"Sink the Bismarck Movie from 1960-Recommended" Topic

Hi everyone;
Just finished watching this classic movie.

While it glosses over a few details, it is a good movie to watch and get you in the mood for some Naval Gaming.

Lots of live action shots, besides having some great looking models.

It also seemed, to me, that it covered both sides pretty fairly.
Gives you an idea of what it must of been like on the Bismark, Hood or Prince of Wales.

So, before you play that game of VaS, or Axis & Allies or General Quarters, do yourself a favor and go rent this movie.

Now where are my 1/2400 scale ships?

Good Hunting;
Joe

Agree. Good solid film. One of the best.

I like watching it and the battle scenes from 'In Harm's Way' when putting together 1/700 scale ship models.

Thanks,

John

Great movie. I remember having had nightmares when watching it as a kid. The Bismarck had disappeared below the waves and the crew members trapped inside were still trying to get out.

Oh, and Dana Wynter made for great eye candy.

Rent it? My heavens, its cheap enough to get from Deepdiscount.com or Amazon.com. It's about ten bucks so it's not that pricey. This is one of those definite must haves for your video collection.

A classic. "That is good, that is very good." Adm. Lutjens

"SHOOT!"

Oh, and Dana Wynter made for great eye candy.

:-D

Even today, the scene of the HMS Hood blowing up still holds it's dramatic effect, a real testament to the special effects crew.

Movie trivia #1:
When the Swordfish are flying off HMS Ark Royal, it's really HMS Victorious.

Movie trivia #2:
They used one real Swordfish for the flying action shots. Deck crew were 'armed' with various aircraft recognition codes and would swap these on the Swordfish to give the illusion that more aircraft were used.

Movie trivia #3:
My father was serving on HMS Victorious when the film was being made and was part of the deck crew who 'played' with the Swordfish.

I always laugh because the British always yell, "Shoot!" and the Germans "Fire!" But it helped when the action was fast-paced to know who was shooting…er…firing.

One of the best.

It is most definitely a classic film and one of my favorites.

Few (if any) of the naval movies get everything right if you're a rivet counter like me, but those details are minor when one considers the overall impact of the film.

Hey, Hollywood produces these for enjoyment so let's enjoy!

Great comments everyone;
Enjoyable reading, especially the movie trivia.

Back in the day, when I was a kid watching it, I always remembered the scene of the blood dripping down on the charts from the bridge of the Prince of Wales.

Dana Wynter was a cutie.

I am going to buy this movie.

Does anyone know if there is a similar movie for the Graf Spee.

The hunt, battle and final ending of the Graf Spee would make a great story.

Thanks
Joe

Joe there is indeed a film about the Graf Spee.

It's called Pursuit of the Graf Spee.

If you do a search for it on Internet Movie Data Base you'll get the info you need.

I don't think it's on DVD but it's on video because a friend has a copy.

Captain Gideon

Pursuit of the Graf Spee is available on dvd – but so far only for R2. Get yourself a region free player.

You may have more luck finding the Graf Spee movie under the tirle " The Battle of the River Platte", here is the IMDB link

imdb.com/title/tt0048990

Re Sink the Bismark, I recently saw an old Warfile program on German Battleships of WW11 and scenes and models from the movie were prominently featured. So I guess if a history documentary will use movie scenes the movie must be failt accurate

Outstanding everyone;

I'm on a new hunt for the Graf Spee…..movie.

Thanks
Joe

Third recommendation for"Pursuit/Platte" Good little film featuring some of the actual ships.

"Zey are not CROOO-sers. Zey are BATTLE-ships!"

Yep, saw taht film dozens of times as a kid with my father. In glorious black and white. My mother would always chuckle at how, when the folks finally emerge from the Admiralty, they have NO idea what time of day or night it is.

Adm. Lutjens was probably incorrectly cast as the evil Nazi, but it's a movie and so it HAD to have a bad guy.

//Paul in Seattle

And, IIRC, my favorite line from the "Pursuit of the Graf Spee", is spoken by the captain of the badly damaged, HMS EXETER, who, when asked if his ship could make it to the Falklands, replies in with typical, Royal Navy resolution: "Can make Plymouth, if ordered, sir."

//Paul in Seattle

The HMNZS Achillies "played" herself in "the Battle of the River Plate" , with IIRC, the USS Salem cast as the Graf Spee.

I always thought that the story of the original Admiral Graf Spee- Coronel and the Falkland Islands with SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau- would make a great movie, especially in these CG days.

At my local games store, we will have a sudden flurry of Naval War gaming in 1/2400 scale and 1/1250 scale.

Playing the actions of the Bismark and then the Graf Spee will be high on our list.

I still haven't purchased the "Battle of the River Platte" yet, but have promised the guys I will and we can have it playing at the store during our game.

Joe

When the swordfish are flying off HMS Ark Royal Its really HMS Victorious

I didn,t know that, I only watched this film again the other evening, have to watch it again now – I was on the Vic myself 65-67 last commish. Regards Ivan.

Just saw this thread. The roles of Lutjens and the Bismarck's captain were reversed for the movie--Lutjens was by all accounts a decent man and no Nazi, but the ship's captain was a real fanatic. Not sure why they bothered to make the switch, but oh well.

Yes, a great movie, one of my favorites. As noted, there are some minor historcal goofs (well, the sinking of the one British destroyer--which never happened--is more than minor) but it is still a very good film. The stunned reaction of the British sailors and officers when Hood blows up is very moving.

The shell-handling scenes in the turrets are some of my favorites.

"The shell-handling scenes in the turrets are some of my favorites."

Yes, except somehow one of the shell-handlers from HMS Hood was rescued and quickly transferred to King George V in time to help sink Bismarck :)