21st century Dambusters (for all discussion on the remake)

Second!! Lets hope you're a good girl!!!!!!

 

It was favouritist, but Beloved got uppity with me. Men.

 

The memorial at Woodall Spa that I mentioned in an earlier post.

 

An interesting thread.

The remake is DEFINITELY going ahead, according to EMPIRE film magazine and AEROPLANE magazine. Peter Jackson IS a Kiwi, not a yank, but if the film is financed by American money you can bet your bottom dollar (forgive the pun!) that the producers will want an American in the lead role as Guy Gibson (probably renamed Brad Randolph, or "Randy" for short). Plus, there will have to be the obligatory sex scene! (I don't recall seeing a single woman in the original, except the matronly lady playing Barnes Wallis' wife). Still, the CG effects would be spectacular, and to retain the documentary feel of the original, they could shoot it in black and white, as they did with Schindler's List.

If they did decide to use a British actor in the lead, who do you reckon could play Guy Gibson? How about James Purefoy? At 42, somewhat older than Gibson, who was only 24 at the time, but then Richard Todd was himself 36 when he played the part.

I think it would be perfectly appropriate to call Gibson's black labrador "nigger" in the remake. Unlike our American cousins, the British had no segregationist views in the 1940s, and nigger was not used to describe black people in a derogatory fashion. And anyway, we see movies depicting race riots and tensions, the homophobia of previous generations, etc, so why not see a reflection of social attitudes as they exisited in wartime Britain? Just because attitudes have changed, dosen't mean audiences should be denied a look at how things once were...

 

An interesting thread. The remake is DEFINITELY going ahead, according to EMPIRE film magazine and AEROPLANE magazine. Peter Jackson IS a Kiwi, not a yank, but if the film is financed by American money you can bet your bottom dollar (forgive the pun!) that the producers will want an American in the lead role as Guy Gibson (probably renamed Brad Randolph, or "Randy" for short). Plus, there will have to be the obligatory sex scene! (I don't recall seeing a single woman in the original, except the matronly lady playing Barnes Wallis' wife). Still, the CG effects would be spectacular, and to retain the documentary feel of the original, they could shoot it in black and white, as they did with Schindler's List.

If they did decide to use a British actor in the lead, who do you reckon could play Guy Gibson? How about James Purefoy? At 42, somewhat older than Gibson, who was only 24 at the time, but then Richard Todd was himself 36 when he played the part.

I think it would be perfectly appropriate to call Gibson's black labrador "nigger" in the remake. Unlike our American cousins, the British had no segregationist views in the 1940s, and nigger was not used to describe black people in a derogatory fashion. And anyway, we see movies depicting race riots and tensions, the homophobia of previous generations, etc, so why not see a reflection of social attitudes as they exisited in wartime Britain? Just because attitudes have changed, dosen't mean audiences should be denied a look at how things once were...

I think they should re-name the dog. That may have been the mores of 1943, but we don't need to inflame or empower the morons of 2006. It's a harmless change.

As for the required American hero, well, obviously Brad Pitt will play the USAAF colonel who dreams up the whole idea and leads the raid from his B-17 Flying Fortress, and Angelina Jolie will play his girlfriend who is the spy who is paradropped into Germany to plant the signal beacon that guides in the B-17s...I mean the Lancasters. She will be betrayed to the Germans by the double agent in MI6, played by Alan Rickman or David Warner, tortured and cruelly raped, then shot. That will set up the brilliant sequel in which Brad Pitt purses Rickman through the streets of London, cornering him in Whitechapel.

 

I think they should re-name the dog. That may have been the mores of 1943, but we don't need to inflame or empower the morons of 2006. It's a harmless change.

As for the required American hero, well, obviously Brad Pitt will play the USAAF colonel who dreams up the whole idea and leads the raid from his B-17 Flying Fortress, and Angelina Jolie will play his girlfriend who is the spy who is paradropped into Germany to plant the signal beacon that guides in the B-17s...I mean the Lancasters. She will be betrayed to the Germans by the double agent in MI6, played by Alan Rickman or David Warner, tortured and cruelly raped, then shot. That will set up the brilliant sequel in which Brad Pitt purses Rickman through the streets of London, cornering him in Whitechapel.

