THE MAKING OF THE DAM BUSTERS | Documentary

[@michaelalexander2306]

Great video. One detail I heard of was the the dog who played Gibson's dog in the film was an Army dog of the same name. Richard Todd, himself a dog-lover, asked his handler to 'borrow' the dog, so he could build a rapport with him - something you can see in the film. He was even allowed to have the dog stay with him at the White Hart hotel in Lincoln, where they stayed during filming. Unheard of in those days, at least one other black labrador has stayed there - my own assistance dog, Lyla.

[@COIcultist]

Not mentioned in the documentary ww2gravestone.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/download-31.jpg?f0589e&f0589e Racist? Who would call their dog after something they hated or despised? Britain had little to no experience of black people then other than men who had come to help our country fight a war. There was often problems with the American's treatment of their black troops off base. Does that sound racist? The bastards at the politically correct end of the MOD and RAF even desecrated a grave. www.thesun.co.uk/news/12143911/guy-gibson-dambusters-dog-name-labrador-grave-changed/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53446494 What do they now say was the codeword for a breaching of a dam?

[@B-A-L]

@@COIcultist This is one of the main reasons why Peter Jackson cancelled the remake of The Dambusters a few years ago! The irony is that the people that would have taken offence by the name are the people who would be less likely to be interested in the movie in the first place!

[@Kneichion]

Sadly I found the dog being killed a bit upsetting. The movie is about death and life. I didn't feel it did anything & should have left it out.

[@PenzancePete]

@@COIcultist What the snowflakes don't understand was that black things were often referred to as nigger. English is a Latin based language, the Latin word for black being nigreos. The Spanish for black is negro. Are you getting the idea? The word nigger comes from the southern U.S.A. pronunciation of negro (referring to a person's race) which was niggra. I'm from western Europe which makes me Caucasian, someone from China is Oriental) Gibson wasn't being racist when he called his black dog nigger, he was just reflecting the dog's colour. As for R.A.F. racism, compare how the R.A.F. pilots from Jamaica and Trinidad were treated compared with U.S.A.A.F. pilots of which the Americans stated that, "The black man will not have the skills to fly airplanes". The U.S. forces came to Britain and bought their racial inequality and apartheid with them.

[@chrisbell5920]

@@PenzancePete > Thankyou to you sir for having the integrity and the personal honesty in relating history as near as humanly possible to actual names and events. No amount of political correctness, "wokeness" or cancel culture will ever change the name of the black labrador which was named Nigger by its distinguished owner for the simple reason of the colour of it's fur. No racism was implied nor meant by the name; the pretend-to-be-insulted-on-behalf-of-someone-else brigade no doubt would also refuse to wear the Poppy too.

[@captaincrash9286]

Richard Todd described filming the final scene with Michael Redgrave in an interview. As he walked away from the camera he was quietly weeping. He had his own experience of letter writing. I never watch that scene without shedding a tear for the ordinary people who sacrificed and achieved so much in extraordinary times.

[@redbird9658]

Amen.

[@landoremick7422]

Braver than we. Real courage is knowing you may not survive, but doing it regardless.

[@googleit2824]

Might be mistaken but I don't think noel coward was in the Dambusters.

[@stevengriffin7873]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Spoken by a true hero,your bravery in the face of the enemy has been noted.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

@@stevengriffin7873 a put down worthy of a true Englishman. Sir, I salute you

[@B-A-L]

This movie always felt personal to me because Sir Harold 'Mick' Martin, the Australian pilot who was third in command of the raid and flew P For Popsy, was my father's commanding officer when he was based at RAF Nicosia in Cyprus in the 1960s. It was made all the more personal when I chose 617 Squadron as the subject of my extended history essay, which was as long as Paul Brickhill's book, for my History 'O' level in the 1980s and my mother wrote to Mick Martin to tell him about it and he wrote back with his appreciation and a copy of a Dambusters raid print signed with a personal message to me! She was also able to arrange a visit to 617 Squadron for me where I got to have lunch with some of the aircrew and had a personal tour of one of the glorious Vulcans they were flying at the time! God bless 617 Squadron, all who served in it and all who still do!

[@theadventuresofred19]

I met Micky martin at his house in Warwick Gardens and gave him a pewter Lancaster bomber. A really decent guy. Never to be forgotten.

[@veronicabennett4359]

Sir Harold 'Mick' Martin returned to Germany in the early 1970's when he became Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany.

[@CaminoAir]

The losses suffered during this mission really hit home in the film and the stoic professionalism in the face of it. That's a tribute to the realism striven for by Michael Anderson and his cast and crew.

[@TheLucanicLord]

"I have some letters to write". Perfectly understated.

[@lawrencemartin1113]

What a lovely documentary on this iconic film and war time mission. As a young boy, infatuated and obsessed with aviation (I still am!) and having been born only 17 years after the end of the Second World War, I was incredibly fortunate to discover that my older brother was at school with Barnes Wallis's two grandsons. (I think I was just about to leave my primary school at the time and join the same secondary school). He was also in a band with the older of the two. This led to a friendship between my family and theirs. One Sunday lunchtime, having been invited over to their house for the day with my parents while the 'boys' rehearsed their music, I found myself sitting next to the great Barnes Wallis himself, who was then living with his daughter, the mother of the two grandsons. I was completely overawed by the experience and my recollection of the day was of him being very kind to me and although by then an elderly man, he was gentle and calm and rather quiet. I have never forgotten that amazing opportunity. Tragically, a short while later, his younger grandson, Ricky, was killed in a terrible road accident on his way to our home, where he stayed with us once a week, having been to some late evening, extra classes at our school. I can remember that night so clearly and we never got over it. I can only imagine the terrible loss their family felt. The film is still one my favourite films but clearly has all sorts of deeper associations. Thank you to all involved in the making of this great documentary.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The Chastise war crime was a complete failure, as Harris and Speer confirmed.

