THE DAM BUSTERS.

Starring RICHARD TODD, MICHAEL REDGRAVE
Screenplay by R. C. SHERRIFF
Directed by MICHAEL ANDERSON
Based on PAUL BRICKHILL's book and
WING COMMANDER GIBSON's ENEMY COAST AHEAD
1954 p.c. ABPC.

The Dam Busters (1955) was one of the first-and remains among the best-of the films that re-create a wartime event by casting actors who resemble those who actually took part in it and using their real names. Such authenticity makes Michael Anderson's film a document as well as a drama. Wherever humanly possible, the screenplay (by R.C. Sherriff, who wrote Journey's End) depicts every detail of the bombing mission to destroy the great Moehne and Eder dams.

Bursting the dams meant inventing an eccentric sort of bomb; one that bounced along the surface of the water then sank against the dam wall; so backroom science had to link hands with front-line courage and this too, is what makes this story so gripping. The actual air raid generates suspense and tragedy, since more than half the crews lost their lives. But what catches at one's emotions even more acutely is the lonely war of another kind waged doggedly by the bomb's inventor, Dr. later Sir) Barnes Wallis, against Whitehall bureaucracy. Michael Redgrave's portrayal of the boffin, all hunched shoulders, white hair, floppy collar and owlish specs, was vouched for by the real Barnes Wallis. And his penny-pinching, make-do-and-mend experimentation, from the stage of shooting marbles into a tin bath in his back garden to the agonizing waiting in the ops. room as the bombs are sped to their target, gives the drama a mounting expectancy.

The Dam Busters is also one of the few films that weigh wartime advantage against the conscience of a scientist; Redgrave's choked-back feelings as the casualties come in is a magnificent piece of emotional shorthand. Richard Todd also contrives to give the heroic Guy Gibson, V.C., a human shape.

The movie's theme music, Eric Coate's Dam Busters March, proved so popular that it has since become a parade-ground standard. But it was never so well used as when it supplied the throat-tightening tempo to an episode of group gallantry and pioneering genius.

Look-out for a small part from Richard Harris as an Australian pilot.

THE DAM BUSTERS.

An epic war story of World War 11. Scientist Dr. Harnes Wallis behaves World War I can be shortened by destroying the Ruhr dams, thus paralyzing the enemy' industrial nerve centre. In spite of the difficulties caused by the critical situation at the time, he works steadily to perfect a special bomb of his own invention for the purpose. Air Ace Wing Commander Guy Gibson is chosen to form, train and lead the hand-picked squadron.

Flying at tree-top level they cross the Rhine and attack the first dam - Mochne. The bombers seem unable to maintain the accuracy essential for success - then suddenly the masonry begins to crumble.

THE DAM BUSTERS

Dr. Barnes Wallis (designer of the famous Wellington bomber and much revolutionary later the 'swing-wing' aircraft concept) battles against official wartime skepticism to perfect a bomb that can be bounced against the walls of the Ruhr dams. If the scheme is successful it would seriously hamper the German war effort as the dam are the power source of the German industrial heartland.

The scheme requires not only the perfection of the bomb, which itself is fraught with problems, but the formation of a special squadron trained to fly at wave-top height into heavily defended enemy areas. Wing-Commander Guy Gibson (later to be killed in action on a different mission) is given responsibility for the 'sortie' and after several weeks intensive training the raid against the dams takes place: 55 airmen are killed during the resulting action which nevertheless is considered a military success.

The film does not go in for the more popular 'Boys Own' approach of films like 633 Squadron, Mosquito Squadron etc: Rf. Sherriff's script and Anderson's directing along with matter-of-fact playing by the accomplished cast (Redgrave's low-key playing of Wallis is the cornerstone of the film) ensure that the end result depicts fairly accurately the strain and comradeship of those engaged in the execution of the mission and its concept rather than the more usual noisy mock-heroics.

Previously available from the now defunct Walton Films in abridged form this is the complete version with its opening title sequence and every bit of The Dambusters March intact! And what a good print too, sharp and with a terrific soundtrack - just feel those mighty Merlin engines throbbing through the floorboards (pity about the neighbours!) . I did detect just the slightest hint of distortion on a couple of sections of dialogue: this is in the master soundtrack supplied and nothing to do with Derann. I must emphasize that it is slight and will only be detected by the keenest ears when the sound is fed through a good hi-fi system.

There are some marks on the master and some vertical black scratches - these crop up two or three times and were on the Walton version too but this being a better print these seem to show up a bit more perhaps, once again these date back to the master material and whilst these are momentarily annoying, do not in my opinion detract from the overall enjoyment of the film.

The check print had several scenes that were graded too light and these need to be corrected: the A picture rating assumes they will be corrected for the bulk prints.

This release is one with which I will always associate Richard Todd - his portrayal of Guy Gibson is probably his most famous and best-remembered role and while some reviewers list his performance as stiff?, I do not agree. I'm always moved in the sequence when his dog gets run over and killed on the eve of the raid - Gibson asking that the dog be buried while they are on the mission. Also moving (at least for this reviewer) is the stirring music: I cannot hear Eric Coat's Dambusters March without feeling the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Most definitely recommended - into the Wilton library it goes.

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This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002

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