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| The Dam Busters [1954] | ![The Dam Busters [1954]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HKPR2T7VL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Michael Anderson
Actors: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans, Charles Carson, Stanley Van Beers
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £12.99
Buy Used: £3.75
You Save: £9.24 (71%)
New (2) from £20.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 24779
Format: Black & White, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Running Time: 120 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900380867
ASIN: B00008V6YO
Theatrical Release Date: 1954
Release Date: April 18, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Something of a cult item among British war movies (and brilliantly spoofed a few years back by a lager ad), The Dam Busters turns a minor World War II incident into a saga of heroic stiff-upper-lippery in the classic British style. A bombing raid is proposed on a strategically vital Ruhr dam, but its position is inaccessible. Enter eccentric inventor Dr Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave in best daffy professor mode) who comes up with a genius idea--a bomb that will bounce on water like a skimmed pebble. Naturally the top brass pooh-pooh it, but gallant Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) is persuaded, and between them flyer and boffin forge ahead. The touches of carefully understated emotion now verge on self-parody, but it's hard not to get caught up in the narrative sweep, especially when the bombers take off on their mission and Eric Coates' stirring march hits the soundtrack. The modelwork, state-of-the-art for its early 1950s period, still looks impressive, and the death of Gibson's beloved black Labrador (embarrassingly called Nigger) is a three-hanky moment to rival the shooting of Bambi's mum. --Philip Kemp
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Some of the Best British War stories Ever July 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
These are three of the best War film ever.
The Dambusters. I realy bought this set for this film, the true story of Barns Wallace and the famous raid on German Dams in WW2.
The Cruel Sea. The story of the Men who crewed A destroyer in early WW2.
The Colditz Story. Tales from the famous WW2 prison camp.
These are great films. even in black and white.
Who Needs Special Effects? June 20, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This film was exciting when I saw it in 1956 in Holland, and it is just as exciting now. How can one miss with the superb talent of Michael Redgrave, the stirring music of Eric Coates, and a gripping yarn that happens to be true? Much of the fascination of this film stems from its depiction of Barnes Wallis's process of planning and perfecting the bouncing bomb, and persuading Whitehall to go along with his eccentric idea. Equally interesting are the various makeshift devices, such as the range-finding lights and the home-made bombsight.
"The Dam Busters" tells the story of ingenuity and courage during wartime. In the wrong hands, such a topic might be heavy handed, but one of the things that British filmmakers of the 1950s did so well was to deliver their patriotic messages with a touch of wry humor mixed with just the right amount of pathos. The camera may not focus on exploding planes or dwell on the devastating effects for the inhabitants of the Ruhr valley, but in leaving such details to the collective imagination of the audience, the director has developed cinematic understatement into a fine art.
Best of the best August 13, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Lets all sing the tune: da da dadadada, probably the most well know piece of music.
Rumours about of Spielburgh having purchased the rights to the film and remaking it, yet I doubt even he will improve on the original. Rumour also says he will be keeping the music, well
he would have to, wouldn't he.
Where do you start with perfection? OK, the special affects are naff, but for the 50's amazing.
Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallace captures the feel of a slightly mad proffesor. He really looks like he is crying when the bomb works.
Richard Todd as Guy Gibson is perfect casting, I believe he was Bomber Command during the war.
There are moments of hillarity, there are moment's sadness. But if you want to watch a film where the concept of heroism and patriotism are not bad words, then this is the one.
An essential classic May 26, 2006
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Modern audiences may be put off by Black and White films, but in this case, they should watch it anyway. They don't come better than this. The true story of one of the most audacious and daring air raids of all time. The characters are well drawn and the action is convincing and realistic.
The main character is Wing Commander Guy Gibson, brilliantly portrayed by the legendary Richard Todd. The leader of the raid, Gibson was a great pilot and a great leader. His men rallied around him with confidence and obediance despite not knowing their target until the day of the attack.
Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the 'Upkeep' bouncing bomb is portrayed by the great Michael Redgrave. Much of the first half focuses on Wallis' attempts to generate interest in his idea of bursting the Ruhr dams. His determination and eventual success is a great story in its own right.
The rest of the cast is very good and the characters are believable and down to earth. Look out for the great Robert Shaw as Pullford, a member of Gibsons crew.
The films tends to cause controversy these days due to 'Nigger', Gibson's dog. I find this absurd and an insult to the great man. The word is not being used in a racist, it's the man's dog for goodness' sake. And it is true. It would be stupid to change the dog's name just to be PC. The dog was something of a mascot to these men.
The DVD release is nothing special, apart from the attractive packaging and slip case. But in these cases, the film itself is worth the money, and extras are not needed to make the purchase worthwhile. Go ahead - Buy, Watch and Love.
The Dambusters is One of the Greats April 18, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is one of those films everyone should have in their film library. The story of 2 of World War II's true heroes, for his part in the raid Wing Commander Guy Gibson received the VC, Barnes Wallis on the other hand received little real recognition for the part he played in creating the bomb that made the raid possible.Due to the time this was made there has been no tampering with the story 'Hollywoodising', a thing that has occurred all to often in more recent movies.
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