The Dam Busters

19551955
ApprovedApproved
1h 45min

The Dam Busters (1955)

Home Video Extra (Clip) from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Play trailer2:43

Drama History War

The story of how the British attacked German dams in World War II by using an ingenious technique to drop bombs where they would be most effective.The story of how the British attacked German dams in World War II by using an ingenious technique to drop bombs where they would be most effective.The story of how the British attacked German dams in World War II by using an ingenious technique to drop bombs where they would be most effective.

Director
- Michael Anderson
Writers
- Paul Brickhill(book)
- Guy Gibson(based on Wing Comdr. Gibson's own account in "Enemy Coast Ahead")
- R.C. Sherriff(screenplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 nominations total

Videos1

The Dam Busters

The Dam Busters

"The Dam Busters" Richard Todd 1955 Warner Brothers

"The Dam Busters" Richard Todd 1955 Warner Brothers

The Dam Busters (1955)

The Dam Busters (1955)

The Dam Busters (1955)

The Dam Busters (1955)

Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd in The Dam Busters (1955)

Bill Kerr and Tim Turner in The Dam Busters (1955)

Michael Redgrave in The Dam Busters (1955)

Ernest Clark, Derek Farr, Michael Redgrave, Harold Siddons, and Basil Sydney in The Dam Busters (1955)

Ernest Clark, Derek Farr, Michael Redgrave, and Basil Sydney in The Dam Busters (1955)

Derek Farr and Michael Redgrave in The Dam Busters (1955)

Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.as Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.

Michael Redgrave

Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.as Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.

Mrs. Wallisas Mrs. Wallis

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force) G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.as Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force) G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.

Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.as Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.

Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane (now Air Chief Marshal) G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.as Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane (now Air Chief Marshal) G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.

Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.as Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Doctoras Doctor

Stanley Van Beers

Sir David Pye, C.B., F.R.S.as Sir David Pye, C.B., F.R.S.

Doctor W. H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E.as Doctor W. H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E.

Frederick Leister

Committee Memberas Committee Member

Committee Memberas Committee Member

Committee Memberas Committee Member

Raymond Huntley

Official, National Physical Laboratoryas Official, National Physical Laboratory

Official, Ministry of Aircraft Productionas Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production

Observer At Trialsas Observer At Trials

Observer At Trialsas Observer At Trials

R.A.F. Officer At Trialsas R.A.F. Officer At Trials

Director
- Michael Anderson
Writers
- Paul Brickhill(book)
- Guy Gibson(based on Wing Comdr. Gibson's own account in "Enemy Coast Ahead")
- R.C. Sherriff(screenplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

The British are desperate to shorten the length of World War II and propose a daring raid to smash Germany's industrial heart. At first, the objective looks impossible until a British scientist invents an ingenious weapon capable of destroying the planned target. —Dave Jenkins <david.jenkins@smallworld.co.uk>

world war two based on true story based on book raf bomber command dangerous mission 55 more

Taglines
- The dramatic true-life story of the men who broke the Nazis' back!
Genres
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide

Trivia
According to Richard Todd's autobiography, the scene that upset him most during filming was the finale where his character Guy Gibson goes off to write letters to the families of the men killed on the raid. Todd, a paratrooper combat veteran of World War II, had written such letters for real. The scene brought it all back for him.

Goofs
The system devised to get the height right was, in the film, said to have been thought of by the 617 Sqn crews following a visit to the theater. In reality it was devised by the 'boffins' at Farnborough.

Quotes
Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production: You say you need a Wellington Bomber for test drops. They're worth their weight in gold. Do you really think the authorities will lend you one? What possible argument could I put forward to get you a Wellington?
Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: Well, if you told them I designed it, do you think that might help?

Alternate versions
Prints distributed in the United States by Warner Brothers added a shot from Desperate Journey (1942) showing an early model B-17 Flying Fortress crashlanding in a forest.

Connections
Edited into Attack on the Iron Coast (1968)

Soundtracks
The Dam Busters
March
by Eric Coates

Top review

8/10

Tally-Ho!(etc.)

By God, this is as definitive as a war film gets. It's on every year, and is as much a part of Christmas as getting drunk and Monopoly. Everyone in this Sceptred isle knows the theme to Dam Busters, and it causes more people to stand up and salute than God Save The Queen. It has moustachioed R.A.F boys, politely bespectacled scientists, laughable special effects, and an entirely predictable ending. It's a British institution, and I don't know where we'd be without it. You can keep your devolution and your New Labour, I've got Dam Busters and I'm not bloody budging.

helpful•74

14

Reaper Man
Oct 30, 2000

Release date
- July 16, 1955 (United States)
Country of origin
- United Kingdom
Language
- English
Also known as
- The Dambusters
Filming locations
- Derwent Reservoir, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, UK
Production company
- Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross worldwide
- $80,967

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 45min
Color
- Black and White

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The Dam Busters (1955)

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