Sink the Bismarck!
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.70 You Save: $8.28 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.10 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Sink the Bismarck!
Movie Review: A Great Movie About the Hunt for the Bismarck
Summary: 5 Stars
This fine film, made in 1960, does a fine job of re-creating the events surrounding the search for and eventual destruction of the pride of the German navy: the Bismarck. Veteran British actor Kenneth More stars as Captain Jonathan Shepard, a new officer who gets placed in charge of the hunt for the Bismarck in Britain's Naval Operations center. Shepard has a personal stake in seeing the Bismarck sunk. Bismarck's commander, Admiral Gunter Lutjens, played by Karel Stepanek, sunk Shepard's vessel earlier in the war. Dana Wynter stars as 2nd officer Anne Davis, an assistant to Capt. Shepard. A fictional implied but never shown romance develops between Shepard and Davis throughout the course of the film. Carl Mohner stars as Bismarck's Captain Lindemann.The battle scenes are excellent. One must remember when viewing this film that the special effects are from the 1960's, but that does nothing to detract from the excitement of the ship-to-ship combat scenes. The fight between the HMS Hood and Bismarck is the high point of the film. It was exciting to see the ships being straddled by the other's shells, and seeing the Hood blow up was especially thrilling.
The historical correctness of the film was excellent except for a few minor details. For example, during the attack on the Bismarck by the British Swordfish torpedo planes, the movie shows two being destroyed when in reality none were lost. Also, the movie depicts a British destroyer being sunk by Bismarck. This is also incorrect as the Hood was the only British loss. Finally, the movie depicts Admiral Lutjens as being a staunt supporter of the Nazi party. This is also false. Lutjens was against Naziism, and refused to give the Nazi salute, instead preferring to use the old German navy salute. The movie also depicted a rather close relationship between Lutjens and Lindemann. This was also not the case. In reality, the two German commanders disagreed on many topics, and at one point during the heat of battle, Lindemann said to Lutjens that he refused to sit by while his ship was shot out from underneath him. Aside from these points, the historical aspect of the movie is very well done.
I highly recommend this film. The acting is excellent and the battle scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat. Watch this great movie and experience the hunt for the most feared ship in the German navy.
Movie Review: Sink the Bismarck
Summary: 5 Stars
SINK THE BISMARCK is a fine based-on-fact war movie. A sea chase movie, in fact, based on a C.S. Forester book I haven't read about the hunt to ground of the German super-battleship Bismarck in World War II. Blissfully unconcerned much with character development, distracting sub-plots, or too cute with mystery about the final outcome, it nevertheless has an understated, sustained tension that more than compensates.
I like British war movies that contain at least one extended scene set in a bunkered cellar headquarters. The uniformed military men dodder around, pensive or animated, while uniformed young women push toy boats or planes around about a very large tabled map. It promises to feature either intrepid fly boys or gallant seas dogs who sally forth against daunting odds to protect hearth and home against the Marauding Hun. Better yet when it has a Churchill sequence wherein the Prime Minister phones in just as the cusp of the pivotal moment is reached, when the LAST squadron is about to be dispatched, to tell all that "in this we cannot fail."
SINK THE BISMARCK has all this and more. Kenneth More, in fact, who stars as the Admiralty operations chief Captain Jonathan Shepard, an unfailingly competent commander who sits on a keg of wartime personal tragedy with nary a quiver of his stiff upper lip. Dana Wynter is pretty young 2nd Officer Anne Davis, a hyper-efficient yeoman who throws some bunker compassion Shepard's way - People need to talk their problems over with other people - but, thankfully, the movie never gets too serious about such things.
What the film is serious about, though, is the real-look and real-feel. Special effects artist Richard Goodwin, Howard Lydecker and Bill Warrington have done some of the best miniature work you'll ever see. Director Lewis Gilbert also incorporates stock and documentary footage to give this a you-are-there feeling. Legendary newscaster Edward R. Murrow plays himself broadcasting from war-torn London. I'm not sure his presence adds a lot to the telling of the tale, but it does add a layer of authenticity. A very strong endorsement for this war at sea movie, especially for the war movie fans but good enough for the whole family.
