Sink The Bismarck! cover art

Sink The Bismarck! Reviews

Certificate TBC
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1244 members

The story of one of World War II's most furious sea battles is brought to the screen in this exciting, semi documentary style movie. In the spring of 1941, Nazi Germany's greatest battleship the Bismarck, scourge of Atlantic shipping, is pinned down at her anchorage in Norway. Making a break for freedom and the safety of air .. Read more

Starring Kenneth More, Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Mohner
Director Lewis Gilbert, Dick Powell
Genres Action/Adventure

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of Sink The Bismarck!

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    The postwar British film industry relied heavily on “now the story can be told” accounts of engagements that helped turn the Second World War in favour of the Allies. Too many were smug action adventures that devalued the true heroism of the exploits they depicted, but this fine film fully captures the tensions, dangers and complexities of battle by concentrating on the unsung back-room planners as much as on the combatants themselves. There are necessarily caricatures on both sides, but at the same time there is a respect for the enemy that is missing in many previous flag-wavers. An unusually restrained Kenneth More is first-rate as director of operations at the Admiralty.

    • Radio Times
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Tight little personal drama which would have been better on a standard screen, as its ships are plainly models and much of the footage stretched-out newsreel. Nevertheless, a good example of the stiff-upper-lip school.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Sink The Bismarck!

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  • 8 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Excellent factual war story

    Based on historical fact 'Sink the Bismark' shows very convincingly just what Britain was up against during the World War 2.

    Kenneth More gives an outstanding performance, perhaps as good as his Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky, as the navy man in overall charge of stategic planning. A very good support cast makes this an enjoyable story.

      • Neville Kelley from Abergele, North Wales
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great Film

    You either love or hate this sort of film. I thought it was a great rainy Sunday afternoon film with some reasonable acting and good effects for the time it was made. Well worth watching even if you have seen it before

      • A customer from Surrey UK
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A Good Film with no Cliches

    The Bismark enagement was one of the milestones of the early part of WW2, its outcome was Hugely important to British moral at a time when we were literally on our own. The film - in a classic British way - understates the drama, and tension of the surrounding events as they unfolded, but without too much 'stiff upper lip' etc. Excellent acting, well crafted tale. Slightly let down by some poor special effects at sea by today's standards (the ship models were a bit obvious), and a relatively unconvincing final battle scene. However, a good film, both watchable and a reliable factual account of a very important turning point in the War. As another reviewer put it - a perfect rainy Sunday afternoon viewing. Both the War Film & the Historian fans will enjoy it, dont hesitate, a good film.

      • A customer from Surrey, England
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Sink The Bismarck!

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A Good Film with no Cliches

    The Bismark enagement was one of the milestones of the early part of WW2, its outcome was Hugely important to British moral at a time when we were literally on our own. The film - in a classic British way - understates the drama, and tension of the surrounding events as they unfolded, but without too much 'stiff upper lip' etc. Excellent acting, well crafted tale. Slightly let down by some poor special effects at sea by today's standards (the ship models were a bit obvious), and a relatively unconvincing final battle scene. However, a good film, both watchable and a reliable factual account of a very important turning point in the War. As another reviewer put it - a perfect rainy Sunday afternoon viewing. Both the War Film & the Historian fans will enjoy it, dont hesitate, a good film.

      • A customer from Surrey, England
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Bismarck

    A good navel thriller, enjoyed it

      • A customer from Wallsend
  • 8 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Excellent factual war story

    Based on historical fact 'Sink the Bismark' shows very convincingly just what Britain was up against during the World War 2.

    Kenneth More gives an outstanding performance, perhaps as good as his Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky, as the navy man in overall charge of stategic planning. A very good support cast makes this an enjoyable story.

      • Neville Kelley from Abergele, North Wales
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great Film

    You either love or hate this sort of film. I thought it was a great rainy Sunday afternoon film with some reasonable acting and good effects for the time it was made. Well worth watching even if you have seen it before

      • A customer from Surrey UK
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A Good Film with no Cliches

    The Bismark enagement was one of the milestones of the early part of WW2, its outcome was Hugely important to British moral at a time when we were literally on our own. The film - in a classic British way - understates the drama, and tension of the surrounding events as they unfolded, but without too much 'stiff upper lip' etc. Excellent acting, well crafted tale. Slightly let down by some poor special effects at sea by today's standards (the ship models were a bit obvious), and a relatively unconvincing final battle scene. However, a good film, both watchable and a reliable factual account of a very important turning point in the War. As another reviewer put it - a perfect rainy Sunday afternoon viewing. Both the War Film & the Historian fans will enjoy it, dont hesitate, a good film.

      • A customer from Surrey, England
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Good stuff, factually correct, but a lttle dated

    As WW2 films go Sink the Bismarck is factually correct, but a little stodgy. That's not to say its boring, but the presentation's slightly dated and it is in Black and White. However you can't say that it's not got charm and Kenneth Moore is always a good watch.

    The story is split into the actual action with pretty realistic models, and the navy war room. The War room sections serve to explain and link the battle sections. It also provides a character driven plot which helps the viewer to emotionally attach to the story (something that's often missing from modern, more action orientation blockbusters).

    One point I liked about the film is that it doesn't glorify the whole thing. As the battle is won, the characters don't sing stirring songs or cheer, in realising that many men have met their doom in very unpleasant ways.

    At the end of the day its a great true story and a good treatment in the same vein as the Dambusters. I can't help think that a modern treatment with all the special effects of 'Pearl Harbour' mixed with the Dramatic tension and characterisation of 'Saving Private Ryan' would be an amazing watch.

    PS. Don't miss the great Documentary 'Battle between the Hood and the Bismarck' if you liked this.

  • Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Good

    Another British Classic.

  • Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Sink The Bismarck

    Great movie, one to watch, this film has it all 5 star rating *****

      • ian3 from Salisbury
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Bismarck

    A good navel thriller, enjoyed it

      • A customer from Wallsend
  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    The postwar British film industry relied heavily on “now the story can be told” accounts of engagements that helped turn the Second World War in favour of the Allies. Too many were smug action adventures that devalued the true heroism of the exploits they depicted, but this fine film fully captures the tensions, dangers and complexities of battle by concentrating on the unsung back-room planners as much as on the combatants themselves. There are necessarily caricatures on both sides, but at the same time there is a respect for the enemy that is missing in many previous flag-wavers. An unusually restrained Kenneth More is first-rate as director of operations at the Admiralty.

    • Radio Times
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Tight little personal drama which would have been better on a standard screen, as its ships are plainly models and much of the footage stretched-out newsreel. Nevertheless, a good example of the stiff-upper-lip school.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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    • The story of one of World War II's most furious sea battles is brought to the screen in this exciting, semi documentary style movie. In the spring of 1941, Nazi Germany's greatest battleship the ...

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