δ FRANCIS RUSSELL FLINT (BRITISH, 1915-1977)

Above us the waves

Signed 'Francis R Flint' (lower left)

Watercolour

14½ x 21in. (37 x 53.5cm.); together with with six black and white stills from the set of Above Us the Waves and a program from the premiere in 1955

(8)

Provenance: Painted on the set of the 1955 film 'Above us the Waves' for William MacQuitty (Producer) and thence by descent.

The film from which this scene is taken regards the various attempts to sink the powerful 'pocket' battleship Tirpitz before it had a chance to wreak havoc on shipping in the Atlantic. The first attempt was made using six midget submarines – X Craft. Towed by conventional 'mother' submarines to within striking distance, they carried a crew of four and a pair of two-ton mines. Small enough to go under the defensive nets, two made it through and laid their mines. Whilst substantial damage was caused, the ship remained afloat and successive operations resorted to the Fleet Air Arm. The film was made using real equipment and the actors had to learn how to use re-breather equipment (pre-aqualung, they made no tell-tale trail of bubbles) and was directed in a similar manner with MacQuitty himself donning the gear and signalling directions under water.

Condition Report

Fine overall condition

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