Movie Review: One of the Best Brit Movies Just After War II
Summary: 5 Stars
After the sinking of the HMS Hood, the English seek to put all their units in quest to sink the Bismarck. She had 13 inch welded armor, so the task is set. With her 15 inch guns she would reek havoc in the sea lanes, if she gets into the convoys. Also, she can sit back and shoot 1,700 lb projectiles before most ships can get into range. A chase and strategy ensues ending with a lucky hit on the rudder of the Bismarck by a biwing torpedo plane, just in time to prevent her escape to a French port. This caused her to steer in circles until the pack closes in and ...
The movie action shifts from the war room to the ships at sea carrying out the orders. The hunt strategy is well put forth in the English war room in London. The personal elements of the English combatants are handled nicely. The Germans, Captain Lindemann and Fleet Commander Luetjens, however, are portrayed as less human and with an ax to grind for the glory of Germany, the Fuehrer, and their own careers, particularly with Fleet Commander Luetjens on the Bismarck.
This one has superb acting by Kenneth Moore and reflects the war room scenes quite realistically. Kenneth More interacts with his attractive female assistant. A work relationship develops that has an implied future. The feeling of the movie is definitely "documentary" mode.
By the way, the Bismarck was found and photographed by the National Geographic Magazine on the bottom of the sea. The photographs revealed her forward 15 inch gun turrets were missing. Only two holes showed. The heavy turrets were kept in place simply by gravity. As the ship went down, she rolled and the turrets fell out. See http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographics-Search-Battleship-Bismarck/dp/6304475829
Movie Review: Saw the DVD today - and liked it
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched an advance review copy of this DVD tonight and really enjoyed it. In addition to the movie, the DVD features not only the trailer for the main feature, but also a vintage 1941 MovieTone newsreel of the real battle to sink the Bismark and trailers for the other movies in the upcoming spate of "Fox War Classics" ("The Blue Max", "The Enemy Below", "Heaven Knows Mr. Allison", "The Desert Fox" and "13 Rue Madeleine."
Based on a book of the same name, which was in turn based on the real incidents in World War 2, the movie "Sink the Bismarck" retells the tale of the dogged effort by the British Royal Navy to track down and attempt to destroy the German battle cruiser Bismarck.
Much of the movie takes place at the Admiralty in London where the superb British actor Kenneth Moore surveys the ships as would a chess player on a large board, in an attempt to second guess and outmaneuver the German vessel.
The DVD is in fine shape and I did not notice any artifacts or nicks. Considering the age of the picture it is surprising that it should be so well prsented here, so full marks must go to 20th Century Fox. I have seen this movie before on television and I do not believe I have ever seen it looking as crisp and focused as it does on this DVD.
Altogether, this is easy to recommend especially considering the low price.
p.s. Viewers in the United States should also seek out, and watch, the superb 2-hour History Channel documentary of the same name. It would make an excellent companion-piece to this movie if the producers should decide to release it as a DVD.
Movie Review: A fine dramatization of a famous victory.
Summary: 5 Stars
The duel between the British Admiralty and fleet, and the Bismarck, is a great story, and deserves a great telling. This movie does the job. The acting and storyline are first rate, and as long as one doesn't mind the black-and-white format, there is very little to criticize about this film. I found it to be terribly engrossing, and the minor dramatization and low-key love interest between the two leads did not detract from the grand theme of the movie: the vital task of destroying the great German battleship Bismarck before she could get loose out in the Atlantic and wreak havoc on the British convoy system--the jugular vein of the British nation even as she fought alone for her survival against the Nazi juggernaught.A few minor points of criticism. I understand that the German fleet commander, Lutjens, was nothing like as portrayed in this film. In the film he is shown as a rather venal, fanatical Nazi. The real Lutjens was apparently nothing like that, and was evidently not even a member of the Nazi party. Well, I suppose a war film of this kind needs a "bad" Nazi character.
The liberties with the historical record aside, this is a wonderful film about a vital and critical battle of World War 2. This is one that you'll watch and enjoy more than once. Highly recommended.