rnrx The drama-documentary Dunkirk (2004) was, in my opinion, the finest example of the genre produced by the BBC and was well reviewed by John Keegan of The Telegraph, whose article of 19/02/04 may still be found on the web, although I could not agree with his suggestion that our men were pasty-faced, underfed soldiers not well represented by modern fresh-faced actors, for most of those I saw as a boy during the war, before and after Dunkirk, were neither pale nor hungry; but those of the BEF who formed an army in retreat and rout and who suffered strafing, hunger and fatigue on the beeches as they awaited embarkation, death or surrender, were no doubt not in the best of physical form.The quality of this production, its direction and the performance of the cast were beyond reproach and should not have been the target of petty criticism. There were so many really excellent, convincing representations of personnel ranging from soldiers to generals and cabinet ministers that one is reluctant to select any of them for special mention, but among the actors whose roles were portrayed with startling realism were Benedict Cumberbatch as Lt Jimmy Langley, James Loye as Lt David Mellis RN (bearing a strong resemblance to the man whose part he played and, in one scene, carrying a photograph of the real Mrs Mellis, as she was in 1940), Adrian Rawlins as Capt Bill Tennant RN, Beechmaster, Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill, all outstanding performances.The interpolation of archive film was very well done and enhanced the general picture of violent action at sea, the plight of the army, and the huge scale of the operations managed and co-ordinated by the Royal Navy, including those of inshore fishing vessels and other small craft. The disembarkations at Dover (including, I think, those of troops rescued by HMS Malcolm and piped ashore by Lt Mellis) and their entrainment for London could not have been more appropriate or more relevant to the drama, which seemed to fill in the gaps between main events and to inform us of the experiences of individuals and the roles of senior officers and politicians who played a part in the evacuation.My only complaint is that this great work is not available on DVD.

kaaber-2 was what Churchill called the evacuation from Dunkirk, and as narrator Tim Dalton informs us, the quarter of a million British troops snatched from Nazi claws in June 1940 were to be the core of the British Army throughout the war.Churchill reminded his countrymen "not to assign to Dunkirk the attributes of victory," but still - it proved to be event that would bolster England for the war in general and the Battle of Britain - only a month away - in particular. The British pluck in the face of an enemy that had by then defeated all of Europe helped bring in the Americans without which the war would undoubtedly be lost.We cannot be reminded often enough what might have happened, and what nearly did happen in 1940. As the film shows with admirable accuracy, Churchill was pretty much alone in his decision not to give in to appeasement policy and make bargains with the Germans, for which determination his fellow politicians, Chamberlain and his ilk, awarded him with the moniker 'warmonger'.We don't seem to have many Churchills these days, among the heaps of Chamberlains that persist in telling us that 'war is not the answer.' Sometimes it helps to have the question repeated. As in this film. Back in 1940, the question was how to respond to German imperialism, Nazi atrocities and disregard for Geneva Conventions. It was a defense of the British values that Churchill so eloquently voiced.BTW, I hardly recognized Simon Russell Beale as Sir Winston. Excellent bit of make-up, that.

jack-le_page This was absolutely awesome.I loved the special effects, and the historical accuracy. some parts are quite gruesome, and there is peril throughout, but the scene with the stick grenades is very moving, in the sense that Toomes was saved by two other men who died on top of him.I actually watched this when I was back at school, in Year 9. It still has a great effect on me, and I believe that this series is great in its ability to move people and engrossing people with its well-timed music.A Must-See, this was maybe the best war film i'd seen when I was at school.

malcolmgsw BBC have decided to show this abysmal effort again.The kindest thing that they could have done is dumped the whole mess in the Channel and forgotten about it.I do not know what possessed them to allow this to be transmitted in its present form.I do not recall a programme where the camera work and "music" was so distracting that it detracted so much from the subject.All i was thinking was why such a ridiculous camera angle was being used.Or wont that dreadful "Music" stop so that we can hear what is being said.The idea of incorporating black and white newsreels with colour footage went out with zero budget war films in the 60s.As far as i am concerned "Dunkirk" made by Michael Balcon and starring John Mills is far better in every respect.I just hope that the person who commissioned this meretricious rubbish is never allowed near the schedules again.