Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
Stars Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Stanley Van Beers, Brewster Mason, Tony Doonan | Written by R.C. Sherriff
UK Certification U | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 124 minutes | Directed by Michael Anderson
What can be said about this fine, fine film that hasn't been already since its release in 1955? The Dam Busters is not only one of the greatest war films of all time, it's one of the greatest British films of all time. Look at any top 50 list at a reputable, credible source and you're sure to find it there, and rightfully so.
So what is it about The Dam Busters that makes it such a riveting piece of cinema? Is it the excellent framing of shots? Is it the wonderfully wide range of characters and performances from a stellar cast? Is it the epic aerial assault at the tail end of the movie that inspired the attack on the Death Star in the very first Star Wars film? It's absolutely all of those points and then some.
If somehow you are not familiar with the classic story, it is based on true events, and not loosely either like many films these days with their proclamations of history supporting their yarns. On May 17, 1943, Operation Chastise was carried out by the members of the No. 617 Squadron of the RAF, a mission shrouded in secrecy even for its crew for six weeks up until the very day of the operation, merely hours before aircraft took to the skies to drop the newly invented bouncing bombs on a number of German dams in their Second World War debut.
This is the second Blu-ray release of The Dam Busters and it's only been a short while since the first, but as that contained zilch in the way of extras, this 55th Anniversary Special Edition is welcome, although only one feature, an albeit interesting documentary, has been added. Why couldn't the trailer and some other bits and pieces have made the cut? For a film to be released twice on a format that's in its infancy and still be bare bones is atrocious.
But onto the positives of this release: the picture and sound quality. Beautiful and stunning. This black and white film from yesteryear has been reinvented on Blu-ray and given a new lease on life. The picture is crisp and ever so clear, and no cropping burdens the transfer, something that appears far too often in HD remasters of older films. At two hours it's a fairly long film and one that I hadn't seen for years prior to investigating the Blu-ray, but what a refreshing, enjoyable experience to relive.
EXTRAS ★★ 617 Squadron Remember: a brand new hour-long documentary presented by historian and author Max Arthur about the real-life mission, featuring the surviving members of 617 Squadron. Unlike many docs on Blu-rays, this extra is thankfully in full HD. For a "Special Edition", there should be so much more.