The Dam Busters

Starring: Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd, Ursula Jeans

Review:

Having just returned from the Southend Air Show, which had the famous memorial flight that included a Lancaster bomber, I was primed to watch and review this classic on Blu-Ray, from Optimum Classic.

Thankfully, this movie has been properly restored for Blu-Ray as opposed to being cleaned up completely. It’s an impressive release, even with a mono soundtrack (fairly rare these days).

With the constant report of UK troops being killed in the current conflict, it’s good to look back at how things used to be. Although based on truth, The Dam Busters is a patriotic propaganda film celebrating the Best of British during World War II and can be forgiven for the liberties it takes within the two hours duration.

The Dam Busters were RAF Squadron 617 tasked to take out the Ruhr dams in Deutschland; the idea being that the success would severely limit industrial productivity and progress, perhaps shortening the war. The movie covers the endeavours of Barnes Wallis, who was the creator of specially crafted bombs that would “bounce” on the water to get to the dam destruction point. These bombs were to be delivered by a specially modified and lightened group of Lancaster bombers led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.

The first part of the film deals with Wallis’ development of the bombs using maths to solve the trajectories. Tests are completed and perfected before the second part of the movie deals with the mission itself. Throughout the movie we see the human cost of the mission and how the relationships play out. Both Regrave and Todd are convincing leads that show the different sides of their characters.

Obviously, the values and sensibilities at the time of filming are different from today and we might find it easy to poke fun and marvel at the “quaintness” of it all, but the dated aspect of the movie contributes to the charm. The simplicity of it all is refreshing in the present day when most heroes have flaws of some sort.

Summary:

A quality release of a classic movie. The disc is rounded off with an impressive documentary: The Dambusters – 617 Squadron Remembers. A worthwhile purchase and a good one for Father’s Day.

8 out of 10 (Wayfarer)

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