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Peril of the Fleet can be claimed as the first true British spy film and was
reviewed as an 'intensely sensational story'. The film company, seizing on the
filmic opportunity of a review of the Royal Navy fleet at Spithead in 1909
(staged for the imperial conference to discuss imperial naval policy), scripted
a story about an attempt by foreign spies to destroy the fleet.
All the elements of the invasion literature of the period and the developing
spy story are present. The threat to British naval superiority by unnamed
foreign powers is clearly shown. Spies (in the usual stereotyped beard
disguise), aided by a woman, plan the operation. They are foiled by a detective
(by luck rather than skill, emphasising the gentleman-amateur rather than the
cunning organisation of the foreigner). The detective saves the fleet, with
moments to spare, and Britain is saved from future invasion. It can be said that
the other elements of the developing genre, such as secret weapons and the use
of latest technologies, are missing. However, the fleet is nearly destroyed by
using the careful system of sea mines designed to protect it from attack. The
film company makes good use of the opportunity of the naval review to add
authenticity, including actuality scenes of the fleet showing the battleships
Agamemnon and Irresistible. To demonstrate that the fleet is safe, the aptly
named Drake is shown at anchor at the end of the film.
Ironically, the NFTVA's copy has German inter-titles, as does The Invaders
(1909). While Germany was seen as Britain's main rival (for naval and commercial
power, as well as in international relations), the film company was quite
prepared to profit by distributing its product there. The origin of the spies is
not identified in the film (in common with other pre-WWI spy films). Not until
the declaration of war were the spies identified, in such films as The German
Spy Peril (1914), Huns of the North Sea (1914) and The Kaiser's Spies (1914).
Simon Baker
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Complete film (7:37)
