Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

felixoteiza I may be one of those few who think that a more exciting flick about the Bismarck would have been achieved had those making this movie stuck to the real story and focused entirely on it. Not that I am against the "human touch" or romantic love in films like this, but I think the Bismarck saga is a far more exciting war epic that is shown in STB! and so deserves the whole and undivided attention of an audience.First, to back my point, some facts that I don't see much mentioned, yet which are essential to the story: a) The Bismarck losing the shadowing cruisers had nothing to do with Lutjens' brilliancy and everything to do with luck. Both ships started zigzagging out of fear of possible U subs nearby so they went for 10 mins. to left, then 10 mins. to right, so every time they reached the most outward points they lost the Bismarck for a few minutes. It was during one of these occasions that, coming back, they realized they hadn't her anymore in their screens. b) The Bismarck being located again wasn't either the result of any brilliant hunch but simply the fruit of Lutjens's pessimism and of his overestimation of the British radar—he gave it a range bigger than it really had—belief which made him think that he still had them in his wake when he sent to Paris a 30 min. message depicting in detail past events, giving the Brits time enough to locate his ship through radiogoniometers--not that the Brits did any better then: they fumbled the data and gave the Germans yet another crucial advantage which was eventually neutralized by the torpedo hit on the rudder. (By then they knew she was going to St. Nazaire anyway, the closest friendly port, sort of, where the Germans could fix a +50.000-ton ship.)c) Speaking of which, that torpedo hit on the rudder could have never happened: as HMS Ark Royal was rushing to the scene she was spotted by U 556, which could have readily sunk her with torpedoes. But it didn't do it because it didn't have any left, it had just spent them all.d) The Bismarck was a condemned ship anyway as his design was already outdated, the result of Germany having been prevented from developing any serious naval research during wars. The result of it were dramatic: use of dual main batteries while other navies were already working with triple or quadruple batteries. Lack of dual purpose secondary guns, for both surface and AA fire. Great amount of room on decks wasted on lifeboats--instead of inflatable boats--room that could have been better spent on AA guns of all calibers, their failure at shooting down even one Swordfish WWI relic makes this point well.e) On the plus side, a few advantages that even if very impressive wouldn't have made a difference: it could fire her 15" much faster than her RN opponents, one shot every 22 seconds.--acc. to Von Mullenheim Rechberg--to one each 45 sec. Superb fire control, with the best optical instruments available at the time. And Krupp steel of course.As space runs out I resume: not really a very accurate reenactment of a true life event as the other More historical flick was, much more of a war propaganda movie with a human touch. Yet still very aptly done and more entertaining than it seems, with More and the rest playing it to a tee. Some superfluous melodrama, though, in a few scenes. And as in ANTR it takes you to the heart of the action on the condition that you know little or nothing about the subject matter. The less you know about it the more chances you'll have to enjoy it. 7/10.

