The Dam Busters (1955)
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- Approved
- 2h 4min
- Drama, History
- 16 Jul 1955 (USA)
- Movie
Drama based on the attempt by the RAF to destroy six dams in Germany during World War II.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Richard Todd | ... |
Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.
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| Michael Redgrave | ... |
Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.
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| Ursula Jeans | ... |
Mrs. Wallis
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| Basil Sydney | ... |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force) G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.
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| Patrick Barr | ... |
Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.
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| Ernest Clark | ... |
Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane (now Air Chief Marshal) G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.
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| Derek Farr | ... |
Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth, D.S.O., D.F.C.
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| Charles Carson | ... |
Doctor
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Stanley Van Beers | ... |
Sir David Pye, C.B., F.R.S.
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| Colin Tapley | ... |
Doctor W. H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E.
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| Frederick Leister | ... |
Committee Member
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| Eric Messiter | ... |
Committee Member
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Laidman Browne | ... |
Committee Member
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| Raymond Huntley | ... |
Official, National Physical Laboratory
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| Hugh Manning | ... |
Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production
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Edwin Styles | ... |
Observer At Trials
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| Hugh Moxey | ... |
Observer At Trials
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Anthony Shaw | ... |
R.A.F. Officer At Trials
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| Laurence Naismith | ... |
Farmer
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Harold Siddons | ... |
Group Signals Officer
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Frank Phillips | ... |
B.B.C. Announcer
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| Brewster Mason | ... |
Flt / Lt. R. D. Trevor-Roper, D.F.C., D.F.M.
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Tony Doonan | ... |
Flt / Lt. R. E. G. Hutchison, D.F.C.
(as Anthony Doonan)
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| Nigel Stock | ... |
Flying / Off. F. M. Spafford, D.F.C., D.F.M.
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Brian Nissen | ... |
Flt / Lt. A. T. Taerum, D.F.C.
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| Robert Shaw | ... |
Flt / Sgt. J. Pulford, D.F.M.
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Peter Assinder | ... |
Plt / Off. G. A. Deering, D.F.C.
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| Richard Leech | ... |
Squadron Leader H. M. Young, D.F.C.
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| Richard Thorp | ... |
Squadron Leader H. E. Maudslay, D.F.C.
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| John Fraser | ... |
Flight Lieutenant J. V. Hopgood, D.F.C.
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David Morrell | ... |
Flight Lieutenant W. Astell, D.F.C.
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| Bill Kerr | ... |
Flight Lieutenant H. B. Martin, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. (now Wing Commander)
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| George Baker | ... |
Flight Lieutenant D. J. H. Maltby, D.S.O., D.F.C.
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Ronald Wilson | ... |
Flight Lieutenant D. J. Shannon, D.S.O., D.F.C. (later Squadron Leader)
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| Denys Graham | ... |
Flying Officer L. G. Knight, D.S.O.
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Basil Appleby | ... |
Flight Lieutenant R. C. Hay, D.F.C.
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| Tim Turner | ... |
Flight Lieutenant J. F. Leggo, D.F.C.
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| Ewen Solon | ... |
Flight Sergeant G. E. Powell
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| Harold Goodwin | ... |
Wing Comdr. Gibson's Batman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Peter Arne | ... |
Adjutant to Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane (uncredited)
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| John Breslin | ... |
Crew Member (uncredited)
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Edward Cast | ... |
Crew Member (uncredited)
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| John Cazabon | ... |
Batman (uncredited)
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Richard Coleman | ... |
RAF Officer (uncredited)
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Philip Dale | ... |
Waiter in Officers' Mess (uncredited)
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| Peter Diamond | ... |
Tail Gunner (uncredited)
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Elisabeth Gaunt | ... |
Camera operator in testing tank (uncredited)
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Gerald Harper | ... |
Mocking RAF Officer (uncredited)
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Walter Horsbrugh | ... |
Committee Member (uncredited)
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Arthur Howard | ... |
RAF Pay Clerk In NAAFI (uncredited)
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| Patrick Jordan | ... |
Attendant in Officers' Quarters (uncredited)
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| Lloyd Lamble | ... |
Collins (uncredited)
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| Philip Latham | ... |
Flight Sergeant (uncredited)
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Frank Littlewood | ... |
Committee Member (uncredited)
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| Patrick McGoohan | ... |
Guard on Door (uncredited)
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Jack McNaughton | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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Robert Moore | ... |
Adjutant to Air Chief Marshal Harris (uncredited)
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Richard Neller | ... |
Assistant at Model Dam (uncredited)
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Nina Parry | ... |
Barnes Wallis's Daughter (uncredited)
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Howard Pays | ... |
RAF Officer in Mess Hall (uncredited)
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June Powell | ... |
Singer in the Lyric Theatre (uncredited)
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| Edwin Richfield | ... |
RAF Officer (uncredited)
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Arthur Sandifer | ... |
Mess Waiter (uncredited)
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Fred Stroud | ... |
Bomber Crewman (uncredited)
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The Television Toppers | ... |
Dance troupe in the Lyric Theatre (uncredited)
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Robert Brooks Turner | ... |
