Dunkirk (1958)

A dramatization of the British Expeditionary Force's 1940 retreat to the beaches of France and the extraordinary seaborne evacuation that saved it from utter destruction by Nazi Germany.

Director:

Leslie Norman

Writers:

Trevor Dudley Smith (novel) (as Elleston Trevor), Ewan Butler (book) (as Lt. Col. Ewan Butler)

Stars:

John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Bernard Lee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Corporal 'Tubby' Binns
Richard Attenborough	...	John Holden
Bernard Lee	...	Charles Foreman
Robert Urquhart	...	Private Mike
Ray Jackson	...	Private Barlow
Ronald Hines	...	Private Miles
Sean Barrett	...	Frankie
Roland Curram	...	Private Harper
Meredith Edwards	...	Private Dave Bellman
Michael Bates	...	Airman Froome
Rodney Diak	...	Pannet
Michael Shillo	...	Jouvet
Eddie Byrne	...	Commander - Tough's Yard
Maxine Audley	...	Diana Foreman
Lionel Jeffries	...	Colonel - Medical Officer

Storyline

Two stories in one, an easygoing British Corporal in France finds himself responsible for the lives of his men when their officer is killed. He has to get them back to Britain somehow. Meanwhile, British civilians are being dragged into the war with Operation Dynamo, the scheme to get the French and British forces back from the Dunkirk beaches. Some come forward to help, others are less willing.

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Plot Keywords:

seaside | shore | evacuation | operation dynamo | escape | 

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Taglines:

Days That Shook the World! Victory Snatched From Disaster!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

10 September 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dunkerque

Filming Locations:

Teddington Lock, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,025,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$310,000, 31 December 1958

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,060,000, 31 December 1958

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Almost all of the cast, have since passed away, except for a few remaining actors, who were mostly born, around the early 1930's

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Goofs

When the platoon come under air attack at the farm (and their officer is killed), the aircraft attacking them seen head on is a Blenheim, an RAF light bomber, where as the aircraft shown flying away is a German Junkers 88.

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Quotes

Narrator: Dunkirk was a great defeat, and a great miracle. It proved, if it proved anything, that we were alone but undivided. No longer were there fighting men and civilians. There were only people. A nation had been made whole.

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Crazy Credits

After the title is shown, it stays on screen while the rest of the opening credits roll.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bit Part (1988)

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Soundtracks

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Eric Maschwitz
Music by Manning Sherwin
Heard on the beach at Dunkirk

User Reviews

Great unheralded war film

See it – A surprisingly great war film, this movie tells two different stories. One is about a group of British soldiers trapped behind enemy lines, desperately trying to make their way to the French coast. Meanwhile, on the other side of the channel, English civilians bravely prepare to help with the mass evacuation at Dunkirk. Near the end, the two stories converge "Tarantino style." There aren't many household names in this one. Richard Attenborough headlines a cast of British actors that have recognizable faces but are relatively unknown to Americans. There is quite a bit of combat in the middle stage of the film as the British soldiers dart from hedge to farmhouse to avoid capture by the Jerries. The pace of the movie slows toward the end, but this is a historically accurate and memorable retelling of real heroes who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. 3 out of 5 action rating.