ma-cortes This is an excellent picture dealing with infamous ship including spectacular battle sequences and prestigious main cast helped by a fleet of the best Brit character players . It's one of the last great Brit pictures about warfare naval action and being based on real incidents . British Navy sets out to locate and sink notorious German battleship during WWII in this most stirring account of the quest for the formidable Bismarck . This is the World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship . This is a splendid British film concerning historic deeds during WWII , the naval battle in the Atlantic Ocean between German battleship and British squadron of various ships , carriers and airplanes . This picture is based on fact , but there have been complaints that is most inaccurate . Magnificent performances from Kenneth More as the withdrawn officer director operations supported by a beautiful as well as interesting Dana Wynter . The main and secondary cast are stunningly incarnated by a magnificent plethora of English actors such as Michael Hordern , Maurice Denham , Michael Goodliffe , Jack Gwillim , Michael Ripper , Bernard Lee , David Hemmings , Ian Hendry , Laurence Naismith , Geoffrey Keen and Esmond Knight, who plays the captain of the HMS Prince of Wales, actually served as an officer on board her and was injured during the battle. Excellent scale models , though also utilized actual battle footage ; according to special effects cameraman L.B. Abbott, the miniatures were photographed with spherical , non-anamorphic lenses . This made it easier to force the perspective of the image to make the miniatures appear bigger and further apart. The producers knew that the use of miniatures and explosions would have to look very realistic to be successful , they hired Howard Lydecker, one of the legendary Lydecker brothers who were generally considered to be the best special effects team in the industry and they had spent decades perfecting their craft at Republic Pictures. The film contains an evocative and atmospheric cinematography in black and white by classic cinematographer Christopher Challis who also photographed 'The battle of the River Plata¨. The flick was stunningly directed by Lewis Gilbert . The motion picture will appeal to wartime genre buffs and British classic movie fans . Rating : Better than average .The film is based on true events , these are the followings : Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever built by Germany, and two of the largest built by any European power.In the course of the warship's eight-month career under its sole commanding officer, Capt. Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck conducted only one offensive operation, in May 1941, codenamed Rheinübung. The ship, along with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, was to break into the Atlantic Ocean and raid Allied shipping from North America to Great Britain. The two ships were detected several times off Scandinavia, and British naval units were deployed to block their route. At the Battle of the Denmark Strait, Bismarck engaged and destroyed the battlecruiser HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, and forced the battleship HMS Prince of Wales to retreat; Bismarck was hit three times and suffered an oil leak from a ruptured tank. The destruction of Hood spurred a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy involving dozens of warships. Two days later, while heading for the relative safety of occupied France, Bismarck was attacked by obsolescent Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal; one scored a hit that rendered the battleship's steering gear inoperable. In her final battle the following morning, Bismarck was neutralised by a sustained bombardment from a British fleet, was scuttled by her crew, and sank with heavy loss of life. Most experts agree that the battle damage would have caused her to sink eventually. The wreck was located in June 1989 by Robert Ballard, and has since been further surveyed by several other expeditions

gordonl56 SINK THE BISMARCK – 1960 Another well made war film from that great 1950 to 1966 era, when more than a few excellent war time films were knocked out. This one tells the tale of the German battleship, Bismarck. Bismarck was the first battleship built by Germany since the First World War. Because of several ocean raids made earlier in the war by GRAF SPEE, SCHARHORST and GNEISENAU. The British were worried that Bismarck could wreak havoc of the Atlantic convoys.When Bismarck and the cruiser Prinz Eugen, made their break to reach the Atlantic, the Royal Navy sent every ship they could to hunt them down. First honours went to the German Navy, when they sank the star of the R.N. the Hood, and heavily damaged the Prince of Wales.Later on, Bismarck's luck ran out when a lucky hit with a torpedo dropped by a Swordfish aircraft, damaged her steering gear. Unable to escape the rest of the ships in pursuit, she went to the bottom under a hail of shells and torpedoes. Prinz Eugen escaped and made it to German held France.The film itself is told from the British headquarters managing the pursuit. Kenneth More plays the officer in charge. He is supported by a slew of British character actors like, Geoffery Keen, Laurence Naismith, Michael Horden and Maurice Denham. Pretty Dana Wynter supplies the female content.Shot is black and white, the film features some excellent model work, and top notch battle scenes. The director, Lewis Gilbert keeps this one moving at a steady pace with nary a slow moment on screen.Even 50 plus years after being made, this one stands up very well and is worth a look.

JLRMovieReviews Kenneth More and Dana Wynter star in this film about the German Bismarck, which had sunk a lot of the British fleet. The orders were, no matter the cost or how it was done, sink the Bismarck! Kenneth More was given duty in an office to supervise the means of attack of the Bismarck, with Dana Wynter aiding him. In the beginning, he came across as too rough on his staff, but, as Dana learned more about him, she found there was a man with feeling underneath all that gruffness. I was very impressed with this film, as it was very good in creating believable and real people, with whom the viewers could sympathize for and relate to. Even the actors on the Bismarck were memorable, especially the commander. The time and place was brought to life vividly and the film was very respectful of the subject matter, with very exciting battle scenes. This was a grade-A picture that needs to be discovered today.