's dreamlike in the way one thing follows another but ultimately means nothing when you awake. This film lost money and that's no surprise. Frankly, watching it I had the sensation it hated me. See more 06/01/2020 Well crafted war film very surprising I ran across this from happy that I did See more 02/26/2019 This film is a story, not some American tripe of dismal acting. Set in the real world and time of 1900s. We are told an exciting spy story that uses acting and good material from the first spy nonel. Watch and enjoy. Oh by the way not American rubbish. See more 07/25/2014 Have known about the book for years and partially read it as a teenager, but it was over due at the library and I never got back to it. Discovered the movie and bought the DVD - a very pleasant divertisement for a quiet evening, rainy day, or when something simpler than Star Wars and Die Hard is wanted (particularly for young children). Very pleasant, good acting, real sailing and minimal special effects. See more 09/03/2013 young Simon MacCorkindale ,and Michael York are is a movie based on One of the earliest English spy novels, The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers,The two uncover a plot to invade and conquer Britain,It's a nice gentle film and the two actors are well paired in this thriller,It has great locations,and moderate suspense . enjoyable film, See more 02/11/2012 An enjoyable old school mystery. Pacing is slow, on purpose, which I rather enjoyed. See more Read all reviews
The Riddle of the Sands

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two Oxford buddies (Michael York, Simon MacCorkindale) discover a German plot to invade 1901 England with troops on barges.
Director
Tony Maylam
Producer
Drummond Challis
Screenwriter
Tony Maylam
Production Co
The Rank Organisation
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 23, 2018
Runtime
1h 38m
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