When was the last time we watched a classic British World War Two film, or more specifically, a WW2 film about the British Navy? Was it "The Cruel Sea"? We saw that one back in 2015 or so, maybe earlier. I'm not talking about Submarine Movies, which are a genre of their own. No, I mean movies that take place on the high seas during World War Two and were made in England anywhere from 1940 to approximately 1965. I'll have to check my movie list to be sure (and yes, I do keep one!), but at any rate we ended the drought tonight with the first rate "Sink The Bismarck" (1960).
Kenneth More stars as Captain Shepard, the new commander at the Navy's Admirality headquarters, located 200 feet underground below London. From that nerve center, he and his fellow executive officers plan strategy for naval operations in the North Atlantic. Right away, Shepard is faced with the prospect of having to hunt down the gargantuan German battleship "Bismarck", which is attempting to take advantage of foggy weather to sail past English defenses and into the open sea. From there, the Bismarck will be able to attack British convoys at will, and destroy their shipping lanes.
The Bismarck is the largest, fastest and most heavily armored battleship in the German fleet. It is said to be unsinkable.
Captain Shepard gets right to work. He is a disciplinarian who tolerates no informalities, as in the instance of his Second Officer Davis (Dana Wynter), who - because she is a woman - is referred to by her first name of Anne. Shepard puts a stop to this practice, and to eating in the war room. He insists on full dress uniforms, etc. He's not belligerent but quietly firm. Officer Davis takes a liking to him, because she knows he is hiding secret pain. She tries to draw him out of his reticence. This will be a subtheme of the picture.
Meanwhile, onboard the Bismarck, the German officers are raring to go. Their captain is all business, he wants to get out into the North Atlantic as soon as possible, but with caution. He considers all possible exit strategies to avoid British detection. But he has a superior tagging along, the Fleet Commander Gunther Lutjens. Lutjens is the quintessential gaunt-faced Hitler Heiling ultra proud and overconfident Nazi. He orders the captain to get going right away. "We are Germans"!, he declares. "This is the Bismarck! We cannot be destroyed! We will make the Fuhrer proud"! As you read, please try to recite these lines with the proper force and accent. Thank you.
During the first half of the film, much of the action involves cat and mouse games between the Bismarck and the English ships holding the exit points. Captain Shepard moves small plastic models around the big glass map table, to mark the current positions of his ships. When the fog clears, he attempts to use British Torpedo Planes against the Bismarck, but it's armor is as good as advertised. Though a few torpedoes score direct hits, none cause major damage. However, one has exploded near the main fuel tank, causing a slow leak. The Bismarck's captain wants to sail back to Brest (in France but held by the Germans) for repairs and refueling, but Commander Lutjens rejects this suggestion. "How much fuel do we have left"? he demands. The captain quotes an amount, which Lutjens finds more than sufficient to continue the mission. "We sail forward to sink the convoy"!, he bellows. The captain knows this could lead them to peril, but keeps his mouth shut.
Once the battle sequences begin, the movie kicks into high gear. One of the Bismarck's adversaries is the HMS King George. Scenes shot in it's torpedo room (or that of another ship representing it) are spectacular. The immense machinery is something to behold, as are the precise movements and teamwork of the loading squad, who wear what look like full body and facemask chemical suits.
The outcome of the battle will rest not only on the differing strategies of Captain Shepard and Commander Lutjens on the German side, but also on decisions made earlier. The title of the film can be seen as the objective, but will it be carried out? You can Google the answer, or use common sense, or if you are a WW2 Naval Buff you probably already know it. In the movie, it is depicted in full hellish glory as the epic showdown it must have been. But there is a human side to the story that is just as important as the war narrative. Captain Shepard is under great personal strain the entire time. He spends night and day at the map table, twenty stories below ground. He never sees the daylight, gets little sleep, and must stuff his grief because the fate of the British Navy depends on him. Kenneth More is perfect as Shepard, exemplifying the stiff upper lip fortitude the English are known for.
But only up to a point. Dana Wynter's character, Second Officer Davis, tries to get Shepard to express himself, to acknowledge his feelings, and finally, when he is alone, he does. This is a very poignant moment in the film that actor More pulls off with subtle but powerful grace.
"Sink The Bismarck" is one of the great British Naval WW2 films I've seen. I love all of the American ones, too (and I'm thinking about going to see "Midway"), but there is something I really like about the low-key heroism of the English. A point is made in "Sink The Bismarck" about how they never cower in danger, panic in defeat, but especially they never boast in victory. In fact, they are solemn because they acknowledge the price paid by their enemy, and realise it could have been them at the bottom of the ocean. I am a huge fan of the English people. I admire their attitude toward life and their professionalism in all things, including the terrible business of war.
Two Huge Thumbs Up for "Sink The Bismarck". Highly recommended for WW2 Buffs, as mentioned.
Sorry I missed ya yesterday. It was one of those nights when Grimsley came over, so I didn't have a movie, but I am headed to the Libe right now, so we should be stocked up for the next several days. See you tonight at the Usual Time!
Tons of love. xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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