Sink the Bismarck! (1960)

The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship.

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Edmund H. North (screen story and screenplay), C.S. Forester (book)

Stars:

Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Möhner

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth More	...	Captain Shepard
Dana Wynter	...	Anne Davis
Carl Möhner	...	Captain Lindemann (as Carl Mohner)
Laurence Naismith	...	First Sea Lord
Geoffrey Keen	...	A.C.N.S.
Karel Stepanek	...	Admiral Lutjens
Michael Hordern	...	Commander in Chief (King George V)
Maurice Denham	...	Commander Richards
Michael Goodliffe	...	Captain Banister
Esmond Knight	...	Captain (Prince of Wales)
Jack Watling	...	Signals Officer
Jack Gwillim	...	Captain (King George V) (as Jack Gwillam)
Mark Dignam	...	Captain (Ark Royal)
Ernest Clark	...	Captain (Suffolk)
John Horsley	...	Captain (Sheffield)

Storyline

Chronicles the breakout of the Bismarck during the early days of World War Two. Seen both from the point of view of the many naval vessels on both sides and from the central headquarters of the British where the search for the super battleship was controlled.

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Plot Keywords:

navy | naval | german navy | world war two | battleship | 

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Taglines:

Personal! Powerful! Human! Heroic!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 February 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

¡Hundan al Bismarck!

Filming Locations:

HMS Belfast

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Esmond Knight who plays the captain of the HMS Prince of Wales actually served as an officer on board her and was injured during the battle.

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Goofs

There are various dialogues throughout the movie, referring to whether it is in fact day or night in the 'real world' above the bunker complex of Operational HQ. Although a most effective contrivance to convey to the audience just how physically isolated the War Room Staff must have felt in their underground world, this is a total conceit on the part of the scriptwriter/s. Organizing the destruction of the great Bismarck required extremely precise coordination of many of the Royal Navy's vast resources. In fact, timing to the minute if not the second was not just required, it was essential. Therefore, the staff involved and in particular Captain Shepherd would have known EXACTLY what time it was, day or night, at any given moment. Perhaps even better than the poor hapless souls above ground who were being constantly 'Blitzed' at that particular stage of WWII.

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Quotes

Suffolk Lookout #2: Solid foot of armor plate, that's what the Bismark's got.
Suffolk Lookout #1: Who said so?
Suffolk Lookout #2: The gunnery officer that's who. Said for all the good our guns would do, we might as well throw crumpets at her.
Suffolk Lookout #1: [pauses] I wish someone would throw a crumpet at me.

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Connections

Referenced in Irma la Douce (1963)

User Reviews

" He's as cold as a witch's heart, yet I wish for a man with no heart at all "

When making a film like, "Sink The Bismark" it benefits the audience when actual facts of the ship or the events are used in the final cut. This film does just that. It begins with the Christening and launching of the impressive German vessel, Bismark. The massive battleship which could easily cruise at 30 knots became the pride of Germany and quickly proved her military prowess when encountering the H.M.S. Hood. The Hood was the pride of the British Royal Navy with her Captain and select crew of 1,500 men were well seasoned and experienced. Yet on that fateful day of May 24th, 1941 the two ships came within 15 miles of each other. After several exchanged salvos, the Bismark with her compliment of 8 fifteen inch guns completely destroyed the British ship leaving only three survivors. This disastrous event is but one of the exceptional battle scenes, superbly recreated by Howard Lydecker and his special effects crew. To add to the creative storyline are the actors which give this movie a superior realism. Kenneth More as Captain Shepard, who along with his naval staff wage war against the Bismark from their underground command post in war-torn London, where Edward R. Murrow gives the world a blow by blow account of the desperate time. Dana Wynter plays Anne Davis, his able assistant. Carl Möhner is Captain Lindemann, the proud Captain of the Bismark with Karel Stepanek playing his immediate superior, Admiral Lutjens. Laurence Naismith plays the First Sea Lord. This a great film and should honor the Allies who gave so much when the world needed them. ****