Movie review – “Sink the Bismark” (1960) ***

Most British war films of the 1950s were met with indifference by the American public but this one was an expected hit, despite being about an event with no American involvement. Ed Murrow provides some commentary, the film was given a PR push by 20th Century Fox, the Dana Wynter character receives an offer to work in America. Perhaps also audiences appreciated the no-nonsense presentation of an enthralling story – there is little comic relief apart from a few one liners from cockneys, little romance apart from Wynter making eyes at Kenneth More, little human drama apart from More (whose character is the most ficticious element in the film) becoming more human and fearing he’s lost his son. In a nice change the admiral of the Bismark is a psycho nazi rather than a good German – also there is still a good German character, the captain. The model work, and special effects are very well done and realistic. The events portrayed with general accuracy – for all the ship’s power, it was mostly undone by an old plane! (that wasn’t the whole story, of course, but it was crucial)