The Dam Busters remake

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by ChristineCB This thread reads like so many of us are enthusiastic about all the changes this remake could accomplish.

Not so many, I think it was just me chunnering, like a dog with a bone.

Since we're in a global economy, can't the new film pretend that all of our power-grids are truly interconnected,

A nice snappy title comes to mind: Damnation

I'm sure David Frost won't let anyone down.
"It's absolutely frantic at the moment," he says, reeling off a list of current projects, including a remake of The Dambusters by his production company, Paradine
Softly does it | Media | MediaGuardian.co.uk

[foha80]

Originally Posted by bloodworm very relevant.There are those who are perfectionists who strve to get every detail right and then there is the "that will do brigade". who make an effort but are not too bothered about the end result as long as it is ok. By saying these details are irrelavant i assume you fall into the latter catagory fot the sake of PC.

I don't see it as the job of the filmaker to teach me history.The original was a film based on a historical event,but it was just a film and as such can be remade any way they choose.The use of the phrase 'politically correct' as a lazy counter argument only reduces debate to name calling.

Terry

[Marky B]

The publishers of the Dandy are in trouble for reprinting an old annual (1939) of the famous comic. A character called Smarty Grandpa uses the word "nigger" a few times,but it was not in an unfriendly sense,but a general term used at the time.
Ta Ta
MArky B

[penfold]

I have to say that it doesn't bother me either way if they change the name of Guy Gibson's dog (amd by extension the codeword) or not...I can see the arguments for both sides. However, I'm looking forward to the remake for two reasons; the improvement in special effects; and the hope that the casting will reflect the youth of the crews involved, which the original film didn't.

[Freddy]

I agree with Bloodworm, the name of the dog is very relevant. They gave Nigger as the codeword after Gibson's dog. That is the fact, that is the connection and it cannot and should not be altered.

The dog's death also for me gives an added depth and meaning to the film. Guy Gibson is the Commanding Officer, professionally and physically separate from his men. His only emotionally outlet is through his dog but the short scene after the dog's death where he opens his desk drawer and finds the leather lead, pauses, looks at the scratch marks on the door, and then simply drops the lead into the waste basket, speaks volumes about the detachment, focus, and discipline that the likes of Gibson and men who fight in war must need to have.
The other point which foha80 has brought up is film as entertainment rather than documentary and it is a valid one. British films in the past such as Zulu, Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia have been great films, great entertainment, even if all have been lacking in some historical fact, whether in depicting actual events or the people involved, this hasn't lessened our enjoyment of them. The concern now though, and one which could be said brings us full circle back to the Dambusters,is how future generations will interpret these films. Will they see it as fact or simply a great story? The responsibilty of knowledge has to lie with the viewer. Perhaps the start of any historical film should inform us that this is only based on true story, that to find out what really happened put in the effort to ask, to question,and to find out for yourself.

Regards

Freddy

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Freddy I agree with Bloodworm, the name of the dog is very relevant. They gave Nigger as the codeword after Gibson's dog. That is the fact, that is the connection and it cannot and should not be altered. The dog's death also for me gives an added depth and meaning to the film. Guy Gibson is the Commanding Officer, professionally and physically separate from his men. His only emotionally outlet is through his dog but the short scene after the dog's death where he opens his desk drawer and finds the leather lead, pauses, looks at the scratch marks on the door, and then simply drops the lead into the waste basket, speaks volumes about the detachment, focus, and discipline that the likes of Gibson and men who fight in war must need to have.

No argument from me for any of the above; yes, the dog was important to Guy, and yes, the way the dog's name was chosen to be the code for success is important.... but the actual name of the dog is not....you could call him Bonzo for all it matters... and I worry that any row about using his original name will overshadow the rest of the film, and obscure the tribute to the aircrews the film should be.

[Jim]

Agreed Penfold but no doubt if they do use the 'name' the PC Brigade and the Do-gooders will be up in arms; when it comes to 'that word', you'll find those that it is directed at will use it more than anyone, amongst themselves - I've heard them!!!

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by Jimbo Agreed Penfold but no doubt if they do use the 'name' the PC Brigade and the Do-gooders will be up in arms; when it comes to 'that word', you'll find those that it is directed at will use it more than anyone, amongst themselves - I've heard them!!!

You're right,Jimbo. It will get to a point where you can't call someone from the Tyneside area "Geordies",or Liverpool "Scousers",or from my home town of Hartlepool "monkey hangers". What were once innocent words,have now been twisted by the PC lot as objects of venom.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Marky B You're right,Jimbo. It will get to a point where you can't call someone from the Tyneside area "Geordies",or Liverpool "Scousers",or from my home town of Hartlepool "monkey hangers". What were once innocent words,have now been twisted by the PC lot as objects of venom. Ta Ta Marky B

"Monkey hangers" was never very innocent. It was intended to point out the stupidity of the people of Hartlepool.

Steve

[ACE FLYER]

Can they really make a film as good as the origional? I hope so, peter Jackson would certainly give it his best shot. The dogs name is a problem though. I bet they call him blacky.....

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by ACE FLYER peter Jackson would certainly give it his best shot.

Having now seen all three Lords of the Ring on TV my gast is quite flabbered as to why this chap should carry some recommendation as to remaking The Dambusters. The final half-hour of the last eppy of LOR was particularly puke-makingly ..........

His Braindead movie was on recently too. For the first hour or so he played with an intriguing idea but then blew it away with a half-hour of FX-satirical blood-letting that just went on far too long and completely clouded the mother/son issues that were evidently meant to be at the back of the film. I watched Heavenly Creatures a while ago too and found that was very predictable.

God forbid we have a scene of Guy looking empathetically at his comrades whilst a CGI black labrador leaps over a pristinely-rendered computerised Lancaster.....

[Marky B]

[

God forbid we have a scene of Guy looking empathetically at his comrades whilst a CGI black labrador leaps over a pristinely-rendered computerised Lancaster.....[/quote]

Andy Serkis doing the honours ?
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Jim]

Originally Posted by mike ellery why do people always associate the "PETWOOD HOTEL" WITH THE DAMBUSTERS? this was the officers mess, if people took the time to visit "THE BLUE BELL INN" at tattershall thorpe, they would find a pub that was frequented by all the lower ranks of bomber command with loads of photo's and memorabillia on the walls, ceilings signed by the likes of norman jackson etc. the dambuster pub at scampton seems to get more recognition too but it was not even in existence during the war. 617 squadron was at thorpe camp, next door to the blue bell from right after the dams raid until the end of the war, along with 627, 97 and other squandrons based at raf coningsby and woodhall spa

Perhaps people link The Petwood Hotel with 617 Squadron because the walls and the bar are covered with signed pictures and pieces of aircraft from those days plus photos of the officers in the grounds of the hotel!

[Jim]

Originally Posted by ACE FLYER Can they really make a film as good as the origional? I hope so, peter Jackson would certainly give it his best shot. The dogs name is a problem though. I bet they call him blacky.....

Woahhh there Ace... that's out too!!!!!! :

[penfold]

In all seriousness, I think I read somewhere that they were going to call him Trigger.