The Dam Busters

1955 2h 4m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 166

DramaHistoryWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of the conception of a new British weapon for smashing the German dams in the Ruhr industrial complex and the execution of the raid by 617 Squadron 'The Dam Busters'.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Richard Todd
Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.
Michael Redgrave
Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.
Ursula Jeans
Mrs. Wallis
Basil Sydney
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.
Patrick Barr
Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.
Ernest Clark
Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.
Derek Farr
Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.
Charles Carson
Doctor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Anderson
Writers: R.C. Sherriff
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 5

ERA

Did you know

71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 5

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Anderson, shot by Erwin Hillier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 5

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Richard Best shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 5

CAST

Did you know

Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave and Ursula Jeans carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 5

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0046889 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Anderson directs. Erwin Hillier behind the camera. Richard Best cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

171 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Michael Anderson, shot by Erwin Hillier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Richard Best shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave and Ursula Jeans carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0046889 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Erwin Hillier
Editing: Richard Best
Makeup / hair: Stuart Freeborn
Runtime: 124 min · 2h 4m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Dam Busters (1955)

Also by

Michael Anderson

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-11-14
★ 7/10
I think sometimes it is important to remember that even 10 years after the war was over, there was still an appetite - even a neccessity - for war stories that celebrated (ok, and frequently embellished) the successes of the many ordinary folk who fought in the war. This film is one such story. Based on real events and characters it is nonetheless a drama. It does manipulate the facts a little; though the use of bouncing bombs - innovatively designed from scratch - well, with a little help from Napoleon - by Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave) to destroy three German dams on the Ruhr by a squadron led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) is fact. The film gradually demonstrates the frustrations as these devices are tested, of the dedication of those charged with delivering them and, of course, of the peril faced by the crews - many of whom were destined never to return. I saw this recently on television and the announcer apologised in advance for the "racist language" which i assumed referred to Gibson's dog. Strange it didn't see fit to apologise for the portrayal of indiscriminate death inflicted by both sides on the other. An odd, modern day irony only made possible by the exploits of the sorts of people and achievements this film sets out to commemorate.

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