Review of “The Dam Busters”

        A British film released in 1954, “The Dam Busters” is a dramatization of an imaginative and daring air mission that occurred during World War 2 (The mission really occurred, however, I’m not up in the history of it enough to give an opinion on the historical accuracy of this portrayal).  Dr. B.N. Wallis, played by Michael Redgrave (if you do not know him from his own stellar film career, you probably know of his daughters Lyn Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave), has an idea to halt the Nazi’s steel production by blowing up the dams that supply the necessary water.  The feat is harder than it may sound, and the Doctor spends many long hours testing and adjusting his theories.  Like many, if not most (if not all) inventors, there are those who don’t think his plan can work, and perhaps even question his sanity.  After all, what could come of the sort of experiments he’s performing?  As one character notes, “He spends hours and hours shooting golf balls up and down; every now and then he breaks a window.”

        Wallis’s plan involves dropping a bomb from an airplane in such a way that it skips across the water and lands close enough to the wall of the dam to blow it up.  Many factors play into this - the weight of the bomb, the height of the plane, and the timing among them.  Finally, after failures and rejections, Wallis’s plan is given the go-ahead.

        Then, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, played by Richard Todd, comes into the picture.  Richard Todd, by the way, is among my personal favorite actors.  Handsome, dark haired and blue eyed, this not-so-well-known Irish actor gave a poignant performance in the tearjerker “The Hasty Heart”.  Perhaps his greatest piece of acting was his moving portrayal of Peter Marshall in “A Man Called Peter”.  He also played Robin Hood in Disney’s live action version of the tale, and was in a number of film noirs (or should that be films noir?).  Gibson (if you’re still following my narrative after that side trail), is the man chosen to command the squadron that will carry out the mission.  Without knowing the target, he and his men train in low flying over water.

        Challenges and obstacles continue to impede the project until almost the last minute, but finally, the squadron is on its way to complete the mission.

        I’m generally not a big fan of war films.  Unlike many people, action scenes tend to bore me (with some exceptions), while dialog usually holds my interest (provided it isn’t too very dull).  This film has a mix of both - the action being mostly towards the end.  The special effects are sometimes cheesy.  However, I certainly do not feel that this spoils the movie.

        I feel obliged to mention that the film does contain some language, although I suppose by today's standards it would be considered mild.  While censorship in America from about the mid ‘30s to late ‘50s did not allow swearing/cursing (other than some notable exceptions), British censors were not so particular.

        This film touches on many emotions - dedication to and belief in an idea, love for a pet, comradeship, worry, grief, understanding.  Michael Redgrave did an excellent job as the quiet, unassuming inventor who believes in what he is doing.  Richard Todd was great as the cheerful, dog-loving Wing Commander.  There is a short appearance of Patrick McGoohan (another of my favorites), later of “Danger Man” (a.k.a. “Secret Agent”) and “The Prisoner” fame.  This was one of his first film roles, uncredited.

        I have noticed there often seems to be a certain something about British films that I can’t quite put my finger on.  Something of a haunting quality.  “The Dam Busters” is no exception.  The camera shots of the empty rooms towards the end were especially effective.

        Overall, I found it an interesting and engaging film.