SINK THE BISMARCK

UK, 1960, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Mohlner, Karel Stepanek. Laurence Naismith.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.

Sink the Bismaickis a typical enough stiff upper lip British war film, predictable in many of its situations and characters, yet moving fast enough to keep interest and excitement going. Kenneth More has done this kind of thing many times effortlessly. The best thing about the film is its chase of the Bismarck and its picture of those behind the scenes during the war.

1. Was this just another patriotic war film or was it something more?

2. Why are films like this made, for entertainment, information, morale boosting. or an attempt to recapture the strange period that was the war and the real heroism and determination that existed?

3. How did the semi-documentary style affect the impact of the film? Did it give a matter of fact presentation that made it more acceptable, or did this style make it a cold film?

4. Did the film give you a good idea of the nature of the sea war in the early 40's. the amount of shipping. the role of ships, the role of the navy. the strategy of the Naval Office, the Sea Lord and his staff? How did the film communicate this?

5. Why did Germany place such high hopes on the Bismarck? Did its power and its menace come across in the film? How did the personalities of the officers of the Bismazekaffect your attitude towards the ship, the hard work of the Captain, the blind faith and arrogance of the adviser?

6. Was the severity of the new Officer Commanding overdone? Why was he a martinet? Was such strict adherence to rules necessary in the situation? Was he a trusting nun? Was he a man of action regretting his office jobs? What part did his personal worries about wife and son play in his attitudes?

7. Was his secretary merely a conventional character or did she contribute to the development of the film?

8. How were the Sea Lords, Admirals and other officers presented? Were they conventional or did they make some impact? Did the film make you realise the necessity of overall planning and comprehensive decisions? Were you impressed by the unremitting work and the morale of working night and day?

9. How did the Gibraltar sequences and the officer's son having to fly against the Bismaickbring hoffeto you the emotions and feelings of the situation, and the desperation in sending amateur pilots against the ship?

10. Was the sequence of the tension about the son's plane missing effective? What of his carrying on with strategy despite his personal sorrow? How effective was the sequence where he found his son was still alive? What effect did this have on him?

11. Did you feel satisfied at the end that you had seen a good war film? Why?