[@ShevillMathers]

👍🇬🇧🇦🇺🦘I joined the RAF in July 1956 and was so proud at the time-the film and the music was front and centre during this time. Recreating real events made it so special, even today at age 83, it feels like only last week. Fantastic to view this again to see how it was all done.

[@redbird9658]

Hard to comprehend all Guy Gibsons achievements by the age of 25.

[@scopex2749]

What a SUPERB ACCURATE documentary - thank you. I first saw this film when I was about 8 years old and THAT made me always want to sign up to the Royal Air Force. Such a dynamic powerful emotional film. I was amazed at the flying sequences and NOW know how it was all done. At 16 I signed up as an apprentice, to serve my Queen and country and joined the RAF as an aircraft engineer. We had a camp cinema and once we had all had our heads clipped and uniforms issued we were marched in the base cinema for a 'special duty'. We were sat down, the murmur died down and the curtains opened across the screen.........We were to watch "THE DAMBUSTERS".........apparently shown to ALL entries as their first movie!! Due to this film and the Battle of Britain I also now fly myself training to be a pilot. The real crews were my heroes and it was an honour to carry on a small part of the RAF's history. We actually lived next door to one of the pilots for several years! RIP to all those who were lost in this and other air missions. High Flight my brothers unto thees is glory given, "I slip the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings"......Per Ardua Ad Astra - Thank you for our freedom today.✝

[@karlwicking2328]

Really enjoyed the documentary. A film close to our hearts as the film editor was my wife's grandad.

[@francislintonellis8402]

A wonderful documentary when being proud to be British was a good thing

[@catinthehat906]

The interesting thing is that this film and the two of the other classics of the genre, The Great Escape and Reach for the Sky that are seen as quintessentially British, were taken from books of the same name by Australian fighter pilot Paul Brickhill.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

@@catinthehat906 he also wrote the Dam Busters

[@davman115]

@@catinthehat906 Same thing. We are made from the same mold.

[@philipmonaghan8267]

It still is something to be proud of!!!

[@mikeross4]

It still is!

[@davidrowley8577]

THIS is one of my most favorite films....so THIS was a BIG TIME TREAT!

[@davidrowley8577]

@@Jon-es-i6o Love your comment...👍 👊

[@coolhand1964]

It's been written that Barnes Wallace suffered greatly from grief and guilt over the loss of lives on the raid and was never the same enthusiast man after. Some idiots claim the raid was a failure because Germany re-built the dams, when the disruption to German manufacturing and morale boost to the UK were dramatic. Unfortunately they did not do follow up raids when the dams were being repaired, even high level bombing, it is felt by historians that this would have driven home the initial success of the first raid. It is also worth noting the age of those on the raid. They were all just out of their teens. Brave men every one of them.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

I would love to see this film as it once was! Well done to the people that did this! This film has always touched me as my dad lost his brother who was a navigator back then! My mum was in the WRAF and died in September 2019 aged 95! We used to talk about those days and mum gave me a real flavour, just as my dad did with the work he did back then! Hence me loving this film as it is historical as well as factual! This documentary has been well done too! Thank you for doing this great work to allow us an insight on this wonderful and poignant film! R.I.P all the men in Bomber Command and all of the RAF and ARMY and NAVY in WWII We can never thank you enough!

[@B-A-L]

Hear Hear!

[@nigeldewallens1115]

@@B-A-L Thank you kindly

[@lisaburnett3368]

Thank you. And we should never forget the heroism of the guys who were in this. It's stands for what and who we are. God bless x

[@prsearls]

One of the greatest WWII films; I've watched it many times and enjoyed it immensely each time. I'll need to get the remastered version. The skill and heroism of those crews are well portrayed and the sight and sound of those Lancasters is wonderful. The photography, especially the aerial photography, is superb. The special effects in 1954 are nothing compared to today's computer generated effects. Nevertheless, you get the idea of the danger and incredible skill required for this mission.

[@funkyalfonso]

Seeing this film as a boy had an impact on me as my late father was a friend of the brother of RAF Officer Ottley who was shot down and killed in C for Charlie in the third wave. RIP.

[@wessexdruid7598]

When I was an Air Cadet in the 70s, the annual pre-Christmas screening of 'The Dambusters' was a time-honoured event. Then in 1975, our Annual Camp was to Scampton - where we climbed aboard 617 Sqn Vulcans and visited the Sqn Museum, complete with all the scale models of the dams that had been built for the briefings. The gate guards at the time were Lancaster NX611 and a Grand Slam bomb. (It is a regularly repeated urban myth that the Grand Slam was found later still to have explosive in it..)

[@richardvernon317]

There was a Live bomb next to a Gate Guard at Scampton, but it was found in 1958.

[@mycroft1905]

Thank you for posting this documentary about the making of a film that I have treasured since I first saw it in childhood.

[@bodieofci5418]

Superb film. The books are even better. I have fond memories of my grandad reading me the book as a bedtime story and then seeing the film with him and my dad.

[@tiamatxvxianash9202]

Like the gentleman emphasized at the end, this story is about immortality. The final scene in the Damuster's film when guy Gibson walks off; he does so into eternity, into his own special place in Valhalla. From the epic tales of old, like Xenophon's 10,000, up to the more modern stories of heroism like Scott and Shackleton, all of us have benefited infinitely by these examples of selfless devotion to the most righteous principles of man's existence.

