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 Russell
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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The command center used by Vice Admiral Ramsey (Nicholas Hannen) was the actual bunker used during the operation. It's part of a large underground complex beneath Dover Castle. It's open to the public. The balcony in the cliffs is visible from the ferry terminal below.

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Goofs

Approx fifteen minutes into the film there is a montage of shots to represent the German attack on Belgium and France; May 1940. One shot shows a German Tiger Tank. The first Tigers didn't see action until late 1942.

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Quotes

Barlow: [after Luftwaffe planes have strafed a road with fleeing civilians] That's murder. Sheer murder. I hope somebody knows what they're doing.

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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 Talking Pictures: Barry Norman (2017)

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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

What a WWII movie should be

A simple film, two stories, soldiers and civilians who did what needed to be done. None of the romance of "Mrs Minnever," but moving nonetheless.

I appreciated this film all the more for having seen "Pearl Harbor" a few months ago. I gave "Dunkirk" 8/10, maybe a little generous, because of the attention to detail and accuracy. The acting was better than adequate, and it was wonderful to see a youngish Bernard Lee. He was 49 when this film was released in 1958 -- there is a gap in his filmography from 41 to 45, so he probably served in the war... as did many of the other actors.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

German French English

Release Date:

10 September 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dunkirk

Filming Locations:

Teddington Lock, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP400,000 (estimated)

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