Dunkirk (1958)

the audience applauded

Pretty Good

A Major Disappointment

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It's interesting to compare this film with other versions of the trauma at Dunkirk, like "Mrs Miniver" (1942), "Atonement" (2007) and Christopher Nolan's version of 2017. They all four tell the same story but from very different aspects. In "Mrs Miniver" there is a family drawn into the war and contributing in the Dunkirk drama at the height of the film, "Atonement" is a very personal story with a long fantastic sequence at the centre of the film comprising the whole Dunkirk situation, while Christopher Nolan's film concentrates entirely on action and crisis realism. This one tells the story of some soldiers at a loss being driven across Belgium to the shores and some boat owners at home who eventually are stranded at Dunkirk, one unwillingly (Richard Attenborough), who describes a thorough character development and change during the course of the film. We don't reach Dunkirk until after 3/4 of the film, but then the great finale on the shores is the more epic and overwhelming. Christopher Nolan's film goes even further and succeeds in giving the drama an even closer look and deeper realism, while this film is perhaps a little more romantic, wíth heroically cheerful music to accompany the fleet. "Dunkirk" of 2017 is definitely the best screened version of the drama, "Atonement" was an even better film than the "Dunkirk" of 1958, while "Mrs Miniver" takes the price as a female version. They are all four praiseworthy to the maximum, there are no flaws in any of them, they all compliment each other, they are all equally memorable and worth watching again.

Facts, After World War 1, The Spanish Flu wiped out most of the young that would have grown up to be age 17 to 29 during World War 2, the Main Characters of Dunkirk 2017 would not have existed, this is why all the "Old People" in Dunkirk 1958.Mentioned in Dunkirk 1958 is Guns or Butter, the Germans chose Guns, We (British) chose Butter, now look where we (British) are at (Dunkirk). After World War 1, most Nations cut their Defense Budgets, the British, French, U.S. and other U.S. Allies would be only equipped with Obsolete World War 1 equipment, example, the U.S. Navy was stuck with 1911-1927 Battlerams (not Battleships) at Pearl Harbor Oahu, U.S. Territory of Hawaii. While the Germans and Japanese increased their Defense Spending to get their Nations Out of the 1929 to 1939 Global Great Depression.The French spent most of their Nations Wealth on outdated World War 1 idea of building a "Static Defense" as the Maginot Line and decreased the numbers of French Military Personnel, while the Germans built their Modern World War 2 highly mobile "Blitzkrieg" Armies.The small French Military and British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F., 1 Million) would occupy Belgium's Forests with their Flank being the Maginot Line or be sent north to Holland, Northern Europe, The Germans easily defeated the Maginot Line by bypassing the Maginot Line, crushing the small French Army, the British Officers being inept (only trained to take Orders, no Initiative nor Decision Making) Ordered a Retreat from their Defensive Positions, as the British did not trust the Belgium Military Forces to hold. The Forces between the Maginot Line and the Sea collapsed as almost 1 Million British Military Retreated, instead of attacking the Flanks of the German Blitzkrieg heading Southeast.The German Officers decided to Regroup, taking Days, this was depicted in Dunkirk 1958, as a British Squad had to sneak thru the German Lines, the Germans were "Camping" taking a long break while ammunition, fuel, supplies caught up to them. The near deafening sound of German Bomber Formations to bomb the British and British Allied Forces to the South of Calais is depicted in Dunkirk 1958 and not in Dunkirk 2017.The British Officer being inept allowed the Germans to Regroup, Resupply, Refuel, Rearm, for Days, instead of attacking the Germans low on fuel, ammunition, food and water. The Germans then reoriented the German Units to surround Dunkirk cutting off the British from the Port of Calais while the Main part of the German Armies headed southeast towards Paris. This was depicted on maps, a British Officer briefing the News Reporters lying to the News Reporters earlier.Most British Military (Aircraft Recognition Training) and most British Civilians knew the aircraft of World War 2, the Heinkels were not used at Dunkirk, the Focke Wolf 200, and Junkers JU-88, Dornier 17 were. Cheaper Hawker Hurricanes not extremely expensive Supermarine Spitfires were used at Dunkirk. Most British Aircraft and Ships were to the West of England to support and protect the Strategic British Convoys, required to feed the British Civilians.The Huge Formations of Heinkel 111s were heading southeast to bomb the crap out of the French and British Military Forces between Calais and Paris. Not attack the Beaches like depicted in Fictional Dunkirk 2017. Just like Dunkirk 2017 shows Supermarine Spitfires (about 300 at that time) and not Hawker Hurricanes (709), the Supermarine Spitfires were held back for "Home Defense of the British Isles", and to provide Aircover for the British Strategic Convoys going to and from the U.S., while the German U Boats controlled West of the British Isles, until the British and American Convoys could get to the British Aircover of the Supermarine Spitfires, and later on the longer range American B-25s to see and attack the German U Boats.

This picture is a piece of history about the rescue of around 400.000 soldiers from this beach whom only 360.000 return, after German army has invaded Belgium and France all British soldiers has no place to hide and the Brithsh has make tremendous effort to bring them to Dover thinking in near future more prepared to face this challenge....Dunkirk was a huge defeat but after a short time Normandy beach was a revenge and victory, the movie has some weak point like the special effects like the bombs that clearly are fake among a bit holes...what counts is the history that has already proved its worth!! This picture is a homage for those who felt down forever in those sands....Resume: First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

'Dunkirk' was the event that really cemented WW2 in British minds. Up to that point it had been more a newsworthy disturbance in a foreign land, following on the much maligned 'phony' war.For the first time, those at home - at least in the home counties - could see for themselves the face of defeat in legions of haggard and bandaged returnees.This movie takes us through events in a familiar well-paced documentary-like way that makes old British war movies so watchable. There are few excessive heroics, just a gradual realisation that greater effort is needed and a reconciliation to it. Individuals are about to have their pleasure craft commandeered. Even in the 1940's, to own your own boat for pleasure was a very middle-class activity, and so we see this 'Dad's Navy' confused and reluctant at first, but eventually volunteering themselves along with their boats. They still have little idea what awaits them.In France, things are falling apart fast. The collapsing British forces are shown in microcosm by a company of squaddies led by working-class 'corporal' John Mills, complete with phony cockney accent. Constantly harassed by the encroaching German army, they manage to stay one step ahead and reach Dunkirk.Only soldiers can be evacuated. The supplies and substance of an army must be abandoned, destroying as much as possible rather than allowing it to fall into enemy hands.Small-ship civilians get trapped ashore and share in the bombardment with soldiers. Some are killed. There's a lot of men and a lot of equipment shown at times. It's clear that the army were involved in the movie's making. Cabin cruisers explode, loaded ships are bombed. Although today, the bombs falling on the dunes bear more similarity to thunder flashes, for its time, the overall effect is creditable. There are believable performances all round from a cast of reliable, regular stalwarts. And, necessary for every movie; we are made to care about them.The retreat from Dunkirk was the first of several Great British reversals that were needed before the nation took its plight seriously enough to galvanise itself into a professional war-effort. This movie doesn't moralise or sentimentalise much. Dunkirk was chaos that was saved from disaster by just a little bit of order and a great deal of courage. Not to mention luck.Well worth a watch even today. It may be a drama but it tells you as much as a reference book.