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

I love this film not only because I have always adored Richard Todd but the Lancaster's are just wonderful the sound of those engines are magnificent. If I was only allowed to have one film this would be it.

[@Bruce-1956]

The crew are still heroes to me even after all these years. I pay my respects to them as often as possible. Last week Les Knight. #wewillrememberthem

[@googleit2824]

Yeah bcos MichaelKingsfordGray really is your name. Signed G

[@colindale1562]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Redundant Person

[@peterscotney1]

What an excellent documentary! I grew up watching great films like this....the highlight of my week would be when my dad would let us stay up late on Saturday night to watch the big war movies !

[@keithbartlett4909]

Thanks for a very informative documentary, so much background material included. The film its self is a masterpiece, well acted and capturing something of the raid itself. The pressures on the crews to train and carry out that mission is hard to comprehend and all such young men. Then, of course, there's Wallis himself having to pull it all together in such a short time. They truly were 'men of their time'. Documentaries with modern pilots flying so called re-enactments never fail to be astonished at what was achieved in that raid. An indication of their ability was revealed to me some years ago when a documentary featuring Ken Brown, the Canadian pilot, who flew in the back-up wave of planes explained something of his experience that night. Ordered to bomb the Sorpe dam, he relates arriving over it and only seeing the church steeple above the mist. He carried out his attack after having to do a stall turn in his Lancaster. Such a manoeuvre beggars belief with a plane of that size. I wonder if he warned the crew...

[@rustykilt]

Hollywood, take note, this is how you make a fine movie, and a brilliant war movie. It is understated, but portrays the reality of air warfare, with emphasis placed on the Characters portrayed, just ordinary men facing the likelihood of death. There are no Hysterics, soap opera performances, or deliberate handwringing emotion to play the audience. Its told with all the realism of a generation now virtually gone, their ideals and attitudes, beliefs and standards which today have little meaning. The film remains a classic that today may hold more relevance as pride in your country and to fight for your beliefs , no matter the sacrifice , appears to be an archaic concept.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Remake of Midway, Dunkirk & pearl Harbour et all. Rubbish compared to the originals!

[@edmundscycles1]

@@jimcrawford5039 I liked Dunkirk but also hated it . The aircraft nerd in me counted 42 seconds of gun fire from the spitfire Mki when it only carried enough ammo for 14 seconds of fire . It did stretch things a little far in places but at least it was mostly realistic and used real 109's and spitfires .

[@andrewoliver8930]

@@jimcrawford5039 The original Battle of Midway isn't that great.

[@tommycockles2947]

hollywood couldnt make a film like the dambusters if they tried, unless it was with americans stealing british achievements .even the russians make better films than hollywood

[@MichaelCampin]

Skip bombing was used at the Battle of the Nile by Lord Horatio Nelson and Barnes Wallis adapted this for the attacks on the Dams

[@Chucklesrailarchive]

In my book The Dam Busters is the best British film ever made. I always get a tear when when Richard Tod says he has letters to write at the end of the film.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The failed Operation Chastise murdered thousands of civilians and Allied POWs.

[@Bulletguy07]

I was always in awe of Michael Redgraves portrayal of Barnes Wallis. His acting was superb and exactly how I imagined the real Barnes Wallis to be.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Barnes Wallis was not as portrayed. He was sharp and decisive and not the grnteel

[@rowanhawklan9707]

Between the age of 5 and 8 I sat on my father's lap and watched this film twice of a Sunday afternoon, my farther cried on both occasions, he died at 52 when I was 10. Watching this documentary at 51 I now am old enough to know why it affected him as it did, not only since it brings back memories of my farther (who served in the army at the end of the war) but as it reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice people made fighting the curse of Nazi Germany and their allies.

[@neiltully4579]

Sadly RAF Scampton is now under threat, surely we can’t allow such an important base to become yet another faceless housing estate....history such as this is priceless, otherwise what’s the point in all this sacrifice.......

[@stephenburgess5109]

It was the same with fate of HMS Plymouth the Warship that took the surrender of the Argentine Forces in South Georgia in 82 and turned into a museum ship in Birkenhead until the council wanted the berth it was offered to Plymouth but rejected and ended up being scrapped in Turkey.

[@redbird9658]

Too many people dont care any more. Schools not teaching history and patriotism. No morning prayers, traditions trampled on. Instead of including all religions they have banned ours. Its a Godless society they want.

[@stephenburgess5109]

Red Bird but they all now all the 100 different genders and the names of all the reality stars

[@jackywhite880]

It says on the Cenotaph and other monuments "We shall never forget." Most people forgot years ago, both to remember and to care.

[@jackywhite880]

@@redbird9658 I'm a godless man too - and make no apologies. Which is why I fail to see what religion has to do either with patriotism, the protection of the country, or with remembering those who served - not just in combat, but in every possible sort of way.

[@stevemance2812]

An amazing documentary and tribute to all those involved in Operation Chastise, and to those involved in making a much love classic British World War 2 movie.

[@ajg617]

Riveting film first shown in the US on broadcast television in the 1960s. Cemented my love of the Avro Lancaster and the bravery of 617 Sqdn. One of two films that had a profound impact on me as a teen. Pestered my parents for the Brickhill book and Enemy Coast Ahead. Years later with the purchase of our first VHS player in the late '70s, went to the store selling VHS tapes to to my amazement found The Dam Busters. Bought that and Star Wars Episode IV ("I'd say there's 10 guns, some in the fields and some in the towers'). Each tape was was over $70US. Please release the restored version in Region One!

