KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?

PodBill Just what I expected

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

nzpedals Very early in this movie I could feel the tension in that plotting room, and realise that the cast and crew had captured all the drama, the surprises, the realities, and sometimes, some emotion too.Kenneth More as the newly appointed director of the op's room is a stickler for discipline. He expects all the rules of the Navy to be observed and he doesn't hesitate to tell people off if they transgress.All the acting is superb, I feel like I'm really there too. As the new information comes in and we see the situation develop. We all know the basic story, and the outcome, but this movie goes into the hard work and hard thinking that ensured the final result. The initial planning of the German Navy was over-ambitious? Surely they knew that unless one has a secure coastline, with well equipped bases all over the place, then a Navy is a bit of a waste of time, and effort? Britain had all that, and had the tradition of centuries, and knew how to use it (mostly - the later demise of Prince of Wales near Singapore showed how narrow the thinking was?). Perhaps silly Hitler just assumed that the world power he was aiming at, just HAD to have a big navy? Raeder and other admirals should have advised him?Later in the movie, we see the officers of both sides staring across the ocean at their target - a target that has BIG guns pointing straight at them, ones that when the puff of smoke comes, means that very soon, a huge shell will come screaming straight at them and their comrades - that must have been so scary. The British knew that their "Hood" had been sunk, would they soon be next? And the Germans knew they were hopelessly outnumbered and out-gunned.In some respects, perhaps the whole incident has been over-rated? Was the Bismarck such a terrible threat? I don't recall ever seeing any attempt at a "what-if", ie, if the ships had got to Brest, would they ever have been able to get out again? The British would have lost a lot of aircraft and crews as they attacked, (as they did against the other German ships there) but my guess is that the idea of using battleships to attack the convoys was fatally flawed both from that "bases" point, and also from the "resupply" issues.Germany did arrange for tankers and other ships to meet Bismarck for fuel, ammunition, food, but, the British, through the Enigma cracking, knew where these ships were, and simple sunk them - later. If Bismarck had not been damaged and sunk, perhaps it might have done some damage, but then, would have to return to Brest... and stay there (Yes, but the other ships did scoot through the Channel later)I've read somewhere that half of Germany's submarines never even saw a target ship! So, would the surface ships do any better? Maybe, maybe not? We'll never know.Something else that if different, is the quality of the acting. I've seen other movies from that era and been so disappointed by the Stewart and Niven and others. Is this a difference between Hollywood and Britain? Maybe. Much much later (2001!) Robert Redford, in a DVD bonus feature of "Spy Game", says, (of Catherine McCormack) ..."She has the benefit, as so many English actors have, of... craft, of solid training". So very true.

MartinHafer The style of "Sink the Bismarck!" is a bit unusual for a war film. Much of it is not set on the frontlines on the open sea but within the underground confines of the Cabinet War Rooms--a fortified bunker well below the streets of London. In fact, if you want to visit this site today, you can--and it makes for an interesting couple hours.Within the underground complex, a Captain (Kenneth More) is in charge of coordinating the British Navy's pursuit of the dreaded Bismarck-- one of two incredibly powerful German battleships which terrified the British because its guns were more powerful and armor plating much thicker than on the British naval counterparts. In addition, you do see some battle scenes and while they were done mostly with models (along with a bit of stock footage), they do look rather realistic.So is the film worth seeing? Yes, especially if you enjoy seeing war films AND don't mind the rather cerebral behind the scenes style of the film. By the way, while the acting was very good, I was surprised how bad and unconvincing the voice actor was who pretended to be Churchill. It didn't even sound close. Also, as you see the torpedoes going through the water, look carefully and you can see that in some clips you can see the ropes pulling them through the water!

JLRMovieReviews Kenneth More and Dana Wynter star in this film about the German Bismarck, which had sunk a lot of the British fleet. The orders were, no matter the cost or how it was done, sink the Bismarck! Kenneth More was given duty in an office to supervise the means of attack of the Bismarck, with Dana Wynter aiding him. In the beginning, he came across as too rough on his staff, but, as Dana learned more about him, she found there was a man with feeling underneath all that gruffness. I was very impressed with this film, as it was very good in creating believable and real people, with whom the viewers could sympathize for and relate to. Even the actors on the Bismarck were memorable, especially the commander. The time and place was brought to life vividly and the film was very respectful of the subject matter, with very exciting battle scenes. This was a grade-A picture that needs to be discovered today.

ianlouisiana A remarkable movie with Mr.K.More at his very best as the Director of Operations in a bunker under the Admiralty engaged in a hunt for the "Bismarck" when she breaks for the Atlantic intending to wreak havoc on Allied convoys. Cool - headed rather than cold,he is the man who must make the hard decisions - the important ones. With the lives of many thousands of sailors in his hands he directs the escorting ships away from the convoys and redeploys them in a desperate search for the German battleship. His calculated risk pays off and,cornered by the Royal Navy,the "Bismarck" is ruthlessly blown to pieces,graphically portrayed on the screen. Nobody in the bunker whoops or throws their hat in the air,Mr More merely slips the model of the "Bismarck" into a pocket and goes back into his office.Job done. Brilliantly photographed in black and white(for wasn't the war fought in black and white for my generation?)"Sink the Bismarck" is the best type of understated British war movie. Mr More's apparent cold - bloodedness covers a tragic past,but there's a war to be won,time enough to grieve afterwards. Mis Dana Wynter strikes a slightly false note as a bereaved Wren officer who tries to bring out More's humanity,but otherwise the casting is perfect. "Remember The Hood" was a byword of the time,but we should also remember the "Bismarck" and her brave,doomed crew.