"Under Ten Flags" is a WWII movie loosely based on the true story of the German navy commerce raider Atlantis, a converted Auxilliary Cruiser, and her Captain Bernhard Rogge. Atlantis, camouflaged as a merchant ship, cruised the South Seas ( Atlantic, Indian & Pacific) and sank or captured 22 merchant ships from May 1940 through November 22, 1941 when she was sunk by the British Cruiser HMS Devonshire. Rogge was one of the few German officers of flag rank who were not arrested by the Allies after the war ended. This was due to the very proper and ethical way he exercised his command of Atlantis. After the war he advanced to Rear Admiral in the West German Navy and became a high-ranking NATO commander.
Practical Effects
Glorious mini-ship models, zero CGI nonsense
Acting
Laughton gravel-voiced and magnificent
Production
Genuine naval vessels, not toy boats
Director
Duilio Coletti
Van Heflin
Captain Bernhard Rogge
Charles Laughton
Admiral Russell
Mylène Demongeot
Zizi
John Ericson
Lieutenant Krüger
Cecil Parker
Colonel Howard
Folco Lulli
Paco
Alex Nicol
Knoche / Captain Canard
Liam Redmond
Captain Windsor
Eleonora Rossi Drago
Elsa
Ralph Truman
Admiral Bensen
Grégoire Aslan
Master of the Abdullah
Peter Carsten
Lieutenant Mohr
Helmut Schmid
Gian Maria Volonté
Samuel Braunstein
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rogge himself consulted on the film and approved Heflin's performance — rare Nazi officer happy with his Hollywood treatment.
The real Atlantis was the most successful commerce raider in naval history — yet Rogge's postwar NATO career made this a Cold War friendly film.
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