[@COIcultist]

One wants to pay fair dues but if films are not available in hard copy try other online sources. Might I recommend OK Russia, I do promise that is not a dodgy site and I have found WWII films I never knew existed. To find a genre of films look up a film that you know then look at what else that poster has uploaded. Might I suggest as a starter "The Foreman Went To France" which I doubt many have seen. A film made during WWII.

[@maggiel.516]

This was a cracking good documentary. I also enjoyed the person practising piano in the background.

[@melvyncox3361]

Excellent documentary of one or the best films ever,the others being The Battle of Britain,The Blue Max,and 633 Squadron. All great films!

[@B-A-L]

Tbh I wouldn't include The Blue Max or 633 Squadron because neither were based on true stories.

[@timmymcneive7975]

633 squadron:the winners flying over to bomb the losers so they can’t use atomic bombs.CLASSIC🤑🤕

[@christianluts810]

Quite a good documentary spoiled by the addition of tuneless music and the bizarre overlay of faux pencil "mark-up" graphics.

[@anthonydavis5779]

The volume of the background music is ok with the narration but too loud for the interviews.

Robert Shaw also starred in James Bond's "From Russia with Love", and portrayed the fanatical nazi Panzer commander in the "Battle of the Bulge" (his hair being dyed blond for the occasion)

[@bobskimaxx]

Excellent documentary and my most loved film. Brave men all of them.

[@colinthomas5462]

Excellent documentary of a great film and a piece of British history that must be preserved.

[@derekjohnston1183]

These men were prepared to sacrifice their lives.

[@davidbrouwers7309]

S/L Young's crew received the first hit by the Ack Ack in my home town, the 2nd by the Ack Ack in the town where I went to school, they crashed near the coast of Castricum trying to land on a sandbar. The entire crew was killed on the return flight of the Dam raid. To me this raid has faces and names as well as a story.

[@concise707]

53 of the 133 participants did......

[@bigbow62]

Classic movie... so glad I found this documentary ! Brave men,courageous & love of country... thank them one and all from heart !

[@olwens1368]

I realised some years ago that war films made in the 50s/60s and even 70s were so much better than modern ones because the men who acted in them had usually been in the services, even if not actually during the war. Thus they knew how to stand, walk, react to and give commands. I think the difference for me was highlighted by the differences between the 'Colditz' story TV series in the mid 70s and one made about 20 years ago. Also better scripts, less political correctness etc etc- but I still think it's a significant factor.

[@richardmabe4186]

I loved this film from being a child, I admired the bravery of the airmen, the Lancaster's and the story of inspired Barnes Wallis. The music stills stirs me and makes me tearful with pride. If only war wasn't such a tragic ghastly waste.

[@stevedavies5553]

Thank u for posting this. Dambusters is 1 of my favourite films. I can honestly say i enjoyed it immensely. Very Very brave men and may we never forget what the brave crews did. I was once asked if i had chance to sit down with anyone from the past who has died i always reply 1 My mother 2 Barnes wallace I always rember in the film when Mr Wallace is asked How do you suggest i get Bomber command to allow you to use one of there aeroplanes Mr Wallace ? He replys ,perhaps if you tell them i designed it Case Closed

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The bouncing bomb was a failure.

[@monkeyspankerful]

Lovely to see the making of one of the true classics.

[@stephenmoss2554]

Good doc but a couple of comments. The big secret of the bomb was not its shape but the fact that it was spun backwards. It was originally barrel shaped but kept breaking up when impacting the water. They found that the cylindrical core performed almost as well. Also consider one of the best scenes was where crews waiting to take off. Read somewhere that it was the longest single take at the time. Consider this contender for best war film ever made.

[@joylunn3445]

Also Richard Todd and Robert Shaw had been trained to get the Lancaster to the point of take-off.

[@smac4749]

Excellent documentary, a fitting tribute to a wonderful, moving film which itself was a fitting tribute to those who risked their lives and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

[@sunseeker8457]

After the war. Most people involved with the operation. Pilots, Wallis suffered a lot of guilt and wondered afterwards the cost of all the lives lost. Not only the pilots lost. But the surviving pilots guilt was about the villages and the people living around the Dams that were all killed. But if these Dams were no destroyed. So many more lives would have been lost in the war.

[@edwardfalcus7013]

I was stationed at RAF Hemswell (along with fred trueman) when they were making this film and remember the lancasters taking off/landing - wish i'd had my smartphone in those days!

[@Bob-Horse]

Lovely documentary. I also understand that two of Barnes Wallis’ relatives were in the film. The Testing tank at Teddington scene, that guy with glasses at the back of the crew firing the balls and, the lady in the pit recording the impact of the ball against the mocked-up wall.

[@sparky4152003]

I met Gilbert Taylor 'Gil' the camera man - he retired to the Isle of Wight, which is where I met him and whilst working at his house found out about his time as a camera man in Star Wars, I had no idea until now of just how many films he was involved in including the Dam Busters - fantastic filming of course.

[@paulstroud2647]

I believe George Lucas used the attack sequence as inspiration for the final battle in Star Wars, maybe not a coincidence?

[@adriandchadburn2612]

In about 1967 was at a recruitment evening for local Air Training Corps. Barnes Wallis gave a talk about his career followed by a showing of The Dam Busters.

[@petergrist8577]

Nice documentary about an amazing film, such a shame it was interrupted every five minutes by adverts.

[@ThePierre58]

The Dambuster movie is a permanent fixture on my laptop. It stands the test of time, even the lack of CGI works.

[@Gill12283]

It's monstrous what is proposed for RAF Scampton today! Desecrating the memory of these brave men! This government should be overthrown!

