With the possible exception of "In Which We Serve," "The Dam Busters" ranks as one of the finest British films about WWII. It is told in a straightforward, semi-documentary manner that keeps the viewer interested until the final credits roll. Yes, the special effects pale when compared to today's computer-generated efforts, but when viewed in the context of the technology available, they still make the point and come as close to reality as possible.
The two leads, Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave really carry the film Todd is superb as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Straight to to the issue, no frills, and let's get the job done. He immediately takes on the assignment when asked, without being told of the nature of the mission, the nature of the target, or when it will take place. He gathers his crews and begins the grueling and, at times, terrifying training for a job in which no one has been fully briefed.
Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallace is, if I can use the term, absolutely delightful. There is a naiveté about him that at times seems childlike. His character comes across as the brilliant, but at times, absent-minded professor. When we first encounter him in the film, he is doing some experiments at home with the skip-bombing technique that will be used. He is doing this in his backyard with his children and it is almost like a game to all of them. They are just having the most delightful time trying to come with something that will prove quite deadly when perfected. Often talking to himself and seemingly wandering around lost in thought, one of his best lines in the film comes when he tells a representative from the Aircraft Ministry that he will need a Wellington bomber for the early tests. The Ministry official asks him: "What can I possibly tell them that will let them justify you getting a Wellington bomber?" With a perfectly straight face and and air of ingenuousness, Redgrave, as Barnes replies: "Perhpas if you told them I designed it?" Priceless!! Eventually solving one seemingly insurmountable problem after another, the film moves on to the night of the raids. We are waiting, as dusk falls, with the bomber crews out by their planes for the takeoff signal. We see them thunder in at terrifyingly low level over the enemy coast. We are waiting in the communications center with Barnes Wallace and the others for any word over the wireless.
We face the tension as the big Lancasters swing out over the dams and start their bomb runs one at time, being fired on by heavy anti-aircraft fire along the tops of the dams. The excitement when the bombs perform as designed. The ecstatic shouts radioed back to HQ. Then the initial dismay as one bomb after another seemingly fails to breach the dams. Gibson's and Barnes Wallace's disappointment when the dams are still intact. Finally, we see the first rivulet of water and then the torrent as the dams burst wide open and water floods the valleys below.
Barnes Wallace's initial reaction is quiet joy and then grief as he realizes the number of planes shot down and men lost to this mission. His comment that he wouldn't have done this if he realized that so many lives would be lost. This is in stark reaction to the military men who realize the price that must be paid for victory.
The 617 Squadron went on to carry out other special missions in WWII. The book, "The Dam Busters," points out that 617 Squadron had the highest loss rate of men and planes of any RAF bomber squadron. Not surprising when looking at their missions such as attacking rail bridges, docks, tunnels, etc. Quite often they used other types of bombs that were also developed by Barnes Wallace.
I enjoy this film every time I see it. It is my favorite British WW II film. Certainly much better than "Sink the Bismark." It shows the emotional as well as the combat side of war. How people think, how they interact, how they feel. Something that is lacking in many war films that rely strictly on great battle scenes to carry the day. "The Dam Busters" still stands today as a great and fitting tribute to the men and machines that destroyed the German dams.
The two leads, Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave really carry the film Todd is superb as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Straight to to the issue, no frills, and let's get the job done. He immediately takes on the assignment when asked, without being told of the nature of the mission, the nature of the target, or when it will take place. He gathers his crews and begins the grueling and, at times, terrifying training for a job in which no one has been fully briefed.
Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallace is, if I can use the term, absolutely delightful. There is a naiveté about him that at times seems childlike. His character comes across as the brilliant, but at times, absent-minded professor. When we first encounter him in the film, he is doing some experiments at home with the skip-bombing technique that will be used. He is doing this in his backyard with his children and it is almost like a game to all of them. They are just having the most delightful time trying to come with something that will prove quite deadly when perfected. Often talking to himself and seemingly wandering around lost in thought, one of his best lines in the film comes when he tells a representative from the Aircraft Ministry that he will need a Wellington bomber for the early tests. The Ministry official asks him: "What can I possibly tell them that will let them justify you getting a Wellington bomber?" With a perfectly straight face and and air of ingenuousness, Redgrave, as Barnes replies: "Perhpas if you told them I designed it?" Priceless!! Eventually solving one seemingly insurmountable problem after another, the film moves on to the night of the raids. We are waiting, as dusk falls, with the bomber crews out by their planes for the takeoff signal. We see them thunder in at terrifyingly low level over the enemy coast. We are waiting in the communications center with Barnes Wallace and the others for any word over the wireless.
We face the tension as the big Lancasters swing out over the dams and start their bomb runs one at time, being fired on by heavy anti-aircraft fire along the tops of the dams. The excitement when the bombs perform as designed. The ecstatic shouts radioed back to HQ. Then the initial dismay as one bomb after another seemingly fails to breach the dams. Gibson's and Barnes Wallace's disappointment when the dams are still intact. Finally, we see the first rivulet of water and then the torrent as the dams burst wide open and water floods the valleys below.
Barnes Wallace's initial reaction is quiet joy and then grief as he realizes the number of planes shot down and men lost to this mission. His comment that he wouldn't have done this if he realized that so many lives would be lost. This is in stark reaction to the military men who realize the price that must be paid for victory.
The 617 Squadron went on to carry out other special missions in WWII. The book, "The Dam Busters," points out that 617 Squadron had the highest loss rate of men and planes of any RAF bomber squadron. Not surprising when looking at their missions such as attacking rail bridges, docks, tunnels, etc. Quite often they used other types of bombs that were also developed by Barnes Wallace.
I enjoy this film every time I see it. It is my favorite British WW II film. Certainly much better than "Sink the Bismark." It shows the emotional as well as the combat side of war. How people think, how they interact, how they feel. Something that is lacking in many war films that rely strictly on great battle scenes to carry the day. "The Dam Busters" still stands today as a great and fitting tribute to the men and machines that destroyed the German dams.