Dambusters remake is on, says Peter Jackson

Just a thought about the film / mini-series argument; couldn’t ‘Dambusters’, or any other subject for that matter, have been released in both formats?

The two most impressive ‘war films’ in my opinion are Band of Brothers and Das Boot which were both made originally in the mini-series format, but Das Boot was also released in the cinema in a shortened film format; it was done, successfully, nearly forty years ago so surely it could be done again today (especially with the proliferation of TV channels these days).

Gotcha ! Similar to DB’s alleged affliction ?

RST and “line-shoot” frequently went together. No criticism intended, just a statement of fact

Moggy

What exactly does the reference to ‘accurate recollections’ and Robert Stanford Tuck mean ?

Agreed, although I haven’t read anything written by, or about, Bob Stanford Tuck.

I would say, going back to another of your posts, that any film or mini-series about important historical events, especially wartime events, should ‘stick slavishly to the facts’. I’d go so far as saying that the producers have a duty to stick slavishly to the facts. Otherwise you end up with, otherwise, really impressive filmmaking being squandered on the likes of Saving Private Ryan or Titanic (where the producers reproduced exactly the rivet-patterns on the large-scale model of the Titanic they built for the film but felt the need to include a gun-battle during the sinking as, presumably, they felt the sinking itself lacked drama)!

And it shouldn’t be forgotten that much of the average person’s historical knowledge comes from the cinema or the mini-series; apparently the grave of the character played by Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan is the most visited grave in Normandy…

…well it would have been the most visited if he had been a real person.

Surely there is no need to ‘sex-up’ the story of the Dambusters anyway?

It’s no great coincidence surely that the principal characters were still alive. The book, and the series were based on their recollections. But we none of us will ever know whether their recollections are accurate. I give you Bob Stanford Tuck.

Moggy

Not sure I’d agree that ‘Band of Brothers only touched on reality fleetingly’!

As far as I’m aware the production company went to extraordinary lengths, especially these days, to have the series follow reality as closely as possible. They were fortunate that, in many cases, the principal characters were still alive and actually featured these veterans in documentary interviews at the beginning or end of most episodes. Of course the book by Stephen Ambrose is very good but the producers even tried to find actors that actually looked like the soldiers they were trying to portray.

T

here was major turnover of personnel in the months after the dams raid, right? That’s an argument against a series that covers a long timeframe.

This seems to be suggesting the production of a documentary rather than a drama. Band of Brothers only touched on reality fleetingly, so why would a 617 Squadron mini-series have to stick slavishly to fact?
Moggy

In the context of the producer’s comments with the Telegragh (lifted by the Daily Mail) about doing a more realistic version than was possible then (including addressing combat fatigue), needing large-scale mucking about with characters is an argument against a production over a longer timeframe. The aircrews’ experience levels and tour duration etc should be part of a reasonably realistic story.

The Pacific series only stayed with a few key characters due to the turnover of personnel.

There was major turnover of personnel in the months after the dams raid, right? That’s an argument against a series that covers a long timeframe.

This seems to be suggesting the production of a documentary rather than a drama. Band of Brothers only touched on reality fleetingly, so why would a 617 Squadron mini-series have to stick slavishly to fact?

Moggy

…and could a TV series be called “Enemy Coast Ahead”?

Or “Twelve O’Clock Low”?

Breaking Bad did a good job of killing off key characters…

There was major turnover of personnel in the months after the dams raid, right? That’s an argument against a series that covers a long timeframe. Band of Brothers, for instance (which I happen to be re-watching) focuses on a core group throughout, although with significant parts by others in some episodes. Are there successful mini-series with major changes in characters in a season?

Just finished watching it for the first time in maybe 30 years: it still looks like a very good attempt and considering the constraints of secrecy still surrounding Upkeep at that time, very well done. It’s as I remember it. which doesn’t apply to many things re-viewed after 30 years or so. OK the special effects could be improved upon, but the availability of several genuine Lancasters more than offsets that.

To the present: a ‘Band of Brothers’ type of treatment for 617 would work very well and I hope it happens. Plus it would allow the production crew plenty of room to give more insight into individual members.

My tongue in cheek comment (where I joked that in the first draft of Star Wars, Chewbacca was a black lab) made in reference to posts 60-65 (comparing the Dam Busters to Star Wars) seems to have mysteriously vanished…

Original film on Ch4 now. Announcer warns viewers that ‘language of the era some may find offensive’.

…and could a TV series be called “Enemy Coast Ahead”?

The idea of a series allows for more drama regarding personalities,it is a tricky challenge once you move away from documentary style.What ever is created it will always annoy someone.

That could work..617 squadron did a fair bit more than just attack the dams.

Are we getting a TV series instead??

https://worldwarwings.com/after-10-y…YkStYPwqaXzyc0