Movie Cosmos - The Dam Busters

Description:

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'.

Top Cast >

Richard Todd

As Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.

Michael Redgrave

As Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.

Ursula Jeans

As Mrs. Wallis

Basil Sydney

As Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.

Patrick Barr

As Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.

Ernest Clark

As Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.

Derek Farr

As Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Charles Carson

As Doctor

Stanley Van Beers

As Sir David Pye, C.B., F.R.S.

Colin Tapley

As Doctor W.H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E.

Frederick Leister

As Committee Member

Eric Messiter

As Committee Member

Laidman Browne

As Committee Member

Raymond Huntley

As Official, National Physical Laboratory

Hugh Manning

As Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production

Edwin Styles

As Observer at Trials

Hugh Moxey

As Observer at Trials

Anthony Shaw

As R.A.F. Officer at Trials

Laurence Naismith

As Farmer

Harold Siddons

As Group Signals Officer

Frank Phillips

As BBC Announcer

Brewster Mason

As Flt / Lt. R. D. Trevor-Roper, D.F.C., D.F.M.

Tony Doonan

As Flt / Lt. R. E. G. Hutchison, D.F.C.

Nigel Stock

As Flying / Off. F. M. Spafford, D.F.C., D.F.M.

Brian Nissen

As Flt / Lt. A. T. Taerum, D.F.C.

Robert Shaw

As Flt / Sgt. J. Pulford, D.F.M.

Peter Assinder

As Plt/Off. G. A. Deering, D.F.C.

Richard Leech

As Squadron Leader H. M. Young, D.F.C.

Richard Thorp

As Squadron Leader H. E. Maudslay, D.F.C.

John Fraser

As Flight Lieutenant J. V. Hopgood, D.F.C.

David Morell

As Flight Lieutenant W. Astell, D.F.C.

Bill Kerr

As Flight Lieutenant H. B. Martin, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C.

George Baker

As Flight Lieutenant D. J. H. Maltby, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Ronald Wilson

As Flight Lieutenant D. J. Shannon, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Denys Graham

As Flying Officer L. G. Knight, D.S.O.

Basil Appleby

As Flight Lieutenant R. C. Hay, D.F.C.

Tim Turner

As Flight Lieutenant J. F. Leggo, D.F.C.

Ewen Solon

As Flight Sergeant G. E. Powell

Harold Goodwin

As Wing Comdr. Gibson's Batman

Patrick McGoohan

As Guard at door (uncredited)

Peter Arne

As Staff Officer to Air-Vice Marshal Cochrane (uncredited)

Edward Cast

As Crew Member (uncredited)

Richard Coleman

As RAF Officer (uncredited)

Brenda De Banzie

As Waitress (uncredited)

Peter Diamond

As Tail Gunner (uncredited)

Gerald Harper

As RAF Officer (uncredited)

Arthur Howard

As RAF Pay Clerk in NAAFI (uncredited)

Lloyd Lamble

As Collins (uncredited)

Philip Latham

As Flight Sergeant (uncredited)

Edwin Richfield

As RAF Officer (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Michael Anderson

Director

Erwin Hillier

Director of Photography, Aerial Camera

Paul Brickhill

Author

Leighton Lucas

Music

Guy Gibson

Author

R.C. Sherriff

Screenplay

Norman Warwick

Camera Operator

Stuart Freeborn

Makeup Artist

Robert Jones

Art Direction

George Blackwell

Special Effects

W.A. Whittaker

Production Supervisor

Hilda Fox

Hairstylist

Gordon Scott

Production Manager

Arthur Southgate

ADR & Dubbing

Robert Lennard

Casting Director

John Street

Assistant Director

Robert Clark

Executive In Charge Of Production

Harold V. King

Recording Supervision

G. B. Walker

Casting Director

Eric Coates

Additional Music

Gilbert Taylor

Special Effects

Thelma Orr

Continuity

J. N. H. Whitworth

Technical Advisor

Richard Best

Editor

Louis Levy

Music Director

Philip Barnikel

Assistant Editor

Les Hammond

Sound Recordist

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (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.

2022-11-14