The title is derived from the flag of England's Outward Bound Sea School at Aberdovey, Wales: Mike Merriworth, a Merchant Navy hero of the Korean War returns to England after three years of captivity in Communist hands, his mind confused by brainwashing and indoctrination at the hands of his captors, and accepts a post as an instructor at the Outward Bound Sea School. He is placed in charge of "Nelson Watch," which consists of 12 boys from all walks of British life, including the usual juvenile delinquent, a dictatorial bully, and a kid afraid of heights. He is a harsh commander and fails to appreciate some of their problems in light of what he has been through.—Les Adams <[email protected]>
Filmed in fine Eastman Colour by Group 3, warm adventure romp The Blue Peter was co-written by director Don Sharp and directed by the equally talented Wolf Rilla. The film achieves its aims best during its striking Welsh exteriors and adventurous set-pieces involving the young cast, therein we see the productive results of Moores tough but compassionate training methods.
Disoriented and discontented Merchant Navy officer Mike Merriworth (Kieron Moore), dubbed Last Man Mike by the media, returns to England after years imprisoned as a Korean PoW. With a view to accepting a Malayan venture, Merriworth accepts a task to spend a few weeks as a physical trainer at an outward bound sea school in Aberdovey headed by Captain Snow (Mervyn Johns), also on his trail is journalist Mary Griffin (Greta Gynt) hunting for a story. In helping these disparate kids from different social backgrounds to find a niche in society, Merriworth helps himself to find direction and contentment in his own life. Of the boys, Charlie Barton (Harry Fowler) is a confident Cockney with leadership skills, Fred Starling (Anthony Newley ) is an angry working-class teenager from a boys home and Andrew Griffin (John Charlesworth) is struggling with the demands of being expected to follow in his deceased fathers footsteps and join the RAF.
