"A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk."
David Niven
as Lieutenant Jim Perry
Stanley Holloway
as Pvt. Ted Brewer
James Donald
as Pvt. Evans Lloyd
John Laurie
as Pvt. Luke
Leslie Dwyer
as Pvt. Sid Beck
Hugh Burden
as Pvt. Bill Parsons
Raymond Huntley
as Pvt. Herbert Davenport
Jimmy Hanley
as Pvt. Geoffrey Stainer
William Hartnell
as Sgt. Ned Fletcher
Reginald Tate
as The Training Company Commanding Officer
Leo Genn
as Captain Edwards
John Ruddock
as Old Chelsea Soldier
A. Bromley Davenport
Renée Asherson
as Marjorie Gillingham
Mary Jerrold
as Mrs. Gillingham
Raymond Lovell
as Mr. Jackson
Jack Watling
as Sgt. Buster
Peter Ustinov
as Rispoli
Lloyd Pearson
as Sam Thyrtle
Penelope Dudley-Ward
as Mrs. Perry
Esma Cannon
as Mrs. Ted Brewer
Eileen Erskine
as Mrs. Bill Parsons
Grace Arnold
as Mrs. Ned Fletcher
Tessie O'Shea
as Herself
Trevor Howard
as Officer on Ship (uncredited)
George Merritt
as Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Tracy Reed
as Perry's Daughter (uncredited)
A.E. Matthews
as Colonel Walmsley
John Boxer
as Soldier in Pub Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
Peggy Carlisle
as Minor Role (uncredited)
Alf Goddard
as Instructor (uncredited)
David Hutcheson
as Garage Customer in Car (uncredited)
Benita Lydal
as ENSA Artist (uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos
as Gendarme in Café (uncredited)
John Salew
as Sam - Friend of Pvt. Lloyd in Pub Scene (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield
as Lewis Gun Instructor (uncredited)
Winifred Willard
Ben Williams
as Pessimistic Man Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)
William Alwyn
Original Music Composer
Screenplay
Eric Ambler
Story
Carol Reed
Director
Stanley Haynes
Producer
Irene Howard
Casting
David Rawnsley
Art Direction
John Sutro
Norman Walker
Clive Donner
Editor
Herbert Smith
Executive Producer
Fergus McDonell
Guy Green
Director of Photography
Henry Harris
Special Effects
Muir Mathieson
Music Director
Bill Warrington
Frank Bevis
Assistant Director
Wally Fairweather
Clapper Loader
George Paternoster
Boom Operator
C. C. Stevens
Sound Recordist
Desmond Dew