Always Another Dawn

1949, 76 Minutes, B&W.

A moving melodrama of patriotism and courage under fire in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II.

‘The history of officers and men of the Royal Australian Navy through the war years will, for the most part, never be known, yet they won for themselves honour in a service known for its traditions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Now, in the aftermath of war, we may lose sight of many things – including our debt to the past – yet because of that heritage of faith and courage, surely we need never doubt that the day will dawn when we will be able to boast of a worthwhile and lasting peace.’ [Quote from Always Another Dawn]

The Royal Australian Navy provided locations and extras to the filmmakers. Much of the footage for Always Another Dawn was shot at HMAS Cerberus (Flinders Naval Depot) in Western Port Bay Victoria, which was at the time, and remains today, the Navy’s principal training establishment. Battle scenes were filmed during exercises on board tribal class destroyer HMAS Bataan, bringing a documentary-like quality to the film.

                                                      '...quietly moving and sincere'. Monthly Film Bulletin, 1949.

WEB LINKS

HMAS Cerberus

Distributed by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. © 2015 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.