Review of The Dam Busters (1955) by Art S — 24 Apr 2018

Classic WW2 drama.

1942. British inventor Barnes Wallis is struggling with the task of finding a way of destroying the dams in the Ruhr valley. Breaching these dams will significantly reduce Germany's military production, especially steel. He hits upon a method but struggles to find any government department to endorse it. Will his idea get off the ground?

Classic WW2 drama. Based on the true story, the movie shows well the process inventing the bomb took, Barnes Wallis's struggles to get the project approved, preparations to attack the dams and the heroism and sacrifice involved in completing the operation.

Good work by Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallis and Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Solid supporting cast.

Received an Oscar nomination for special effects, though watching this in 2018 that fact might raise a chuckle. The explosions of the bombs against the dams, in particular, are very unrealistic, though at the time would have been the best the director could have managed.