IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
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.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.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.
Bud Flanagan
- Bud Flanagan
- (as Flanagan and Allen)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the troop ship taking the platoon home is bombed and sunk in Dunkirk harbor, the scene of the ship sinking is taken from The Cruel Sea (1953), which depicts the sinking of H.M.S. "Compass Rose".
- GoofsApprox 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.
- Quotes
Merchant Seaman: It may be a phoney war to you, but it's not to all the blokes at sea. Never has been.
- Crazy creditsAfter the title is shown, it stays on screen while the rest of the opening credits roll.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film Profile: Michael Balcon (1961)
Featured review
We shall fight them on the beaches
I've just watched the Christopher Nolan 2017 'Dunkirk' and that offering is mediocre at best, you feel very little for the characters, nor are you told much back story.
Mr Nolan's version is not a patch on this 1958 classic where you really get a feel for the scale and depth of the military disaster and miracle evacuation
Many war films made shortly after the war, have a gritty depth & realism.
Many of the actors had been participants, they could march, salute, handle the weapons and wear a beret correctly. Because many had done it for real.
Also a lot of original aircraft/ships/vehicles were still available to use. So in many respects the old war films have an authenticity difficult to match today. (As illustrated by the 2017 mediocre film 'Dunkirk')
This follows corporal 'cor blimey' john Mills as he and his small section are separated from their unit. Their attempts to try and rejoin their unit through the chaos of the retreat to Dunkirk.
It also follows the civilians helping in the 'little ships' and the operation to save the British/French armies stranded at Dunkirk.
It is an epic tale and over the years I have watched it several times. A Sunday afternoon classic epic tale of heroism in a total disaster that nearly meant annihilation. Without the evacuation by 'the little ships' it surely would have meant Hitler conquering all of Europe
8/10
Mr Nolan's version is not a patch on this 1958 classic where you really get a feel for the scale and depth of the military disaster and miracle evacuation
Many war films made shortly after the war, have a gritty depth & realism.
Many of the actors had been participants, they could march, salute, handle the weapons and wear a beret correctly. Because many had done it for real.
Also a lot of original aircraft/ships/vehicles were still available to use. So in many respects the old war films have an authenticity difficult to match today. (As illustrated by the 2017 mediocre film 'Dunkirk')
This follows corporal 'cor blimey' john Mills as he and his small section are separated from their unit. Their attempts to try and rejoin their unit through the chaos of the retreat to Dunkirk.
It also follows the civilians helping in the 'little ships' and the operation to save the British/French armies stranded at Dunkirk.
It is an epic tale and over the years I have watched it several times. A Sunday afternoon classic epic tale of heroism in a total disaster that nearly meant annihilation. Without the evacuation by 'the little ships' it surely would have meant Hitler conquering all of Europe
8/10
- comps-784-38265
- Jul 11, 2017
- Permalink
Details
Box office
- Budget
- £400,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $222
- Runtime2 hours 15 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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