[@PaulStratford-vn8ed]

Well said

[@chuckabutty888]

A wonderful documentary. Films like this should be shown on Rememberance Day to educate our young generations as to how they have the freedom they have today from the heroism and sacrifices of our forefathers.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The UK was denying half of the world its freedom in 1943.

[@Laidback61]

Yes... a double bill with The Battle of Britain !

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@Laidback61 That awful flop lost $10 million worldwide.

[@richardmacdonald6303]

Got a snicker, I was watching this and checked my computer's clock and it was 6:17.

[@johnharney6548]

We were on holiday in Margate in 1955 , we went to the pictures to see this film and couldn’t get in it was sold out.

[@dubchile]

Great stuff, a most enlightening documentary. First time I'd seen this account about the movie. No mention about the dag of course.. (heh, I mean to say that's pc gone plumb crazy). And Robert Shaw, I had no idea about the part he played at all. That detail had slipped past me throughout all the countless times I'd watched the flim. I had already been aware of Patrick McGoughan's part however. I have a feeling that this is a rare example of a flim without Sam Kydd's name on the credits? How can this be? The most prolific actor of the era and he wasn't included in the cast of the Dam Busters! The orderly who told Gibson about his dag's accident bore a slight resemblance to Kydd but it wasn't he. I agree about the ending being the most poignant moment, when Gibson replies to Barnes-Wallis "No, I'm afraid I have some letters to write first.." I'm so glad I bought the DVD box-set when I did several years ago of a/ The Dam Busters, Ice Cold In Alex and The Cruel Sea. Sam Kydd was in the latter but perhaps not in John Mills' adventure. I may be wrong?

[@BradBrassman]

Great documentary. I am a native of Grantham and my grandfather worked at the Ministry of Public Works at St Vincents (which was the HQ of 5 Group, Bomber Command) in the 60's when the caretaker there was the same chap that was there during the war. He gave my grandfather a couple of old postcards of the Mohne Dam that the Air Ministry had asked people to come forward with for info regarding possible targets etc. It seems there were quite a number of postcards of items or interest for possible targets and he was ordered to dispose of these after the war, but he kept these two for posterity. It turned out that one of the civil engineers who worked on the Ladybower Dam in the early 30's had gone over to Germany in the late 20's and early 30's to study the Mohne and on the back of one of the postcards is a load of technical stuff about the dam. I expect these should go to the right museum one day, but I cant make my mind up which?

[@Laidback61]

I would suggest the RAF Museum 😊

[@BradBrassman]

@@Laidback61 ....or the one in the towers at Ladybower?

[@BillHalliwell]

As a former member of the RAAF; then journalism as a film reviewer and critic. Now a military historian for over 20 years; I really enjoyed this documentary except for one strange visual affectation. The constant 'scribble' of 'Chinagraph' pencil mark effects 'defacing' almost every second scene or sequence. It's pointless, mildly irritating and adds nothing to the information of the script. It smacks of some filmmaker or ‘studio suit’ lacking confidence in the period stills and footage to carry the importance of a truly great story. It's a pity. Apart from that strange fault, I'm grateful to see that the basic, hitherto little known production details, were accurately presented, for instance; down to the need to re-draw each frame of the real 'Chastise' bombs as their design was still classified at the time of filming. With my critic’s hat on; the only shot that detracts from the, otherwise excellent accuracy, is the brief super imposing of real 'airborne' water spouting footage at the point where the biggest dam is breached. Still, this is no one's fault. Apart from the relatively tiny budget, (which blew out) the special effects technology just wasn't up to scratch at that time. Otherwise, the model making creativity was first rate. Another asset is some great 'behind the scenes' information, made even better as it comes from the film's crew members. The production was capped off by a magnificent score that features the now famous 'Dam Busters' March'. This film was, upon reflection, probably one of the several reasons why I chose to join the RAAF. I well recall being on large, O.C.'s parades and public events where one of our RAAF bands, invariably, played the Dam Busters March at some point. Truly, stirring stuff. In the RAAF, during my time in uniform, we were all keenly aware of the horrendous losses on 'Chastise' but also extremely proud of the Australian aircrew members that were involved and, indeed, all of the brave flyers who volunteered for a complex, “dangerous” mission, most of whom would have had that unspoken feeling this could be their last flight. For too many good men; it was. In more recent times, I've been aware of some historians pushing the barrow that 'Chastise' didn't do the lasting damage that was intended and that there was a large loss of life among 'innocent civilians', some even reporting deaths of foreign POW or 'slave' workers. There may be elements of truth in this, however, as we all learn in 'History 101', we should never impose personal or present day values upon historical events. Period records notwithstanding; no modern historian can accurately 'editorialise' on a slice of history unless they were present at the time. Besides, even if 'Chastise' didn't meet all operational expectations; the destruction or damage of these enemy assets was a totally successful morale booster for the British people and their allies. Also, again, sending the enemy the message that nowhere in the occupied countries or Germany was safe from Allied bombing. Finally, although some recent documentaries on 'Chastise' have been made using simple computerised graphics, which is helpful. I genuinely hope that the movie is never remade using full-on CGI technology. I believe that might be visually impressive yet provide a 'shallow' end result. Why? Because who would be available to advise on the accuracy that would be needed to make the CGI historically correct. It’s safe to say all the ‘Chastise’ members are in the big ‘All Ranks Mess’ in the sky. Don't get me started on 'colourising' period footage; that's just beyond the pale. Thank you for this documentary. Perhaps in a re-release the phoney 'Chinagraph pencil' look could be 'erased'. 😉 Cheers, Bill H.

