The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands

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- 64/100 based on 1,329 votes

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.... (Full plot summary below)

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Full Plot Details

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Metropolis - 5/10 by John J. PuccioPerhaps director Tony Maylam was being too literal in adapting the novel to the screen, a novel that didn't translate well.
User Review - 10/10 by Martyn PLOL - I had to get Flixster to post this movie up! It's as if nobody has ever heard of it. This movie is based on the 1903 novel The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service by Erskine Childers. In this 1979 movie the lead characters are played by Michael York, Jenny Agutter and Simon MacCorkindale. An excellent film that's very moody and atmospheric but best of all the sailing sequences are pretty good and realistic. Plus it's a good old yarn!
User Review - 10/10 by gary twow umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch.....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that michael york, jenny agutter, simon maccorkindale play good roles/parts thorughout this movie......i think that the director of this drama/spy/thriller movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect thorughout this movie......i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch its got a great cast throughout this movie....i think that jenny agutter is great throughout this movie....i think that this is a good spy-drama movie with a good cast thorughout
User Review - 10/10 by Roger VGreat movie...suspense & espionage, story, acting and action all superb. Has one of the best sailing scenes ever when the villain uses his yacht to attack the hero's small sailboat during a storm. Takes place in the years before the 1st world war. I never tire of watching it.
User Review - 8/10 by Lockett BHave 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.
User Review - 8/10 by Carlton Ryoung 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,
User Review - 6/10 by Peter NGood, intriguing story and well filmed, but let down a bit by the way it seems to sort of peters out at the end. If it were a Bond plot Michael York would have blown up the villainous German Fleet single-handed!
User Review - 6/10 by Brad TAn enjoyable old school mystery. Pacing is slow, on purpose, which I rather enjoyed.
User Review - 6/10 by Rob LThe beautiful north sea coast of Germany is the star of this moderately compelling film, based on a corking yarn of a book by Erskine Childers. Very faithful to the novel, it depicts the difficulties faced by two upper class Englishman on a boating holiday and how they tangle with the fearful Hun in the year leading up to the First World War - not, on the face of it, the best period in the history of Anglo-German relations. Although no expense appears to have been spared on first glance, the fact that an inordinate amount of the action takes place on dry land is telling. The cost of filming in watery surrounds was clearly too debilitating and although the Frisian fishing villages are pleasing on the eye, the dramatic tension of the books' waterborne scenes is not retained.
User Review - 4/10 by Paul CYork and MacCorkindale thwart the Kaiser and Germany's plans to invade England in the most unexciting of ways, but i'll watch anything with Jenny Agutter in it - my first object of desire. A real cinematic curio and a film that could only have been made in the 1970's.

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