Well, I think it's the morons of 2006 who have the problem! We can all read books, watch movies, about the inequities of decades or centuries gone by without feeling personally offended (can't we?). Or, at least that should be the case!

Anyway, not sure about Brad Pitt. How about Leonardo di Caprio? Or hey - Arnold Swarzchernegger? After missing the Mohne he can radio, "I'll be back!"

And if there IS a female lead, I'd like to see it played by Jolie Richardson who, in my humble opinion, is one of the most attractive women on earth!

 

Okay peeps. Saw a bit more on the film in the Mail today.

The script is being written by Stephen Fry.

The Lancaster models are being constructed in China!

Harris may be played by Sir Ian McKellen View attachment 3610

And Guy may be played by James McAvoy View attachment 3609 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

Thanks for the update Kitty. I found the article on the Daily Mails website, so I thought I would post the link.
Now Fry's happy to take flight | the Daily Mail

 

Jackson is a good director but if Hollywood gets their grubby hands on the remake of The Dam Busters then it will probably be one to go directly to video in the same category as U-57what's its name.

 

the original film had actual conversations for the real thing, if stephen fry is writing the script then it wont. Also, Fry is not known for his extensive knowledge of RAF history and culture.

 

the original film had actual conversations for the real thing, if stephen fry is writing the script then it wont. Also, Fry is not known for his extensive knowledge of RAF history and culture.

Actually, Stephen Fry does conversation very well, both in his printed work and in his scripts (both film and stage). And he does seem to have a real interest in the war, as shown in his novel Making History, and because of the experiences of his immediate family, and some invterviews I've seen.

That's not to say that I would necessarily welcome a remake - but then again the original wasn't exactly a true rendition of Operation Chastise either.

 

Okay Fry may do okay as I think he would research it down to minute detail. But McAvoy and McKellan? WTF?!

 

Err, OK, let's look at the leading actors in the original:

Michael Redgrave (B Wallis), Basil Sydney (Harris), Richard Todd (Gibson) - all lovies of the 1950's, who they were around now would probably be seen as unsuitable.

 

But if you look at them they all have a passing resemblence in either looks or build to the real people. And nearly all of them had military experience.
McAvoy as Guy? No way.
And can you really see the Panto Queen McKellan as Harris? He's good, but that good?

 

Joe McCarthy of 617 squadron was from Brooklyn so US involvement is historically accurate, provided that it's not exaggerated. There is also a recent Hollywood film about the British armed forces, namely Master & Commander.

I'd not object to American actors playing British, Australian, Canadian or New Zealand characters in a remake of The Dambusters, provided that they did so whilst using convincing accents. British actors played US servicemen in Band of Brothers, The Thin Red Line, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, Flags of our Fathers & even Gods & Generals (Alex Hyde-White as Burnside).

 

Taking it away from the actors at the moment. Jackson and Weta are making the film. And they've got a good track record for accuracy and ignoring Hollywood's demands, so I'm happy its in their hands.
My problem is the actors. LotR proved he can pick good actors and they all went into hard training for that, not only voice but physical as well. so maybe they'll do the same for this film.
My objection is McAvoy and McKellan being mooted for the parts.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! Won't work.

 

Fred Sutherland doing fine, off mountain climbing!

I am his namesake and just talked to him recenty.
He and his lovely wife are both doing fine, and in fact were a tad tuckered out having just come back from a hike in Alberta's Rocky Mountains.. Please see:
Pic at http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/archives_event_03.html

...and DO NOT MISS the following link if you are researching Bomber Command

Absolutely, unquestionably the best resource I could possibly imagine.
I Can Not Begin to thank the web author enough for this,
dedicating an incredible 11 year of his life to the project. Fred's Story here
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=11133

Search your heart out at lostbombers.co.uk, but allocate time and do it on a day you are strong. I
t can be an emotionally draining experience. One never to be forgotten.

 

Hi Fred,

welcome to the forum, and thank you for the information. How about telling us introducing yourself in the User Introductions section

And re: Lost Bombers - we love it, as you can see from our discussion here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/9738-ramrod-16-a.html?highlight=lost+bombers