Dunkirk (film)

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Dunkirk
Starring	John Mills Richard Attenborough Bernard Lee
Release date(s)	1958

Dunkirk is a 2nd World War film made in 1958, starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee.

[edit] Plot

The film relates the story of 'Operation Dynamo', the evacuation of Anglo-French troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. It does so principally from the viewpoints of two involved people; a newspaper reporter and a soldier.

"Tubby", a British Corporal (Mills) is desperately trying to get his men to Dunkirk, where they, the rest of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and thousands of French soldiers are to be evacuated in Operation Dynamo.

After their officer is killed in a bomber attack, it's up to Tubby to keep his dispirited charges motivated and on the move. They eventually get a lift in a RAF lorry and make it to the beaches.

Parallel to this action is the story of Charles Foreman (Lee), a cynical journalist who is trying to raise morale amongst his depressed readers. When the Admiralty commandeers his motorboat to aid the evacuation from Dunkirk, Foreman feels inspired to volunteer his services and take the boat across the Channel, despite warnings that it's dangerous. A friend, Holden (Attenborough), a motor engineer and successful businessman, does the same, albeit reluctantly.

On the beaches, Foreman and Tubby meet, but when the beach is attacked by German aeroplanes, Foreman is fatally wounded.

Taking part in the rescue are ships of the Royal Navy and hundreds of civilian vessels of all shapes and sizes - "The Little Ships". Although Foreman's boat is wrecked, the Heron, owned by Holden, does make it successfully back to Britain.

• Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen (well known wartime entertainers), have cameo roles, appearing on film for the troops.