Rating: 
Summary: See the best side of British Character
Review: In addition to the historical aspect, I have always enjoyed the study of the British character in its best aspects in this film, the 'stiff upper lip'. Particularly at the moment the HQ staff learns that HMS Hood is destroyed, without question with essentially all hands, one sees the great personal restraint that is so admired in the British. Also, the lower classes (enlisted) are always very respectful of the upper classes (officers) and vice versa.To see the worst aspects of the British character well portrayed in a movie, I suggest Muntiny on the Bounty with Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins.
Rating: 
Summary: Never Give Up the Hunt
Review: Sink the Bismarck! is one of those rare films where we get to see the action out where it happens on the high seas and back at the underground war room in London during WWII. What a film. It looks wonderful in Cinemascope and some of the stereo effects are really outstanding. This is a great film because it mixes raw courage and tests our emotions to the ugly face of war while never letting us forget why we fight. One of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: An all time favorite
Review: I'm not entirely sure why I like this movie so very much, but I have loved it from the very first time I saw it more than 20 years ago and still watch it often. It is a dramatization of the true story of the short-lived first cruise of the German battleship "Bismarck", of the destruction it wrought and of the hunt to find and ultimately destroy it. Yes, there are some inaccuracies in the details of which ships took part in the hunt, as well as in the portrayal of German Admiral Gunther Lutjens, but the fact that this is a British movie, made while the scars of war were still a strongly living memory, should be borne in mind in this regard. Among the things that make it worth viewing are: the presence of Edward R. Morrow recreating the atmosphere of his wartime London radio reports, the recreation of the Naval command center underneath the Admiralty building and the highly believable performance of Kenneth More (himself a wartime naval officer) as the deeply wounded Captain Shepherd. Dana Wynter also gives a delicately nuanced performance as Second Officer Anne Davis. The moment when she enters Shepherd's office and realizes that he is crying is beautifully done. The highly restrained romantic undercurrent doesn't interfere with the main story line and is very believable for wartime professionals. One comes away from this movie knowing that a great menace to the eventual survival of Britain has been eliminated and that there may be hope for both the UK and for two lonely people. The inclusion in the new DVD of some newreel footage of the actual event is a nice little bonus. The subject of the hunt for and destruction of the "Bismarck" has also recently been the subject of some recent documentaries. The story retains its impact, even after more than 60 years.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, though a bit of a stereotype.
Review: The movie accurately depicts Operation "Exercise Rhine", and the British reaction to it. Exciting, and very entertaining, though sterotyping the German Fleet Commander (Gunter Lutjens) as a fanatical nazi was very inaccurate, and to me, the most dissapointing aspect of an otherwise accurate account. Admiral Lutjens was a person who did not care for the Nazis or Adolf Hitler, but loved Germany and the Kriegsmarine. On the other hand, the depiction of the Bismarck's Captain (Ernst Lindemann) as a conscientous, dedicated career officer was very accurate.
The models were well done and the combat scenes were also well portrayed. Well worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: A fine dramatization of a famous victory.
Review: The duel between the British Admiralty and fleet, and the Bismarck, is a great story, and deserves a great telling. This movie does the job. The acting and storyline are first rate, and as long as one doesn't mind the black-and-white format, there is very little to criticize about this film. I found it to be terribly engrossing, and the minor dramatization and low-key love interest between the two leads did not detract from the grand theme of the movie: the vital task of destroying the great German battleship Bismarck before she could get loose out in the Atlantic and wreak havoc on the British convoy system--the jugular vein of the British nation even as she fought alone for her survival against the Nazi juggernaught. A few minor points of criticism. I understand that the German fleet commander, Lutjens, was nothing like as portrayed in this film. In the film he is shown as a rather venal, fanatical Nazi. The real Lutjens was apparently nothing like that, and was evidently not even a member of the Nazi party. Well, I suppose a war film of this kind needs a "bad" Nazi character. The liberties with the historical record aside, this is a wonderful film about a vital and critical battle of World War 2. This is one that you'll watch and enjoy more than once. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: What a difference a war makes!