Security Guard (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Anderson | ||
Written by
| Paul Brickhill | ... | (book) |
| Guy Gibson | ... | (based on Wing Comdr. Gibson's own account in "Enemy Coast Ahead") (as Wing Comdr. Gibson) |
| R.C. Sherriff | ... | (screenplay) |
Music by
| Leighton Lucas | ... | (music score) |
Cinematography by
| Erwin Hillier | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Richard Best | ||
Editorial Department
| Philip Barnikel | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Henrietta Gordon | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Bill Prowse | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Joan Warwick | ... | assembly cutter (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Robert Lennard | ||
| G.B. Walker | ||
Art Direction by
| Robert Jones | ||
Makeup Department
| Hilda Fox | ... | hairdresser (as Hilda Winifred Fox) |
| Stuart Freeborn | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Robert Clark | ... | director in charge of production |
| Gordon Scott | ... | production manager |
| W.A. Whittaker | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John Street | ... | assistant director |
| Frederic Goode | ... | assistant director: location (uncredited) |
| John Pitcher | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| Jeremy Summers | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Bill Beavis | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Peter Glazier | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| George Richardson | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Wallis Smith | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Les Hammond | ... | sound recordist (as Leslie Hammond) |
| Harold V. King | ... | recording director (as H.V. King) |
| Arthur Southgate | ... | dubbing editor |
| Eric Bayman | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| H. Blackmore | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| M. Bradbury | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| Cyril Brown | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| S. Conley | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
| Jean Newson | ... | assistant dubbing editor (uncredited) |
| Len Shilton | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| Hugh Strain | ... | assistant boom operator (uncredited) |
| Jim Whiting | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| George Blackwell | ... | special effects |
| Gilbert Taylor | ... | special effects photography |
Visual Effects by
| Ronnie Wass | ... | optical effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Peter Diamond | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Erwin Hillier | ... | aerial photography |
| Norman Warwick | ... | camera operator |
| Steve Birtles | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Ted Hallows | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Chick Macnaughton | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Brian Osborne | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Bob Penn | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Kelvin Pike | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) / focus puller (uncredited) |
| Ronnie Pilgrim | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Val Stewart | ... | camera operator: second unit (uncredited) |
| Brian West | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Tony White | ... | focus puller: second unit (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Eric Coates | ... | composer: "The Dam Busters" march |
| H.V. King | ... | score recording director |
| Louis Levy | ... | musical director |
| William Lava | ... | composer: US trailer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Thelma Orr | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Eddie Frewin | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| J.N.H. Whitworth | ... | technical adviser (as Group Captain J. N. H. Whitworth D.S.O. D.F.C.) |
| George Mason | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Daphne Paice | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Alan Thomson | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Associated British-Pathé (1955) (World-wide) (theatrical) (distributed throughout the World by)
- Warner Bros. (1955) (United States) (theatrical)
- Europa Film (1955) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kontinental (1955) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Nederland NV (1955) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1956) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- 9Gem (2020) (Australia) (tv)
- Optimum Releasing (2007) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Optimum Releasing (2009) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Optimum Releasing (2010) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
- StudioCanal (2018) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal (2018) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1988) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- A.V. Roe Ltd. (the producers wish to acknowledge also the valuable help received from)
- Associated British Studio Orchestra (music score performed by)
- Associated British Studio Orchestra (score performed by)
- IMS Film & Media Insurance (insurance)
- Members of 617 Squadron (they wish also to record their appreciation of the approval willingly given to the telling of this story by all those represented in it and by the next of kin of, who, from this or later operations, did not return)
- Members of the Royal Air Force (the producers wish to acknowledge the extensive facilities accorded by)
- The Air Ministry (the producers wish to acknowledge the extensive facilities accorded by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The British are desperate to shorten the length of World War II and propose a daring raid to smash Germany's industrial heart. At first, the objective looks impossible until a British scientist invents an ingenious weapon capable of destroying the planned target.
Written by Dave Jenkins |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The dramatic true-life story of the men who broke the Nazis' back! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | There was no follow-up raid because aerial photography showed that the new anti-air raid defences on the dam installed after the attack would have made a second raid suicidal. See more » |
| Goofs | The system devised to get the height right was, in the film, said to have been thought of by the 617 Sqn crews following a visit to the theater. In reality it was devised by the 'boffins' at Farnborough. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Attack on the Iron Coast (1968). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Dam Busters See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Blu-Ray edition opening screen: "While we acknowledge some of the language used in The Dam Busters reflects historical attitudes audiences may find offensive, for reasons of historical accuracy we have opted to present the film as it was originally screened." This refers to the fact that the protagonist, Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson's, dog is named "N-Word." In addition, the dog's name is used during the raid on the dams as code indicating the dam(s) have successfully been breached. See more » |
| Quotes |
Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production:
You say you need a Wellington Bomber for test drops. They're worth their weight in gold. Do you really think the authorities will lend you one? What possible argument could I put forward to get you a Wellington? Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: Well, if you told them I designed it, do you think that might help? See more » |