Manxman the Movie
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In 1952 Roy Boulting directed the British film "Single Handed", it was released in America as "A
Sailor of the King". The film was
adapted from C.S. Foresters World War 1 novel "Brown on Resolution" Browns ship H.M.S. Amesbury, was played by H.M.S. Cleopatra
and Manxman played the German cruiser Essen. Jeffrey Hunter starred in the film which was shot at Gozo and around Malta.
From the Opening credits: Dedicated to the spirit of
Her Majesty's Royal Navy and, in particular, to those officers and men of the
British Mediterranean Fleet, whose willing help made this film possible".
At the end of cast: "and the
officers and men of H.M.S. Manxman, H.M.S. Cleopatra, and H.M.S. Glasgow".
Two endings for the film were shot - the British ending,
in which the hero was killed and his proud mother collected a medal awarded to him by the King - and an American
ending, in which the
hero survived, talked lovingly of his mother, and collected his own medal.
The Captain John Trevor Lean D.S.O. (Shady Lean) played the part of the Navigator in
the film as he had to be on the bridge at all times.
Captain Lean was a popular captain, an excellent seaman and nice bloke well
respected. He wasn’t an officer who kept himself
aloof he mixed with the men.
Some of the ships company also took part as (unpaid) extras, dressed in German
uniform when on deck. The ship's make up included a fake hole that was just painted on
the side.
Most of the filming was done in a lagoon at Gozo, we were there for two to
three days. The lagoon had a restricted outlet so the Captain took the ship out
stern first!
Making smoke – This was done by restricting the amount of air, the fans were slowed down so the boiler ran very rich.
From John Larken - Killick Stoker Manxman 1952 - 1953
Disguise
We went into the dockyard at Malta to disguise ourselves as a German cruiser with raked funnels and triple gun closed mountings
this is how the dockyard did it :
The three funnels had hoops of varying sizes welded on them, these were then covered in canvas and painted; from a distance you would not have picked it!!. The turrets were a bit more difficult. The Manxman had twin 4' gun open
mountings which looked nothing like 6' triple turrets. In a triple turret the centre gun is always set back. The Dockyard first of all put an extension on the left barrel. They left the right barrel alone, they then bolted a completely fake barrel on the right side of the 4' mounting. The whole mounting was then covered in 3ply and painted!. They could not have fired or moved !!
From Geoff Dann - Killick Manxman 1951-1952
I served on Manxman between 1951-53 and was in 18 Mess. Making the film was
a laugh, we where allowed to enter Grand Harbour all dressed as
Germans and Flying the German ensign as the Admiral of the Med fleet was a very good friend of our Captain, John Trevor Lean.
From Jimmy George R.N. - Manxman 1951 - 1953
My Fathers name is Reginald Ottway, He was actually in the film as a German Sailor and was seen putting the line down checking
the depth of the water and was heard giving the depth in German. My name is Jeffrey Ottway, he named me after Jeffrey Hunter.
The programme is from the world premier of 'Single Handed', held in the
presence of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret at the Odeon Marble Arch on Thursday
11th June 1953. Click here
to view the program (PDF format 850 KB)
From Jeff, and Reg Ottway R.N.
