Watched 'Dambusters' for the first time. Great movie.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

I DVR'd 'Dambusters' on TCM a few weeks ago and finally finished it last night. Wonderful movie! Learned a lot like how much Bob Wallis was met with skepticism and resistance on developing the bomb. Fantastic footage of the Lancasters flying at extreme low-level. Wow!

The most moving part of the movie to me was at the end where they showed the empty rooms of the men that did not return. They showed the usual empty tables in the chow hall, but the empty rooms with everything as they left it, like the ticking alarm clock was very dramatic.

Chappie

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:03 am

Even the modelwork scenes were a cut above everything else. If you've got a good speaker system hooked up to the 55 inch peephole into paradise, every time that they really pour on the power, the engines take on that almost eerie note that makes the hair on your neck stand up.
Find and read Paul Brickhills book 'The Dam Busters' for a lot more pre mission skullduggery at the old Air Ministry.

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:06 am

Chappie, that is Barnes Wallis, not Bob Wallis.

If you liked the film, I highly recommend the 13 hour version, The Dambusters, downloadable free here:
http://archive.org/details/TheDambuster ... alianRadio

And for some very interesting factual background, download and listen to this RAF Musuem Podcast, narrated by Richard Todd from the film:
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/me ... dams-raid/

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

Seasonal note: "Bob Wallace" is the Bing Crosby character in "White Christmas"....

Dam Busters is one of my favorites, and I DVR'd the recent airing....and was stunned (happily so) that TCM ran the unedited version....every airing I have seen in the last ten years has had Gibson's dog's name--and the code word for a successful breech--edited out. Even history is subject to political correctness.

Interesting too is that they don't do an epilogue scroll over the end of the film telling of Gibson's fate....shot down and killed on an op in September 44. Recent research has shown that it was a friendly fire incident.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:56 am

Pathfinder wrote:

Seasonal note: "Bob Wallace" is the Bing Crosby character in "White Christmas"....

Dam Busters is one of my favorites, and I DVR'd the recent airing....and was stunned (happily so) that TCM ran the unedited version....every airing I have seen in the last ten years has had Gibson's dog's name--and the code word for a successful breech--edited out. Even history is subject to political correctness.

Interesting too is that they don't do an epilogue scroll over the end of the film telling of Gibson's fate....shot down and killed on an op in September 44. Recent research has shown that it was a friendly fire incident.

Yeah, censoring is an odd thing in it's application, The Floyd's 'Money' from DSOTM has $#1+ edited out of radio play, but Bob Dylans 'Story of the Hurricane' about Reuben Carter doesn't. I watch some CBC Canadian TV and $#1+ is just a part of the script (same on A&E's 'Longmire'), but on U. S. TV better not say $#1+ even if you have a mouthfull, I hear much worse in long strings if I miss the light @ the Junior High Schoolers bus stop in the morning. Please! Stop protecting me from myself!

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Pathfinder wrote:

Seasonal note: "Bob Wallace" is the Bing Crosby character in "White Christmas"....

Oh! So sorry. Gotta love Wallace and Davis too!! My wife and I watch White Christmas two or three times this time of year.

I've located a couple first editions of Gibson's book, I'll be picking one up after Christmas.

Chappie

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:04 pm

A bit OT, but I noticed an interesting "evolution" in censorship in the James Bond flick "Live and Let Die." During the climactic boat chase in a Louisiana bayou, a stereotypical southern sheriff approaches one of the bad guys (who is black) and says "What the he!! do you think you're doin', boy?" When I first saw the movie on TV in the 70s, the "H word" was bleeped, but the "boy" left in. When I last saw it a few years ago, the "H word" was back in, but the "boy" had been cut.

I've got Dam Busters on my Netflix queue, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I'm hoping that Peter Jackson has finally gotten Tolkien out of his system, and will get back to work on his DB remake.

SN

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:10 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

A bit OT, but I noticed an interesting "evolution" in censorship in the James Bond flick "Live and Let Die." During the climactic boat chase in a Louisiana bayou, a stereotypical southern sheriff approaches one of the bad guys (who is black) and says "What the he!! do you think you're doin', boy?" When I first saw the movie on TV in the 70s, the "H word" was bleeped, but the "boy" left in. When I last saw it a few years ago, the "H word" was back in, but the "boy" had been cut.

I've got Dam Busters on my Netflix queue, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I'm hoping that Peter Jackson has finally gotten Tolkien out of his system, and will get back to work on his DB remake.

SN

And yet, the late Clevon Little talking to the equally late Slim Pickins in 'Blazing Saddles' on VH1C responds 'watch that boy bleepout!' is OK.

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

Gotta love Wallace and Davis too!!

Ha! Watching it now as I check in at WIX!

"My dear partner...When what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting whatever it is you've got left!"

At the risk of being non-PC, may I be the first to wish one and all here....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Warbird connection....Check out the driver for the Columbia Inn station wagon on freeze-frame when they first arrive in Vermont. He is wearing an A-2 jacket with the back painting "erased".

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Pathfinder wrote:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Warbird connection....Check out the driver for the Columbia Inn station wagon on freeze-frame when they first arrive in Vermont. He is wearing an A-2 jacket with the back painting "erased".

Merry Christmas. Yes I have noticed that A-2 as well. We just watched 'A Winning Team' a movie about 1920s pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander starring Ronald Reagan and :heart:

Doris Day

and there was a shot of a cab driver a great looking leather jacket. It was not quite an A-2, but still a great jacket.

Speaking of quotes from White Christmas. There are times when I'll tell my wife that "I want 45 minutes all too myself." At other times if I really want something and I'm having trouble convicing her I'll just slowly grab my arm and give her a pitiful look. :lol:

What a great movie.

Chappie

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:42 pm

Chappie wrote:

Pathfinder wrote:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Warbird connection....Check out the driver for the Columbia Inn station wagon on freeze-frame when they first arrive in Vermont. He is wearing an A-2 jacket with the back painting "erased".

Merry Christmas. Yes I have noticed that A-2 as well. We just watched 'A Winning Team' a movie about 1920s pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander starring Ronald Reagan and :heart:

Doris Day

and there was a shot of a cab driver a great looking leather jacket. It was not quite an A-2, but still a great jacket.

Speaking of quotes from White Christmas. There are times when I'll tell my wife that "I want 45 minutes all too myself." At other times if I really want something and I'm having trouble convicing her I'll just slowly grab my arm and give her a pitiful look. :lol:

What a great movie.

Chappie

Sidebar, anyone ever figure out what the art work is on Cary Grants jacket in 'Only Angels Have Wings'?

Warbird Information Exchange

Watched 'Dambusters' for the first time. Great movie.

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