Dam Busters: A British Film Guide

An original mix of film analysis and political history, this book examines the political and cinematic significance of The Dam Busters, as both a British institution and a fine war film. A critical and popular success, the film celebrates an image of gutsy ingenuity for the "Brits at war," with the 1943 raid by Lancaster bombers on the dams of Germany’s Ruhr region, using the extraordinary "bouncing bomb." Ramsden’s fresh and incisive book offers an overall review of the film and its place in history. It convincingly suggests that the film’s cultural impact made it difficult to assess the true value of Britain’s bombing campaign.

Released in 1955, the film The Dam Busters recounted the story of the British 617 bombing squadron that breached the Mohne and Eder dams in Germany during World War II. This text investigates the background, context, and making of this critically acclaimed popular film and discusses its cultural impact. Ramsden teaches modern history at the U. of London. The volume is not indexed. Distributed by Palgrave. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

John Ramsden is Professor of Modern History, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.