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The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]
 
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The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]

DVD ~ Richard Todd
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

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The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]
53% buy the item featured on this page:
The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954] 4.5 out of 5 stars (24)
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Product details

  • Actors: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans, Charles Carson, Stanley Van Beers
  • Directors: Michael Anderson
  • Writers: Guy Gibson, Paul Brickhill, R.C. Sherriff
  • Format: Black & White, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: 18 April 2005
  • Run Time: 120 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00008V6YO
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 35,155 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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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

Special Features
English
Region 2


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Customer Reviews

24 Reviews
5 star:
 (15)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, 2 Dec 2004
I'm simply going to echo what most other reviewers have said- a timeless classic and a great tribute to an incredibly brave group of people who made up the Dambusters. Its so engrossing- and includes many many great moments- For me, one of the most intense scenes is Gibsons Lancaster making the first run on the actual Dams raid and over the R/T Richard Todd calmly recreating Gibsons own words 'Stand by to pull me out of the seat in case I get hit' as flack and machine gun tracer fly around the screen as the lumbering Lancaster hurtles towards the Moehne at 60ft... Sends a tingle down the spine, and the whole thing, well... worth a thousand Private Ryans anyday.

And as for the hapless Amazon reviewer Philip Kemp, who declares "The Dam Busters turns a minor World War II incident into a saga of heroic stiff-upper-lippery"- well the facts are simple- the event itself far from being minor was a great moral booster in 1943 when Britain was still in the depths of a World War, and still yet to invade Europe- the only way to hit back was with the boys of Bomber Command. And 'the heroic stiff upper lippery' he mentions- hmm... Guy Gibson was a twenty five year old flying veteran when he led 617 Squadron (25??!!)- and one would guess that, not a man given to public outbursts of emotion. Call it stiff upper lip all you like, I think they were just a brave group of men and women who fortunately for us, won the war.
I'll get off my soap box now- but needless to say- I very much recommend this film.

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72 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Dam Busters, 11 Oct 2003
I have just read the review on the Dam Busters film on your website.
Having read this review I urge people to ignore the comments made by Philip Kemp as being a load of puerile nonsense. Comparing the death of Nigger(Guy Gibson's labrador) to the death of Bambi's Mum,is belittling the men who held this dog as a mascot. Guy Gibson firmly believed that had his crews found out about Nigger's death it would have been seen as bad luck and quite rightly so.
This was not a minor operation. It was a highly technical operation for the day, no radar, they had GEE not quite the same, flying at 100 feet across the channel and over Holland and Germany, and the 60 feet over the lakes to the dams.

In the context of the '40s the term "Nigger" did not have the conotation is has today. Does Philip Kemp fully realise the outside professionl expertise that is called upon in the making of this type of film. One can only do so much within a budget within the two hours allowed. It's a well known fact that film companies tend to embelish heroism and if Philip Kemp cannot recognise this as indicated by his trite statements he should get an education.
I know this film is revered amongst the vast majority of those who are knowledgeable before and after the fact. I would hate to think that a frivilous and sarcastic review would desuade people from buying such a wonderful and gratifying film that honours the participants(Commenwealth aircrew including one American who joined the Canadian Air Force) and a long lasting commeration to RAF Bomber Command and the durability of spirit as exhibited by the British people.

Simon Wainwright

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A great story, and an excellent transfer to DVD, 24 Jun 2003
By Bruce Kerslake "brucek39" (Ormiston, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is a great story based on fact, which often gives the best stories. Excellent reviews on the VHS version already exist, but Warner Bros are to be commended for the excellent transfer to DVD. The master tape was obviously looked after and has produced a crystal clear DVD well worth the upgrade from tape.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the Best British War stories Ever
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... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. R. S. Hutton Mckee

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Needs Special Effects?
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... Read more
Published 13 months ago by F. S. L'hoir

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the best
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... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2006 by M. Allen

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential classic
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. Read more
Published on 26 May 2006 by L. C. Raubenheimer

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dambusters is One of the Greats
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... Read more
Published on 18 April 2006 by StarkulfR

1.0 out of 5 stars Great story, great film..........terrible DVD transfer
Don't get me wrong.......I love the story and the film, but the transfer to DVD is a disaster. The black pixelation of the DVD picture (presumably made worse by the film being... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2005 by Kropotkin

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Review Is An Insult
The Dambuster was not in my view a "minor incident" from the 2nd World war as purported by the Amazon Review.The Amazon review is a disgrace! This is for two reasons. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great film about great men.
I had to write a review of this film. I obviously DON'T own the DVD (it not being out yet), but have seen the film several times both on TV, and on video. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars A dam fine movie
This great British Classic will never lose it's quality and charm. Even though I've seen this many times on TV, it's a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon when there's nothing... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2004 by F. Greene

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Film of Genre - Technically flawed DVD
Enough has been said by the other reviewers about the qualities of the film as fits the period and the style.

It IS a good film. Read more

Published on 4 Nov 2004 by Graeme J. W. Smith

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