The Dam Busters

The Dam Busters is a 1955 British epic war film. It recreates the true story of Operation Chastise when in 1943 the RAF's 617 Squadron attacked three important dams in Nazi Germany with the newly invented "bouncing bombs," which skidded across the water, avoiding obstacles, and detonated on command. This was an important component in the Allied strategy of attacking German industrial capacity in the mid-to-late war effort. The film's reflective last minutes convey the poignant mix of emotions felt by the characters – triumph over striking a successful blow against the enemy's industrial base is tempered by the sobering knowledge that many died in the process of delivering it. The film was acclaimed by popular audiences and critics alike, with the theme song becaming a symbol of British nationalism and military pride, and the cinematography inspiring homages in future films like Star Wars.