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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
Product Description
Actors: Array
Director: Michael Anderson
Manufacturer: Optimum
Director: Michael Anderson
Manufacturer: Optimum
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
143 of 144 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Anyone who has only ever seen Michael Anderson's definitive 1954 war film on a muddy, soft television transmission or the previous standard definition DVD should prepare themselves to be floored when they sit down to watch this new 1080P Blu-Ray.
The visual presentation is nothing short of perfection, and I do not say such things lightly. To their credit, Optimum have got absolutely EVERYTHING right on this one.
Firstly, the frequent temptation with HD to crop films that were originally shot Academy down to fill a 16:9 frame has been resisted, with the film retaining its full original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, pillar-boxed within the 16:9 frame.
The clarity of the image is so stunning that I cannot imagine they used anything other than the original negative, which would mean that the film would have had to have undergone a full-blown restoration (not cheap!)
Grading is absolutely first rate, with a terrific grey scale and no discernible clipping of white areas of the image. I did notice some slight black crush on very dark jackets, but this may well just be my TV. The image is as sharp as a razor, with the amount of extra detail being revealed nothing short of staggering for a film made over fifty years ago.
Most importantly, this sharpness is entirely natural and I did not detect the slightest bit of artificial processing of any kind; no edge enhancement, no artificial sharpening and no DNR.
The image retains a wonderfully natural, film-like quality with grain present throughout, as it should be, but always mild and controlled, and never bothersome.
They've even left the original, beautifully ornate BBFC censor card on the front, a lovely touch which is much appreciated as it helps transport you immediately back to the time that the film was made (well, it does me, anyway!).
Sound-wise, things aren't quite as impressive. The film is constrained by the inevitable technical limitations of the time, and I suspect by the rather compressed, mid-rangey sound that they used an optical track rather than a superior magnetic one. However, not knowing what sound materials survive on the film, it is not really fair to criticize. The Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track (most likely twin-channel Mono) is completely adequate for a film of this period, and as long as you don't go into it expecting a full immersive surround sound mix and accept it for what it is, you shouldn't be disappointed.
Extras wise, there is absolutely squat, unfortunately, not even a trailer, but again expecting reams of bonus features for a film of this vintage (the term 'making-of' hadn't even been invented yet!) is rather unfair. An interview with Richard Todd would have been nice, though.
Finally, for purists who may be worried, don't be... they've left the dog's name alone!
The visual presentation is nothing short of perfection, and I do not say such things lightly. To their credit, Optimum have got absolutely EVERYTHING right on this one.
Firstly, the frequent temptation with HD to crop films that were originally shot Academy down to fill a 16:9 frame has been resisted, with the film retaining its full original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, pillar-boxed within the 16:9 frame.
The clarity of the image is so stunning that I cannot imagine they used anything other than the original negative, which would mean that the film would have had to have undergone a full-blown restoration (not cheap!)
Grading is absolutely first rate, with a terrific grey scale and no discernible clipping of white areas of the image. I did notice some slight black crush on very dark jackets, but this may well just be my TV. The image is as sharp as a razor, with the amount of extra detail being revealed nothing short of staggering for a film made over fifty years ago.
Most importantly, this sharpness is entirely natural and I did not detect the slightest bit of artificial processing of any kind; no edge enhancement, no artificial sharpening and no DNR.
The image retains a wonderfully natural, film-like quality with grain present throughout, as it should be, but always mild and controlled, and never bothersome.
They've even left the original, beautifully ornate BBFC censor card on the front, a lovely touch which is much appreciated as it helps transport you immediately back to the time that the film was made (well, it does me, anyway!).
Sound-wise, things aren't quite as impressive. The film is constrained by the inevitable technical limitations of the time, and I suspect by the rather compressed, mid-rangey sound that they used an optical track rather than a superior magnetic one. However, not knowing what sound materials survive on the film, it is not really fair to criticize. The Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track (most likely twin-channel Mono) is completely adequate for a film of this period, and as long as you don't go into it expecting a full immersive surround sound mix and accept it for what it is, you shouldn't be disappointed.
Extras wise, there is absolutely squat, unfortunately, not even a trailer, but again expecting reams of bonus features for a film of this vintage (the term 'making-of' hadn't even been invented yet!) is rather unfair. An interview with Richard Todd would have been nice, though.
Finally, for purists who may be worried, don't be... they've left the dog's name alone!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Five decades after it was made, this movie still remains as enthralling and evocative as ever: the true sign of a great classic.
