The Dam Busters [Blu-ray]

Overview

The British The Dam Busters is the story of the development and utilization of the "bouncing bombs" in World War II. Michael Redgrave stars as Dr. Barnes Wallis, who developed these unorthodox explosives. Wallis' invention is put to practical use during the British raid on the Ruhr Dams in Germany. Most of the film is devoted to the two years spent in creating the bombs and training the pilots; the final sequence is a special-effects masterpiece, even allowing for the obvious models standing in for the dams. Adapted by R.C. Sherriff from both Guy Gibson's book Enemy Coast Ahead and Paul Brickhill's The Dam Busters, this film was Britain's biggest box-office success of 1955.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/09/2021
UPC:	0850021115265
Original Release:	1955
Rating:	NR
Source:	Film Movement
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	2:05:00
Sales rank:	23,193

Special Features

The Making of the Dam Busters documentary; Sir Barnes Wallis documentary (1972); 617 Sqadron Remembers documentary; Footage of the Bomb Tests; The Dam Busters Royal Premiere footage; Restoration of a Classic featurette; The Dam Busters 75th anniversary trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Redgrave	Dr. Barnes N. Wallis
Richard Todd	Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson
Derek Farr	Group Capt. J.N.H. Whitworth
Ursula Jeans	Mrs. Wallis
Basil Sydney	Sir Arthur Harris
Patrick Barr	Capt. Joseph Summers
Charles Carson	Doctor
Stanley Van Beers	Sir David Pye
Colin Tapley	Dr. W.H. Glanville
Raymond Huntley	Laboratory Official
Ernest Clark	AVM Ralph Cochrane
John Fraser	Flight Lt. Hopgood
Nigel Stock	Flight Lt. Spafford
Bill Kerr	Flight Lt. Martin
George Baker	Flight Lt. Maltby
Robert Shaw	Flight Sgt. Pulford,R.A.F. Officer at Trials
Anthony Doonan	Flight Lt. Hutchison
Harold Goodwin	Crosby
Laurence Naismith	Farmer
Frank Phillips	BBC Announcer
Ewen Solon	Flt/Sgt. G.E. Powell
Patrick McGoohan	Guard on Door
Frederick Leister	Committee Member
Laidman Browne	Committee Member
Hugh Moxey	Observers at Trials
Richard Leech	Sqd Ldr. H.M. Young
Denys Graham	Flying/Off. L.G. Knight
Brewster Mason	Flt/Lt. R.D. Trevor-Roper
Brian Nissen	Actor
Basil Appleby	Flt/Lt. R.C. Hay
Eric Messiter	Committee Member
Edwin Styles	Observers at Trials
Harold Siddons	Group Signals Officer
Richard Thorp	Sqd Ldr. H.F. Maudslay
Tim Turner	Flt/Lt. J.P. Leggo
Leighton Lucas	Composer
Louis Levy	Composer
Eric Coates	Composer

Technical Credits

R.C. Sherriff

Paul Brickhill

Guy Gibson

R.C. Sherriff	Screenwriter
Gilbert Taylor	Special Effects
W.A. Whittaker	Producer
Paul Brickhill	Screenwriter
Guy Gibson	Screenwriter
Michael Anderson Jr.	Director
Robert Clark	Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Dam Busters is an exciting, realistic war procedural film, in which the primary obstacle to success is bureaucratic intransigence rather than the hostile forces of the enemy. Aided greatly by R. C. Sherriff's uncommonly intelligent, accurate screenplay, the story successfully depicts the inspired obsession of scientists, as well as the more low-key, interpersonal relationships within the R.A.F. bomber squadron. Though dated by current technological standards, the special effects are quite good for a mid-1950s production; Eric Coates' music fits the film's mood superbly.

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam