Sink the Bismarck!
Seen it?1960 | 97 min | War, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Greyhound or The Longest Day, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1960: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 64K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
- Kenneth MoreCaptain Jonathan Shepard
- Dana WynterWRNS Second Officer Anne Davis
- Carl MöhnerCaptain Lindemann - 'Bismarck'
- Laurence NaismithFirst Sea Lord Admiral Sir Dudley Pound
- Geoffrey KeenAssistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.)
- Karl StepanekAdmiral Lutjens - 'Bismarck'
- Michael HordernAdmiral Sir John Tovey, Commander-in-Chief - 'King George'
- Maurice DenhamCommander Richards
- Michael GoodliffeCaptain Banister
- Esmond KnightCaptain Leach - 'Prince of Wales'