While sailing lawfully up the Yangste in 1949, the British warship Amethyst found its return to the open sea blocked by Communist Chinese shore batteries that unexpectedly opened fire. In charge, Lietenant Commander Kerans was not however prepared for his crew and his ship to remain as a hostage for the Chinese to use as an international pawn.
Richard Todd
as Lieutenant-Commander John Simon Kerans
William Hartnell
as Leading Seaman Leslie Frank
Akim Tamiroff
as Colonel Peng
Donald Houston
as Lieutenant Weston
Keye Luke
as Captain Kuo Tai
Sophie Stewart
as Miss Charlotte Dunlap
Robert Urquhart
as Flight Lieutenant Fearnley
Richard Leech
as Lieutenant Strain
Barry Foster
as Petty Officer McCarthy
Thomas Heathcote
as Mr. Monaghan
Sam Kydd
as Able Seaman Walker
Ewen Solon
as ERA Williams
