Sink the Bismarck!
The story of the breakout of the German battleship Bismarck—accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen—during the early days of World War II. The Bismarck and her sister ship, Tirpitz, were the most powerful battleships in the European theater of World War II. The British Navy must find and destroy Bismarck before it can escape into the convoy lanes to inflict severe damage on the cargo shipping which was the lifeblood of the British Isles. With eight 15 inch guns, it was capable of destroying every ship in a convoy while remaining beyond the range of all Royal Navy warships.
Critics Sentiment
HMS Hood is annihilated by Bismarck in the Denmark Strait
Swordfish torpedo planes mistakenly attack HMS Sheffield instead of Bismarck
The film surges from its lowest point during the Sheffield misidentification error to high drama when the second Swordfish attack successfully jams Bismarck's rudder, representing a crucial tactical breakthrough.
The film maintains solid audience approval throughout, anchored by Kenneth More's commanding performance and effective battle sequences despite obvious model work. Critics consistently praised the documentary-style approach and historical detail, while noting some confusion in tracking multiple ship movements and criticism of the stereotypical Nazi portrayal of German characters. The emotional peak occurs with Hood's destruction, while personal moments involving Shepard's family crisis provide the film's most moving character development.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 65
Kenneth More
Captain Jonathan Shepard
Dana Wynter
WRNS Second Officer Anne Davis
Carl Möhner
Captain Lindemann - 'Bismarck'
Laurence Naismith
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Dudley Pound
Geoffrey Keen
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.)
Karl Stepanek
Admiral Lutjens - 'Bismarck'
Michael Hordern
Admiral Sir John Tovey, Commander-in-Chief - 'King George'
Maurice Denham
Commander Richards
Michael Goodliffe
Captain Banister
Esmond Knight
Captain Leach - 'Prince of Wales'
Jack Watling
RNVR Signals Officer
Jack Gwillim
Captain Wilfrid Patterson - 'King George V'
Mark Dignam
Captain Maund - 'Ark Royal'
Ernest Clark
Captain Ellis - 'Suffolk'
John Horsley
Captain - 'Sheffield'
Peter Burton
Captain Philip Vian - 4th Destroyer of Flotilla
John Stuart
Captain Kerr - 'Hood'
Walter Hudd
Admiral Holland - 'Hood'
Sydney Tafler
Henry - First Workman, 'Prince of Wales'
Sean Barrett
Able Seaman Brown
Crew
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