The Dam Busters remake

[penfold]

(Marky B @ May 8 2006, 11:50 PM) Problem sorted,Penfold - well done. I am surprised that it was Gibson's 174th sortie at the age of only 24. The youth of today - they haven't lived (me included - when I was 24). Ta Ta Marky B

There's a nice story of Gibson being sent on a lecture tour to the States after the raid...he was asked how many ops. he had flown over Europe...and he answered...174 (more would follow). There was silence. At that stage, US aircrew were 'retired' from combat, and sent to train new crews or fly desks, after 25 sorties....

[AndrewLA]

This may all be premature. Apparently, there's doubt as to whether this is a real project. The subject came up on another board and someone posted that it was entirely "bogus." We'll see. Keep watching the skies...

[theuofc]

(AndrewLA @ May 9 2006, 03:51 AM) This may all be premature. Apparently, there's doubt as to whether this is a real project. The subject came up on another board and someone posted that it was entirely "bogus." We'll see. Keep watching the skies...

It seems so, AndrewLA.

Barbara

Jackson bounces dam claim

TUESDAY , 09 MAY 2006

By TOM CARDY

Kiwi director Peter Jackson has dismissed a newspaper report that he is working on a $290 million remake of the classic World War II movie The Dam Busters.

Britain's Mail on Sunday reported that Jackson would work on the movie with Sir David Frost, who bought the rights last year to a book on the British air squadron that dropped bouncing bombs on German dams.

The article quoted an unnamed source as saying Jackson recently spent a day filming one of the last surviving Lancaster bombers in preparation for the remake of the 1954 British film and had met RAF veterans in New Zealand.

It also said Jackson's personal assistant, Matthew Dravitzki, would attend a Dam Busters reunion in Britain later this month.

But Mr Dravitzki said Jackson ? a war buff who owns several World War I biplanes ? had no plans to remake The Dam Busters, nor was he going to a reunion.

"We denied the story at the time but they've run with it anyway. It's just one of those continuing speculative things. Because of Peter's involvement in aviation and his involvement with the Aviation Heritage Centre in Omaka, people just tend to assume we are involved in an aviation movie. It is not the case. Peter will not be directing a remake of The Dam Busters."

Mr Dravitzki said Jackson's studios were busy being used for fantasy film The Waterhorse. While the director was always considering new projects, the only two confirmed were Halo this year ? of which he is an executive producer ? and directing The Lovely Bones next year.

Last year The New York Times apologised to Jackson after incorrectly reporting that he was making a film Wolf Totem, based on a Chinese novel.

Other rumours about Jackson war movies have included one based on the Anzacs at Gallipoli and a World War II zombie saga.

[bloodworm]

Jackson bounces dam claim

TUESDAY , 09 MAY 2006

By TOM CARDY

Kiwi director Peter Jackson has dismissed a newspaper report that he is working on a $290 million remake of the classic World War II movie The Dam Busters.


Thats what i wanted to hear.

C/U The Worm

[penfold]

'We denied it but they ran with it anyway' - don't you love the Daily Mail?? Having said that, I distrust carefully phrased denials 'We're not remaking The Dambusters' leaves out an awful lot they might
be making....personally, I think things got really interesting at 617 Squadron after Gibson moved on....

[Ambrosia]

(Marky B @ May 8 2006, 11:50 PM) Problem sorted,Penfold - well done surprised that it was Gibson's 174th sortie at the age of only 24. The youth of today - they haven't lived (me included - when I was 24). Ta Ta Marky B

24 seems relativly old if you have been in the service say since school thats say 17 - 24 thats 7 years plenty of time to have aquired experiance but realisticly if he was 20 and a Pilot officer then Group capt in 4 years is fast promotion, mind you casulty rates were high and the most capable and luck were promoted. Iv heard of men in WW2 entering as Ptes and finishing as Brig's some career hey.

[716Jones]

(Maltman @ May 9 2006, 12:10 PM) 24 seems relativly old if you have been in the service say since school thats say 17 - 24 thats 7 years plenty of time to have aquired experiance but realisticly if he was 20 and a Pilot officer then Group capt in 4 years is fast promotion, mind you casulty rates were high and the most capable and luck were promoted. Iv heard of men in WW2 entering as Ptes and finishing as Brig's some career hey.

