Review of The Dam Busters (1955) by Benedick L — 08 Nov 2009

Well, I've been trying hard to break into classic british cinema and I can't think of anything finer than the Dam Busters (which is to be remade by producer Peter Jackson soon). The script is a little dry for my liking, making the acting stiff but I guess this was how it was back then.

With that aside, the film is clearly separated into two parts. The invention of the 'bouncing bomb' (a clear example of british inventiveness - none better in the world) makes up the first half then the invention being put to use against the germans in the second half.

Whilst a little tedious in sections and a rather, now, humourous death sequence to the dog nigger with stiff upper lip remorse from his owner gibson, it does manage to keep the tension and does show the process of what everyone involved in the operation had to do.

The remake will obviously change a few things to appeal to a modern audience but hopefully with Jackson on board he won't americanise it. This is the story of great british power and should remain this way.

See this if you want to salute the main theme tune and see how the british overcomed a seemingly impossible task.