The Dam Busters (1955)
Overview
The story of the conception of a new British weapon for smashing the German dams in the Ruhr industrial complex and the execution of the raid by 617 Squadron 'The Dam Busters'.
Cast
Richard Todd
Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.
Michael Redgrave
Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.
Ursula Jeans
Mrs. Wallis
Basil Sydney
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.
Patrick Barr
Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.
Ernest Clark
Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.
Derek Farr
Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.
Charles Carson
Doctor
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CinemaSerf
I think sometimes it is important to remember that even 10 years after the war was over, there was still an appetite - even a neccessity - for war stories that celebrated (ok, and frequently embellished) the successes of the many ordinary folk who fought in the war. This film is one such story. Based on real events and characters it is nonetheless a drama. It does manipulate the facts a little; though the use of bouncing bombs - innovatively designed from scratch - well, with a little help from Napoleon - by Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave) to destroy three German dams on the Ruhr by a squadron led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) is fact. The film gradually demonstrates the frustrations as these devices are tested, of the dedication of those charged with delivering them and, of course, of the peril faced by the crews - many of whom were destined never to return. I saw this recently on television and the announcer apologised in advance for the "racist language" which i assumed referred to Gibson's dog. Strange it didn't see fit to apologise for the portrayal of indiscriminate death inflicted by both sides on the other. An odd, modern day irony only made possible by the exploits of the sorts of people and achievements this film sets out to commemorate.
