TimR

This is an exceptional and I think under-rated film.

The details of the naval campaign are presented with clarity and precision, and also in considerable detail. The sinking of the Hood by the Bismarck is shown in a few quick scenes, without graphic violence or even a close-up of the Hood after it is attacked, but the effect is absolutely shattering. The importance of the Hood to Britain is clearly established and a few brief scenes bring the crew of the Hood to life in such a way that the attack has a powerful impact.

I am interested in where the sea sequences were filmed. There are a few pieces of archival footage that are expertly woven into the film, but the majority of the chase scenes as well as the battle scenes were recreated. The attack on the Bismarck itself is superbly well done.

Nick Dando

Watch out for Esmond Knight as the Captain of the Prince of Wales as he actually served in the real engagement as a gunnery officer on this ship, where he was seriously wounded and almost completely blinded. A very brave man. And a superb actor.

Nick

Steve Crook

All done in the studio AFAIK. They made very good and effective use of miniatures and, as you say, some archive footage of real ships. All the shots of men on the ships, on the bridge or firing the guns, would have been done in studio re-creations.

Compare it to The Battle of the River Plate which did use real ships and included shots like the view from the bridge of the guns firing or the camera moving around real ships at sea.

But I agree that Sink the Bismarck! is very good. I especially like the sadness at having to sink her at the end. No sailor likes to see a ship sunk

Steve

TimR

Thanks very much for the information: Yes, I know the actor you are referring to. I just watched the film again a few days ago after reading the thread on Kenneth More, one of my favorite actors; I was also impressed this time by the caliber of the supporting cast. I had no idea Knight was a true veteran of of the engagement - almost blinded! A brave man indeed.

TimR

Miniatures! Well, I must admit that went right by me. The editing is excellent.

The studio recreations were extremely well done. That scene of the destruction of the Hood was, to my mind, really extraordinary.

Hmm..Never saw it. I must add that to the list (which after reading many threads on this forum is very long....)

Yes - there was a sadness about it going down - and yet it had been used to bring down the Hood. An unexpected ambivalence.

christoph404

Yes I think that is a realsitic portayal of the feelings of the British Navy at the time, there was much respect for a great ship with an elite crew and even though they were the enemey and had inflicted severe casualties in the sinking of the Hood and others, no one would openly gloat and rejoice at the loss of such a large ship and the human casualties that involves,.....er ..unless you are M Thatcher distastefully inviting the nation to rejoice at the sinking of the Belgrano!...but thats a different story I guess but it certainly springs to mind as a contrast to the feelings at sinking The Bismark.

Steve Crook

He lost one eye completely and lost his sight in the other one, although over the years he regained a small percentage of sight in his remaining eye.

For more about the remarkable Esmond, and his remarkable family, see the Esmond Knight web site

Steve

Steve Crook

The producers knew that the use of miniatures and explosions would have to look very realistic to be successful. They imported Howard Lydecker, one of the legendary Lydecker brothers who were generally considered to be the best special effects teams in the business and who had spent decades perfecting their craft at Republic Pictures, from the U.S.

Steve

julian_craster

The very well-connected (Mountbatten's son-in-law) Lord (John) Brabourne was the naval link man for both The Battle of the River Plate and Sink the Bismarck!

NappieB

Loved the movie!

Two fatal mistakes (in the real battles) stood out for me:

1) the Hood was technically a heavy cruiser because her decks were wooden (among other faults). She was scheduled to be upgraded to battleship status but just couldn't manage to spare the time, what with exhibition voyages to the various ports of the Empire in the late 30s/1940. That vital upgrade would have added steel armour plate to her decks. If this had been done, she might have survived the one direct hit from the Bismarck's guns...

2) The Bismarck did not top off her fuel tanks when she had the opportunity after leaving the safety of the fjords (unlike her escort, the Prinz Eugen) This was to cost the great battleship dearly...

A playingfield leveled by God?

"The future is yet to come" - George W. Bush

Steve Crook

There are other theories as to why the Hood was destroyed so quickly. An element of luck comes into most of them - like she was just turning to face the Bismarck and as she heeled over in the turn that exposed more of the weaker deck area than would have been exposed had she not turned.

But there was more wrong with the Hood than just the weak deck armour. She was 20 years older than the Bismarck and the old lady was showing her age

Steve

Redstar

There is a strong sense of the claustrophobic in this excellent film with long scenes in the control room of the admiralty. At the end when Moore and his female assistant walk towards trafalgar square one can feel the fresh air and the light as itwere at the end of the tunnel.

Moor Larkin

Michael Elliott adapted Moby Dick for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in 1983 and had to restrain an enthusiastic Esmond, as Captain Peleg, from clambering up the rigging of the stage ship. He was 78 years old by then I believe!!...

TimR

Steve: thank you very much for that link and that info. I would certainly never have known about any of this, as apparently Knight was not a man to boast and his story is not well known here. I have just finished reading the story of his blindness, his partial recovery and his continued career - and his insistence on continuing his acting career even while still blind! A hero in war and at home.

His story puts things into perspective; I am ashamed to grumble about trivial things after reading that.

I had not made the connection with the numerous other times I had seen him - especially in "Halfway House", which is a particular family favorite. I have "A Canterbury Tale" waiting for me over the Christmas vacation, and I see he was the narrator of that.

Tim

TimR

Republic - creator of so many well-made and very inexpensive westerns and war films! They always had a reputation for creating impressive effects on almost no money. I did not know they ever worked in Britain. They certainly knew their trade.