- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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3 out of 5
Produced by Michael Balcon, this Ealing reconstruction of the evacuation of Dunkirk is impressive in its scale and authenticity, but slightly disappointing in its writing and execution. John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee scarcely have to act as their respective parts - a corporal lost on the beaches, a snivelling stay-at-home and a cynical reporter - are so cleverly tailor-made. Director Leslie Norman handles the manoeuvres with skill and does well to maintain the docudramatic feel, in spite of some shoddy dialogue, but his approach is too reverential and too eager to inspire rather than inform or engross.
Plot Summary
Epic Second World War drama starring John Mills, Bernard Lee and Richard Attenborough. In 1940, more than 338,000 retreating Allied troops were evacuated from the beaches around Dunkirk. This film re-creates the daring operation from the perspective of the soldiers who were there as well as the men who set sail from England to rescue them.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Binns
- John Mills
- Charles Foreman
- Bernard Lee
- Holden
- Richard Attenborough
- Mike
- Robert Urquhart
- Barlow
- Ray Jackson
- Dave Bellman
- Meredith Edwards
- Military spokesman
- Anthony Nicholls
- Jouvet
- Michael Shillo
- Frankie
- Sean Barrett (1)
- Diana
- Maxine Audley
- Flanagan and Allen
- Flanagan and Allen
- Lieutenant Lumpkin
- Kenneth Cope
- Medical officer
- Lionel Jeffries
- Merchant seaman
- Victor Maddern
Crew
- Director
- Leslie Norman
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