[@neilfurby555]

Excellent, a great tribute to a magnificent movie making project.

[@Filscout]

Peter Jackson's Company had already received TEN life size fiberglass mock ups Lancaster from China delivered to his studio in New Zealand. They assembled one to see how it looked . All being put in storage after the project was cancelled.

[@richardherbert9320]

LEST WE FORGET. PROUD TO BE BRITISH FOR EVER. SO SHOULD WE ALL!

[@eugenechester8748]

It's got squat to do with being british, it's about all the different nationalities who's bravery and sacrifice put a stop to the Nazis.

[@spitfiremark1a768]

@@eugenechester8748 An international effort by the combined allied forces. At great cost.

[@coolhand1964]

Having read Paul Brickhill's book as a boy, l remember there being some Australian and New Zealand aircrew involved as well. All of whom hate being referred to as 'British'. The UK has been taking credit for the efforts of soldiers of the Commonwealth since the Boer War.

[@B-A-L]

@@coolhand1964 Using British is just a convenient coverall because all the nations involved flew in the British Royal Air Force.

[@coolhand1964]

@@B-A-L On the contrary, the aircrews wore RAAF and RNZAF uniforms, the crews were drawn from other squadrons for this raid, with Australian and New Zealand Squadrons both operating in the UK. It was a combined effort. Australian soldiers were also the first to take the Turkish surrender in Damascus, not T.E. Lawrence, first to defeat the German advance - Tobruk, and the Japanese advance - New Guinea. Google British Lieutenant General Percival and his role in WW2. What a shining example of British Command he was.

[@davidscarrett3804]

My late father was an engineering officer with 617 he didn't talk much about what happened but on the rare occasion he did talk some really funny stories were told.

[@kenstevens5065]

Funny stories are still told in stress situations in many workplaces today as were common in my service career, a human safety valve in fact. Frowned upon by many today. Much better to be sent for expensive counselling by an expert who looks about 12.

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

My Father in the early fifties was in the RAF for a few years he had never been in a plane in his life and the first time he had to go on recognisance for ten hours in a Lancaster, he said it was great being up at the front in the bomb aimers seat and I said 'Yeah not so great getting shot at at night though' where he said 'Er well no!'

[@andrewoliver8930]

If only some people could name all the crew that lost their lives. Instead, they obsess about a dog with a rude name. Some people's priorities are funny.

[@davidbrouwers7309]

S/L Young's crew received the first hit by the Ack Ack in my home town, the 2nd by the Ack Ack in the town where I went to school, they crashed near the coast of Castricum trying to land on a sandbar. The entire crew was killed on the return flight of the Dam raid. To me this raid has faces and names as well as a story. I make sure that at least that crew is remembered, I tell the story, share the photos of the entire crew when possible and list all of their names on the 17th of May every year.

[@B-A-L]

Haven't seen you naming all the crew that lost their lives yet! Put up or shut up!

[@andrewoliver8930]

@@B-A-L That's not the point of my comment. If someone is so obsessed with a dog's name rather than the crew who flew, their priorities are wrong. Dog with amusingly offensive name v crew names. Which one is more important?

[@B-A-L]

@@andrewoliver8930 The name of the dog isn't the issue it's the fact we are having to censor our history to avoid offending a minority that is only here because it has been afforded the freedom to do so due to the brave actions of people such as portrayed in this movie.

[@andrewoliver8930]

@@B-A-L I'm sure Churchill covered up a few things and didn't want the truth out. That sort of censorship is fine. Not giving Bomber Command because he got a bit embarrassed by the deaths in Germany. Never quite gets shown on his films of the great man.

[@douglasstreet7304]

DEAR ENGLAND, there are still YANKS that adore you and the R.A.F. All the best.

[@stephenvince9994]

Cheers Doug! America has plenty of heroes too. We stood as brothers and defeated evil. We may have to do it again.

[@douglasstreet7304]

@@stephenvince9994 Yes, we might.

[@francislintonellis8402]

@@douglasstreet7304 Thank you Doug, if more people thought this way the world would be a better place regards form the UK

[@douglasstreet7304]

@@francislintonellis8402 Most welcome.

[@douglasstreet7304]

@@francislintonellis8402 You are very welcome, my dad flew the B24D and J out of Italy-50 missions. Learned a lot from him.

[@306champion]

It was made just before I was born. It's a movie that will always be engrained in my memory. The fact that it' real, a "true story" only made it better.

[@mikemyers8064]

👍🏻🇬🇧The Best of British Character that we all tried to live up to. Now, standards , integrity, honour and respect are in the gutter.

[@roberthenderson4922]

The Dam buster film was originally printed/ processed at my grandfathers film laboratory (Henderson's Film Laboratories) in Norwood south London. In the film the footage of the bombs being dropped at the beach (Hearn Bay, Kent) was also printed in the war at Henderson's film labs

[@sharanbirbrijnath549]

A brilliant documentary....well done

[@chrisst8922]

I wish they'd use a bit of CGI on the film to sort out the bits that were like that for Official Secrets reasons. The shape of the bombs, show them spinning etc. And turn that Mosquito into a Lancaster too.

[@tarquin4592]

What must they think when they look down upon on the Britain of today?

[@B-A-L]

@John Cornell And yet we aren't even allowed to mention the name of a dog because we don't want to offend a minority that won't stop using the very same word!

