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The Dam Busters

The Dam Busters

Drama · History · War · 1955

The story of the conception of a new British weapon for smashing the German dams in the Ruhr industrial complex and the execution of the raid by 617 Squadron 'The Dam Busters'.

Movie details

The Dam Busters

1955 Drama · History · War 2h 4m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

The story of the conception of a new British weapon for smashing the German dams in the Ruhr industrial complex and the execution of the raid by 617 Squadron 'The Dam Busters'.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Dam Busters?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Anderson

Written by

R.C. Sherriff

Richard Todd

Richard Todd

Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.

Michael Redgrave

Michael Redgrave

Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.

Ursula Jeans

Ursula Jeans

Mrs. Wallis

Basil Sydney

Basil Sydney

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.

Patrick Barr

Patrick Barr

Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.

Ernest Clark

Ernest Clark

Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.

Derek Farr

Derek Farr

Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Court is in session

Put The Dam Busters on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.