The Dam Busters [DVD] [2018]

True tale of RAF heroism. Beautifully photographed footage of the famous Lancaster bomber. Superb acting by all concerned, especially on the parts of Michael Redgrave and real life WWII hero Richard Todd. Stirring musical score. This is a story of sacrifice that all freedom minded citizens of the west should know about.

I liked the original feel of the film. The language is of it's time and would be unacceptable now but taken as the whole it's a classic film. Just of it's time.

This is a wonderful film, realistically shot, about one of the most famous British attacks of the Second World War. It's a superb reminder of the technical genius, airforce skill and bravery that brought about a unique strike on the Nazi industrial heartland.And you can buy it for a mere £3.99.

Arrived promptly and was as expected. However, the second disc included documentaries about the making of the film, which was a bonus.

There are not enough superlatives. This is truly one the greatest films ever made and does justice to the incredible bravery of the aircrew of Bomber Command.

Superb film of a great part in WW2 history -

The reputation of this 1955 British classic directed by Michael Anderson has justifiably endured through the decades, all the more remarkable because the film was made in monochrome on a modest budget and the rather primitive ‘special effects’ of the aerial action sequences are in a different league to the cutting-edge CGI common in the present century.The sharp intelligent script and fine character acting from Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave are matched to a fast-paced narrative story line, historically accurate and with a documentary feel.Guy Gibson himself was killed flying a Mosquito on operations over Europe in 1944, so though he survived the May 1943 Ruhr Dams raid he did not survive the war. However many of the other people portrayed in the film were still alive in 1954 and were consulted extensively to ensure the fine details were got right. The Avro Lancasters in the film are real aircraft still airworthy in 1954: four were used in the film and flown by serving RAF pilots.Because the film was made only 9 years after the end of WW2 it has the look and feel of the period. Decades-later reconstructions rarely get right exactly how people looked and spoke, their values and selfless devotion to duty so anachronistic in the 21st century, but here it’s natural and true-to-life. The script has an economy of language, refreshing absence of mawkish emotional baggage and no sub-plot to clog-up the action, qualities from which many aspiring modern film-makers might learn. The theme music by Eric Coates is one of the most instantly recognisable scores in cinematic history, perfect in tone with an enduring power which endows the story with a kind of nobility and sense of great occasion.This special anniversary Blu-ray offers the film in both the previously available 1.37:1, and for the first time a more cinematic 1.75:1 format on no fewer than five disks as follows:1. The film on DVD in 1.37:12. The film on DVD in 1.75:13. The film on Blu-ray in 1.37:1, with ‘special features’4. The film on Blu-ray in 1.75:1 (with no special features)5. A DVD of special features including a documentary film about the work of Barnes Wallis dating from around 1960; a long documentary colour film of the operation featuring extended interviews with all the surviving 617sqn aircrew still alive in the 1990s; a feature on the film restoration and a library of stills from the original film set.The wide-screen 1.75:1 format has never previously been available on DVD or Blu-ray and is excellent, though the difference in quality between the DVD and Blu-ray offerings is hardly noticeable.In addition, you get a superb 64-page colour-print book featuring:• Essays by Dan Snow, Jonathan Falconer and Andrew Dickens (his article is titled “Is the Dam Busters still relevant today?”)• Reprints of contemporaneous newspaper articles about the film on its release in 1955• Barnes Wallis’ original notes and diagrams about the bouncing bomb• A feature about the London premiere attended by HRH Princess Margaret• Loads of tech and history about the Avro Lancaster and the formation of 617 sqn• Full crew and cast list of the filmPlus:• a fold-out poster featuring all 20 of the ‘Operation Chastise’ Lancasters in colour profile (one aircraft was a spare and not used on the raid) by the RAF Benevolent Fund• a fold-out aerial photo of the flooded region around the breached Moehne dam the day after the raid• some monochrome postcard stills featuring scenes from the filmAll in all, this is the definitive ‘Dam Busters’ set, a fine quality piece of work and a steal at £22.00.In an unedited script Guy Gibson’s pet labrador retains his name, in 1943 England a centuries-old word in common use for a specific shade of dark brown completely absent the baggage attached to it in the USA with its very different racial-social history (in Peter Jackson’s proposed new remake, in a gesture towards modern PC sensibilities the dog is reportedly to be referred to throughout as ‘Nigsy’, a pet name Gibson often used when calling his labrador which steers the hound clear of possible controversy).

An old film but never dates seen it many times, great actors and you can hear every word!