[@bar10ml44]

@John Cornell I hope you were wearing a mask and didn’t travel out your allowed area. Safe spaces required for people who get hurt feelings, 150,000? waiting for NHS treatment, GP consultations by phone, political correctness gone crazy, a completely dysfunctional education and political system with a 2 trillion plus deficit. A decimated military force and a police force not fit for purpose. Black Lives Matter and extinction rebellion get free passes while old ladies get thrown to the ground then handcuffed and taken away. Thousands of illegal arrivals escorted ashore while we were locked down. Sure everything is superb.

[@michaelwhittaker5432]

A fantastic piece of accuracy was filming `Gibson ` ( Todd ) with out a flying jacket he flew in shirt sleeves as he new the flight path would not be at high altitude and so quite warm. For the real techy guys they even found a w.w.2 German Airforce life vest ( noticeable by the small horizontal oxygen bottle at the base ) Gibson actually used one on the raid, oh and next time you watch the film right at the very end when Wallis is taking to Gibson about all the deaths .. look center left of picture you will see a very feint black dog running about ...a ghost ?? well it wasn't there in production ! trust me its there and remember this is the man who said to his co pilot as they made their approach to the dam ' get ready to drag me out of my seat and take over if Im shot '

[@Virginnia]

Wonderful to see Great Actors, who honoured the actual participants.

[@phantomstrangermedia]

Did the new restored version of the movie censor the dog"s name? As much as I want to buy this product, I will not do that if the poor dog is now called Trigger or Digger. History should not be changed to suit the whims & manipulations of our political masters.

[@B-A-L]

It depends on the media. Sometimes they show the original uncensored version on tv and other times they either blank out the name or in the most recent viewing on Channel 4 they just called it Old Boy and completely removed any mention of the codeword from the movie. I wrote an email to Channel 4 complaining about this and they were basically unapologetic so I replied telling them to never show the movie again until they show as much respect to the people who the movie was about as the people they were trying not to offend. They never replied!

[@jackywhite880]

But surely you accept that such bowdlerising has completely solved all problems of race or colour? You don't think so? Oddly enough, neither do I...

[@andrewoliver8930]

The dog isn't that important in the telling of the story. Show it to someone who doesn't know the dog's name and they'd learn about the mission just as well.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

@@B-A-L I’m sure the hipster (male or female) that you wrote to will never experience 1% of the lives the crew lived. Sadly those hipsters look in a very narrow view point

[@PhilbyFavourites]

@@andrewoliver8930 it signifies the era. We can’t be apologistes for every part of our history. Ducking stools, stocks. Name a “difference” and society leaps on it. We may be more encompassing today. But history is history - it signposts our lives

[@aaaht3810]

One of my favorite movies. Very well done.

[@paullee3009]

I just recently found my copies of enemy coast ahead and the dam busters Les Munro signed them for me a few years before he passed He turned back with engine trouble but flew on with 617 under Len Cheshire Great to meet him

[@topcat073]

A remake would be fraught with controversy. Not so much the dog who could easily be written out as it has no real part in the story but with a lot of the consequences. These bombs would be considered weapons of mass destruction today and the breaching of the dams caused a huge amount of what we would call collateral damage. This I believe included large numbers of forced laborers who were locked in their barracks and unable to escape the floodwaters. Wallis was a genius who worked on everything from steamships to rigid airships (the history of the R100 is an untold story of its own) and swing-wing jets. The Dambusters march is a truly great piece of music. I've been very fortunate to hear it live many times as my children's brass band used to play it as a stage march. Never failed to bring a lump to my throat.

[@B-A-L]

So how do you remake the movie without changing the codeword for the destruction of the Mohne Dam? Also regarding weapons of mass destruction and collateral damage does it mean there won't be anymore movies about Hiroshima too?

[@topcat073]

@@B-A-L Very easily actually. In the movie, it is glossed over that the third dam wasn't breached. This has led to a few armchair generals arguing that the raid wasn't a success, or at best partially successful. The collateral damage issue is another story. An incendiary bomb weighs only a few kilograms but they caused tens of thousands of deaths worldwide. As Stalin put it one death is a tragedy a million is a statistic. The "was this a legitimate military action or a war crime?" debate is a tin of worms no one wants to open.

[@johnreed3638]

Excellent documentary on perhaps the best war movie ever made. The sacrifices those young men went through should never be forgotten.

[@fraserhayes4]

Does anyone else find the music really irritating?

[@brianaustin8989]

NO

[@Bigbro28]

Surely you jest? If not ... yah boo knickers! 🐨🇦🇺

[@olwens1368]

Do you mean the background music to this programme- in which case, not really- or the Dambusters march- in which case the answer is- Are you kidding??

[@fraserhayes4]

@@olwens1368 The Dambusters March is a great classic but the incidental music to this documentary sounds cheap and sloppy. Like it was made by one man using an electric keyboard and not much else. Seems a shame to me.

[@johnfiler6448]

Great film, it makes you proud to be British - even in these covid times. Well made documentary. Thank you.

[@tectoramia-sz1lu]

A shame that the remake is unlikely to be made.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The failed raid was a war crime.

[@MalcG4NXL]

This film seems very personal to me I was born on 17 May 1944 12 months after the raid don't know how many times iv'e watched it but the last time wont be the last time

[@gary6300]

Hi great documentary really interesting I've read alot about the dambusters and it's just amazing how they pulled the operation off I mean flying at 60ft in the dark the crews had guts to fly so low just amazing!! thank you for sharing. cheers Gary from the 🇬🇧

[@mickyday2008]

Great documentary

[@angloaust1575]

When Gibson toured the usa after the raid the americans were amazed at his number of missions 174 Their airmen only had to do 25 Before going home

[@richardvernon317]

99 of them were on Beaufighter night fighters of 29 Squadron between his first and second bomber tours (tour length was 100 flying hours or 18 months, which ever came first). His first tour with 83 Squadron was based on operational flying hours, not number of sorties (27 or 34 in total dependant on source). His third tour as CO of 106 Squadron was 46 missions which was over double the number he actually had to do to complete that tour (20 maximum at that time). He volunteered to do both the Night Fighter and 2nd Bomber tours to get out of a Training job.

