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Sink the Bismarck!Rating:
Release Date: 20 May, 2003 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $9.99 You SAVE: $4.99! Cast: Complete Cast (8 total) |
Sink the Bismarck! Reviews
EPIC HISTORIC SEA BATTLE BROUGHT TO LIFE
IN A NUTSHELL: PRETTY CLOSE TO REALITY
"Sink The Bismarck!" is a true story about the desperate efforts made to quash what was seen as a larger than life threat to the British Empire, and the free world in the spring of 1941. Almost all of the film's action sequences are accurate, though the story used the "composite character" [Kenneth More] as a device to provide coherence, and organization to a fast paced chunk of world history that occurred in the icy and remote North Atlantic.
WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT: THE BISMARCK - WHAT A SHIP!
In the spring of 1941, the Bismarck was the most modern, well armed, and armored battleship up until that time. After World War 1, through a series of naval disarmament treaties, the world was left with a less potent fleet than it had during World War 1. This made a modern, and massive dreadnought like the Bismarck, all the more threatening. The "Hood", a battlecruiser that was England's largest warship at the time, was designed and built during and after World War 1, coming into service around 1921, or 20 years prior to the Bismarck. It was an excellent ship, designed for speed first, around 32 knots, striking power second, by 8, 15 inch guns, and armored protection third. This lack of armored protection for the Hood was somewhat mitigated in its updated design, following the loss of several British battlecruisers at Jutland in 1916. H.M.S. Invincible, Queen Mary and Indefatigable were all destroyed by huge explosions by plunging German shells that had easily penetrated their thin deck and turret armour which detonated their magazines. A fourth battle cruiser, H.M.S. Lion, was almost sunk as well. The result was a better protected, though larger, battlecruiser that had morphed into a "fast-battleship". Clearly the Hood was the best and most modern warship when she was designed and built, but recall that just prior to this time, the historic "Dreadnought" herself was obsolete and scraped within 11 years of her launching.
In short, the Bismarck was a phenomenal ship whose advanced designed, and massive fighting qualities were highlighted, and augmented by the lack of such ships by the British navy, who was fighting alone at the time against the Axis.
BACK TO THE FILM: "SINK THE BISMARCK"
There are action sequences that begin with the mighty Bismarck and the Hipper Class heavy cruiser, Prince Eugen leaving the foggy Norwegian Fiords. From there we have the historic battles that ensue, beginning with the sinking of the Hood, and ending with the sinking of the Bismarck, all within about a week's time. The story is kept logical, and coherent by using the British Admiralty, and the Chief of Staff, played by Kenneth More, to keep us informed on the British front. On the German front, we go aboard the Bismarck and see the dialogues mostly between the Captain and Admiral Lutgens. Most of this is probably fictionalized, but the actual battles, and chronology are surprisingly close to the historic record.
BOTTOM LINE:
A very interesting, and entertaining film that I have watched and enjoyed several times a year since it was released 45 years ago. I must admit, I feel quite sad when ships are sunk regardless of which side they are on. The loss of life, and degree of suffering that went on as a result of the sinking of the two great ships, is probably the least depicted part of the story, as nearly 3,000 seamen died rather horribly.
Pre WWII Thriller
Excellent movie showing the British Navy in it's finest hour. Excellent portrayals of real people in crucial situations, showing their human sides as well as their Naval professionalism.
More Customer Reviews (25 total)
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