Dam Busters’ dog WON’T have his name changed for big screen
THE name of The Dam Busters’ dog will not be changed when it the 1955 film is shown in cinemas today.
A restored version of the movie is to be screened unedited in 400 cinemas across Britain to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Chastise.
Although acceptable on the film’s release 63 years ago, the name of RAF 617 squadron’s black labrador mascot, N ***** , has since become unacceptable in print and on screen.
But a statement from the film’s distributor Studiocanal said: ‘While we acknowledge some of the language used in The Dam Busters reflects historical attitudes which audiences may find offensive, for reasons of historical accuracy we have opted to present the film as it was originally screened.’
As part of the screening, TV historian Dan Snow will explore the history of the attack on the Mohne, Eder, and Sorpe dams in Nazi Germany using Barnes Wallis’s bouncing bomb.
The last-surviving British member of 617 Squadron, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, said he was delighted the film was returning to the big screen. The 96-year-old said: ‘I think it’s wonderful.
‘I shall be most grateful for the opportunity to watch it but also to take part in this tremendous presentation to start with.
‘That raid is stuck in my mind and it is as vivid today as it was 75 years ago. To see it represented in this wonderful arrangement to me means more than anything else.’
Asked how accurately the film depicted the events of May 1943, Johnson praised the performance of Michael Redgrave as the Barnes Wallis, saying: ‘I was pleased to see there wasn’t too much of this
‘That raid is stuck in my mind’
“hail-fellow-well-met” sort of attitude. It was well portrayed. I think Michael Redgrave as Barnes Wallis was a wonderful representation of a wonderful man.
‘And Barnes Wallis’s daughter Mary quite agrees with that.’
Johnson also spoke about Wing Commander Guy Gibson, played by Richard Todd in the film, who led 617 Squadron through Operation Chastise.
Johnson said: ‘His true leadership was in the attack situation.
‘He made the first attack on the Mohne dam. Not only was he dropping his bomb, he was assessing its defence. As he called each aircraft in, he flew alongside them. That to me says, “you’re doing this, I’m doing this, we’re doing it together.”’
‘It is the essence of a good leader in the attack situation. But he was very difficult to get on with outside of that.’
There were 133 servicemen involved in the raids on May 16 and 17, 1943. Fifty-three of them were killed.