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	...	Mike
Ray Jackson	...	Barlow
Ronald Hines	...	Miles
Sean Barrett	...	Frankie
Roland Curram	...	Harper
Meredith Edwards	...	Dave Bellman
Michael Bates	...	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:

dunkirk | evacuation | operation dynamo | escape | year 1940 | 

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Taglines:

Days That Shook the World! Victory Snatched From Disaster!

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Genres:

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

During the press conference, a French reporter (uncredited) asks a question. His voice was dubbed over using animated voice legend Paul Frees. Frees' voice was often used in post production; especially with foreign accents.

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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

Merchant Seaman: It may be a phoney war to you, but it's not to all the blokes at sea. Never has been.

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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

Version of Dunkirk (2017)

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Soundtracks

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
(uncredited)
Music by Manning Sherwin
Lyrics by Eric Maschwitz

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.