[@COIcultist]

The number of required missions from American airmen increased as the war went on. See The Lucky Bastard Club en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Bastard_Club. Several Americans may well have done more flights. Look up the war record of Major General James Stewart. Not just a great actor but a true American hero.

[@grogery1570]

@@richardvernon317 The thing that stuck with me from "Enemy Coast ahead" was that Gibson accepted a transfer to Beau fighters after his first tour in bombers was complete because he needed a rest. After a year in Beau fighters he wanted to go back to bombers and seemed to not understand people thinking he needed a rest, he had just had a year off!

[@richardvernon317]

@@grogery1570 Gibson was a Career Officer, He wasn't going to turn down an offer that could advance his career. He was somewhat cherry picked for the 29 Sqn post because of his skill as a night flyer and the transfer happened because AOC in C Fighter Command asked his opposite number in Bomber Command to give him some good blokes (at night flying). Gibson was at the top of the tree as this regard at the time. I suspect that his attitude and temperament were not that which makes a good instructor and that he was fully aware of this. Being a Night Fighter pilot wasn't as risky as flying a bomber over Germany, but it was hardly risk free either. He was a very good night fighter pilot but he was never in the right place at the right time to rack up the kills like Cunningham on 604 or Braham , the other flight commander on 29 did.

[@B-A-L]

@@COIcultist They may have done even more if they had bothered to join in right from the start! Actually that's not necessarily true because the war could have been over before the end of 1940.

[@markanthony4655]

It is a shame that a newer film will not be historically correct as I have no doubt, that Guy Gibson's dog will be missed out due to PC.

[@Bruce-1956]

They will/have given it another name.

[@chrisreynolds7164]

@@Bruce-1956 Rumoured to be Digger

[@Dezzasheep]

Digger the gender neutral pet rabbit.

[@B-A-L]

Peter Jackson cancelled his remake a few years ago because of this.

[@markanthony4655]

@@B-A-L It is a shame an historic fact, and it is a fact is cancelled because of political changes and views. You can't change history, just learn from it. But you can't change the facts that have already happened.

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Do you think Hollywood was seriously going to make a film , about Britain being in the second World War ?

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

This movie was shown in my country in 1957 & how did I was raring to see it. Then on that Sunday I was coming to the scene of the successful experiment and power failure ! The theater stamped our tickets for watching on Monday. Bad luck I couldn't skip school ! So I had to wait until 2002 to get the DVD. It was worth the wait !

[@rbrooks2007]

It's such a shame that Leighton Lucas who did the score for the film is forgotten in the musical section of this documentary. The four note motif (ECAG in the key of C which the march is in) in the KZbin clip 'The Dam Busters (1955) - Re-created Main Titles in HD Colour' serving as a good example, starts at 1:08 and almost speaks Leighton's name (E - [Leigh] - C [ton] A -[Lu] G-[cas]) in various keys throughout the film and has Leighton's second theme with some reworking of Coates' main piece until 1:34.

[@davefave4351]

Much like an Igor Stravinsky 'signature'!

[@idleonlooker1078]

My Mums partner was a Canadian in 407 Squadron RCAF after the war, flying Lancaster's on maritime operations when Joe McCarthy was its commanding officer. He remembered witnessing an incident when some new crewman said: "Here comes Dam Buster Joe McCarthy!!" as the man entered the mess. McCarthy, flushed with rage, simply walked up to him and laid him out cold and then walked back out. Nothing was ever said - but I suppose when you're a legend, you can take liberties like that now and again.

[@mikepxg6406]

So glad Hollywood didn't spoil the story like so many others.

[@264Rockape]

Brilliant film

[@philipelliott7966]

Sadly they will be forgotten ,or it will be labelled a raciest film, as that poor dog will be labelled ,what courageous men they were

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

They were terrorists like ISIS.

[@jeffreyedwards609]

Very well done video.

[@ianthomson9363]

A very good documentary, but I felt it was spoilt by the constant music, which added nothing, and the editing with the scribbles and the cutting between cameras- in one case, this was for a single word! This sort of thing is best left to rap music videos, not a serious production of a historic event and film.

[@nigelscott1922]

Wish there were still four flying Lancaster’s today.

[@markanthony4655]

3 Lancaster's may be a possibility one day. The Panton brothers "Just Jane" (NX611) at East Kirby is being slowly restored to full flying condition, then we have the RAF's BBMF "City of Lincoln" (PA474) and also the Canadian Lancaster. One day hopefully all 3 will fly together during a UK air show season.

[@LaserEnginesAGC]

@@markanthony4655 FM104 is also under restoration to airworthy in Canada so 4 is not impossible

[@markanthony4655]

@@LaserEnginesAGC Excellent stuff, didn't realise their was a possibility of another Lanc in the air too. Fantastic stuff.

[@garyk1334]

@@markanthony4655 Two have flown together in Canada with a mossy & some spits I recently watched a video of the flight shot from the mossy cockpit I'll see if I can post a link

[@garyk1334]

@@markanthony4655 See if this works kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH6Vi4Sga76dn6M

[@Jon962-h4i]

A thoroughly enjoyable documentary about this iconic film. Many thanks for showing it.

[@TheBaron481]

Superb - thanks you