|
The Dam Busters flew in huge Lancaster bombers at extremely
low levels - 20 metres - from Britain to the Ruhr and dropped
brilliantly designed round bombs that would skip across the
water of the dams, roll down their walls and then explode.
This would then crack the walls and the weight of stored water
would bring them down.
The top-secret missions were devastatingly successful, however,
they came at a high cost for the men involved.
One of this chap's favourite movies, The Dam Busters
tells the tale of the flying heroes with Richard Todd playing
the VC-winning commander Guy Gibson. Todd is just ultra cool
as Gibson and takes everything thrown at him with courage,
style and acceptance.
The other major character in the saga of the squadron was
not an airman at all, but rather a bespectacled scientist
by the name of Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave). He came up
with the bouncing bomb idea and then by sheer determination
managed to persuade authorities it would work.
Throw in pilots, gunners, bombadiers and navigators from
every part of the British Empire and it was a Good Guys XI
vs the Huns.
A lot of time is spent in the movie on Barnes Wallis' battle
to develop the bomb and the training of the air crews, however,
there is never a dull moment and when the action comes it
is very exciting indeed.
The video transfer quality is pretty good - although there
are one heck of a lot of film artefacts- and the sound is
acceptable.
If you haven't seen The Dam Busters then do yourself
a favour and take the time to do so - it is well worth it.
It is one of four movies available in the British War DVD
Collection - The Cruel Sea, The Colditz Story,
The Dambusters and Ice Cold in Alex.
Conclusion: 85% Extras: 20%.
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
|