The story of the Dams Raid of 1942 is a step back into a time-warp: Britain as she used to be, a great Imperial power, at her very, very best, ablaze with patriotism and heroics. An amazing cast representative of that period: moustachioed RAF brass, bowler-hatted officials with incredibly stiff upper lips, handsome, daredevil pilots with cut-glass Oxford accents, the outrageously eccentric boffin Barnes Wallis ... not to mention the glorious Lancs (the roar of those Merlins!) and the beautiful Nigger, Gibson's labrador, sadly run over on the night of the raid. The photography and special effects were brilliant for the 50s, the attack scenes nail-bitingly tense and utterly realistic. To cap it all, there is Eric Coates's iconic Dam Buster's March.
In the mid-fifties, every boy was running about with arms outstretched making machine-gun noises and pretending to be a Lanc: and probably chanting the March tune at the same time! The film took the country by storm.
The raid cost the lives of 56 fliers. It failed to bring the war to a quick end as was hoped; but at a dark time when any success was priceless, its heroism and technological achievment scored a stunning propaganda victory, lifting British hearts sky-high with hope and admiration.
The story of the Dams Raid of 1942 is a step back into a time-warp: Britain as she used to be, a great Imperial power, at her very, very best, ablaze with patriotism and heroics. An amazing cast representative of that period: moustachioed RAF brass, bowler-hatted officials with incredibly stiff upper lips, handsome, daredevil pilots with cut-glass Oxford accents, the outrageously eccentric boffin Barnes Wallis ... not to mention the glorious Lancs (the roar of those Merlins!) and the beautiful Nigger, Gibson's labrador, sadly run over on the night of the raid. The photography and special effects were brilliant for the 50s, the attack scenes nail-bitingly tense and utterly realistic. To cap it all, there is Eric Coates's iconic Dam Buster's March.
In the mid-fifties, every boy was running about with arms outstretched making machine-gun noises and pretending to be a Lanc: and probably chanting the March tune at the same time! The film took the country by storm.
The raid cost the lives of 56 fliers. It failed to bring the war to a quick end as was hoped; but at a dark time when any success was priceless, its heroism and technological achievment scored a stunning propaganda victory, lifting British hearts sky-high with hope and admiration.
65 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the best of British stiff-upper-lip War films, and pretty faithful to its factual subject. It tells the two stories - of the invention of the bouncing bomb which would do severe damage to the Ruhr dams, and of the raid which used those bombs to inflict that damage - well. Characterisation is good and the performances of Richard Todd as Guy Gibson and, particularly, Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallis, the inventor, are entirely appropriate and convincing. While the special effects of the raid itself are very much 1954 and now unconvincing, the tests of the bomb are very well depicted and seem true to life. It is perhaps worth knowing that Todd, with John Mills and others one of the archetypal British-military-hero film actors of the 50s, found one scene difficult to play, and that the very last one, when he tells Wallis that he must go away and write to the parents and families of those who did not come back ; difficult because, as a wartime officer himself in reality, he had done that more often than he cared to remember. The film generally carries that stamp of authenticity and, as such, is a good deal more than just an exciting tale. Well worth watching
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A PIECE OF BRITISH HISTORY.
Only a man like Barnes Wallis could have thought up the bouncing bomb, and then only in a country like wartime Britain.
The Dam Busters, what a film. Read more
The Dam Busters, what a film. Read more
Published 6 days ago by DOGBERRY
A truly heroic effort. A great movie.
I have read several books that tell this story or particular parts of it (many concerning the work of Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the bomb and a great deal more) and saw the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Claptonian
A classic which never ages
This is a classic film about a classic mission. The sense of authenticity is excellent, and the underplayed acting perfrect, and the score is also a classic and used sparingly,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Reader
Classic and Inspiring
This is still one of the films that continues to capture my imagination since I first saw it when I was little. Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. R. HALIDAY
Best WW2 Flying Film Ever
This classic film is great even today; and is the inspiration for many other films. The black and white format adds to the experience to make one of the most popular ever WW11... Read more
Published 2 months ago by CaptCamshaft
Dambusters a classic.
Barnes Wallis battled the Military establishment to get approval for his bouncing bomb,really a spinning drum to slide down the sides of the four Dams. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ultrarunner
dam busters dvd
thise dvd was excellent as it was digital remasterd it is of very good qualityand would recommend to any one who likes war films
Published 4 months ago by Mr. James Nelso
Long awaited re-issue
This is a classic movie; a good story well told. The style is definitely of its era - this film won't be cool! But the story telling is excellent. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Paul Minty
Top 50 British Film
One of the top 50 British films of all time and a must see for all generations and consequently this film should be included in all film collections. Read more
Published 5 months ago by scirroco
Still so incredible
It is many years since the Film was launched and following a sudden impulse to research Guy Gibson's short life I decided to buy the DVD of his epic feat with 617 Squadron. Read more
Published 5 months ago by twyfordwasp
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