Gibsons's career was certainly remarkable for the numbr of operations flown. When the Second World War started he was a junior officer on 83 Squadron, when Bomber Command had trouble finding the right country, never mind the right city. Following his tour on 83 Squadron he was posted to 29 Fighter Squadron for a tour on night fighters, flying Beaufighters. A rest on an training unit followed this, then he was appointed to 106 Squadron as Commanding Officer. When he had fininshed this, his second tour of operations on bombers, he was selected for the Chastise mission and was responsible for forming 617 Squadron. After this mission he was supposed to be finished with operational flying and was sent to the USA for a tour, then posted to a staff position. Gibson seems to have been deeply unhappy at being taken off operational flying and requested Sir Arthur Harris, commander of Bomber Command, to be allowed back. He completed several missions flying Mosquito aircraft, before the final mission on which he was killed.

That's a hell of a record.

[Ambrosia]

(716Jones @ May 9 2006, 02:54 PM) Gibsons's career was certainly remarkable for the numbr of operations flown. When the Second World War started he was a junior officer on 83 Squadron, when Bomber Command had trouble finding the right country, never mind the right city. Following his tour on 83 Squadron he was posted to 29 Fighter Squadron for a tour on night fighters, flying Beaufighters. A rest on an training unit followed this, then he was appointed to 106 Squadron as Commanding Officer. When he had fininshed this, his second tour of operations on bombers, he was selected for the Chastise mission and was responsible for forming 617 Squadron. After this mission he was supposed to be finished with operational flying and was sent to the USA for a tour, then posted to a staff position. Gibson seems to have been deeply unhappy at being taken off operational flying and requested Sir Arthur Harris, commander of Bomber Command, to be allowed back. He completed several missions flying Mosquito aircraft, before the final mission on which he was killed. That's a hell of a record.

In war if you have what it takes you move fast in the ranks.

[Rob Compton]

(penfold @ May 9 2006, 08:40 AM) 'We denied it but they ran with it anyway' - don't you love the Daily Mail??

It wouldn't be the first newspaper to do that, Mark, and it sure as hell won't be the last..

[penfold]

(Maltman @ May 9 2006, 12:10 PM) [ 24 seems relativly old if you have been in the service say since school thats say 17 - 24 thats 7 years plenty of time to have aquired experiance but realisticly if he was 20 and a Pilot officer then Group capt in 4 years is fast promotion, mind you casulty rates were high and the most capable and luck were promoted. Iv heard of men in WW2 entering as Ptes and finishing as Brig's some career hey.

I think one of those Brigadiers from the ranks was Enoch Powell....

[Steve Crook]

(penfold @ May 9 2006, 11:21 PM) I think one of those Brigadiers from the ranks was Enoch Powell....

'Tis true.
From Wikipedia:

By the end of the war, he was the youngest brigadier in the British army, having started off as a Private. He felt guilty at the end of the war for having survived when many of those he'd met during his journey through the ranks had not.

But he spent most of the war behind a desk, he never saw combat.

Steve

[Ambrosia]

(Steve Crook @ May 10 2006, 12:45 AM) 'Tis true. From Wikipedia: But he spent most of the war behind a desk, he never saw combat. Steve

Well its certainly a safer place to be than in the front line but then again, I havent seen many stafff officers leading a Platoon, Company, Battalion in combat.

[Steve Crook]

(Maltman @ May 10 2006, 12:00 PM) Well its certainly a safer place to be than in the front line but then again, I havent seen many stafff officers leading a Platoon, Company, Battalion in combat.

But the rapid promotions are usually through the ranks of the fighting troops.
Not the desk-jockeys

Steve

[DB7]

The first part of the original film centring around Barnes Wallace couldn't be bettered but with today's SFX the bombing sortie and explosions could be greatly improved upon on. But I couldn't see such a film in the current climate being budgeted for any more than £10-20m.

[Ambrosia]

(Steve Crook @ May 10 2006, 04:29 PM) But the rapid promotions are usually through the ranks of the fighting troops. Not the desk-jockeys Steve

True but most end up riding wooden horse eventually its the nature of the beast, Rankers become REMF's eventually as do the old and infirm, however thats OK if you have a keen mind and can remember where you have come from and work to improve the lot of the grunt.