Review: I rated this at least a 4 star film for a none to thrilling fact that this film represents an event in a time past that was as dramatic as any of the days of world war 2.There are a few items of a verifiable nature that the would be viewer might well learn from. The world had settled a score with Germany with the signing of the armistice which ended the first world war.The accord agreed to restricted the tonnage,that is the size and scope of germanys naval ambitions,just to mention one of the many restrictions placed on germany.One of the original ideas that germany pioneered in order to get around the restrictions was the advent of what we now know was the pocket battleship.The Bismarck was a very powerfull,if not the most powerfull ship afloat while she roamed the seas.I beleive though that the Japanese had the distinction of possessing the right to the most powerfull ship afloat during world war two.However, look no further than the bismarck! Destroyers and the like ran from her and to be absolutly straight up with you that was a ship to be reckoned with! There is another fact that might provide some help in this very important battle that is about to take place? The first world war brought an end to the era of the dreadnaught,which H.M.S. Hood was part of,though her place on the high seas was at a latter point in the first world war she still possessed a dreadnaught distinction.During a time between the wars and commencing a time immediately before the onset of hostilites of the second world war Hood underwent a makeover.Listen to this! those dreadnaught were slower than what was being done as the years passed and in an effort to make Hood faster she made a sacrifice of her plating.If you really want a shock wear do you think her plating was taken from?Right behind the stacks immediately over the area which protects the munitions.If ever there was a disaster waiting to happen it was that.I beleive that this might still be a conjecture as to the Hood blowing up,however the rest is history.I want to be clear this actually occured Hood was refitted and slimmed down and it may have cost her,her life.Long Live this Island nation-had it not been For the resolve of England on the high seas things may very well been different.This is not lessen any other aspect of the very dramatic time in world history but its dramatic detail cannot be overlooked-As a side note this picture drew enough attention that I think it was a singer who released a song at the time of the release of the film called Sink the Bismarck by johnny Horton.There not many events in history that entire movies are dedicated to,well,this is one.
Rating:
Summary: Classy film gets classy DVD presentation!
Review: Fox Home Entertainment is to be commended for giving this classic British war movie the DVD presentation it deserves, with flawless picture quality and at the proper widescreen ratio. This DVD is a real joy to watch, particularly for viewers like myself who've previously seen only the pan & scan TV prints of this film. The DVD offers some savory extras as well: A 1941 Fox Movietone Newsreel segment (Lowell Thomas narrating) on the Bismarck's short but lethal career; both the American and Spanish theatrical preview trailers (both introduced by legendary newsman Ed Murrow), as well as trailers for several other Fox War Classics DVDs: 13 Rue Madeleine, The Desert Fox, The Blue Max, The Enemy Below and Heaven Knows Mr. Allison.
Rating: 
Summary: Better personal drama than history
Review: This chestnut has only been on cable about 1,000 times, and if you're at all interested, you've already seen it many times over. The best parts of the movie happen with Kenneth More, who plays his role with a reasonable degree of complexity, even though it's a standard turn (the tough as steel but wounded and kind underneath military guy). The worst part is the bad-guy portrayal of Admiral Lutjens, who is played as a unyielding Nazi true believer superman type. But, a movie like this is probably judged on the naval battle scenes, and it's pretty horrible in that regard. At least models are used that truly represent the ships involved, but they're not very good models, and the violence and shock of being on the receiving end of 15" shells is not at all conveyed. The historical accuracy is pretty fair, but sketchy in several respects. This film cries for a remake, fleshing out the story behind the mission from the German Navy side as well, and punching up the graphics a hundred fold. They remake just about everything these days, I wonder why a thunderous battleship battle film doesn't make lunch discussions in Hollywood?
Rating:
Summary: Saw the DVD today - and liked it
Review: I watched an advance review copy of this DVD tonight and really enjoyed it. In addition to the movie, the DVD features not only the trailer for the main feature, but also a vintage 1941 MovieTone newsreel of the real battle to sink the Bismark and trailers for the other movies in the upcoming spate of "Fox War Classics" ("The Blue Max", "The Enemy Below", "Heaven Knows Mr. Allison", "The Desert Fox" and "13 Rue Madeleine."
Based on a book of the same name, which was in turn based on the real incidents in World War 2, the movie "Sink the Bismarck" retells the tale of the dogged effort by the British Royal Navy to track down and attempt to destroy the German battle cruiser Bismarck.
Much of the movie takes place at the Admiralty in London where the superb British actor Kenneth Moore surveys the ships as would a chess player on a large board, in an attempt to second guess and outmaneuver the German vessel.
The DVD is in fine shape and I did not notice any artifacts or nicks. Considering the age of the picture it is surprising that it should be so well prsented here, so full marks must go to 20th Century Fox. I have seen this movie before on television and I do not believe I have ever seen it looking as crisp and focused as it does on this DVD.
Altogether, this is easy to recommend especially considering the low price.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Sea Battle
Review: This is one of the best WWII movies out there. The British command center stages the chase dramatically and the action at sea on the ships is engrossing. This does a great job of following the crews of the allied and the German ships involved in the sinking of the Bismarck. The cast, sets, and music are all first class. With the recent release of the James Cameron documentary on the discovery of the Bismarck we may see a remake by him of this movie sometime in the near future. I have a VHS copy of this original movie and I have pre-ordered the DVD that is coming out 5/20/03.
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