Important question for fans concerning Britain!

It would be easy to condemn the film as a typical 'stiff upper lip' British war film, chock full of 'good chaps' doing heroic things and winning the war. I have often heard such condemnations, particularly in more modern times when the flavour of war films has moved more toward the horrors of war.
This is unfair. I was 8 years old when the film was made. Rationing was still lingering and the country was finally moving out of the bleak aftermath of World War 2. My fathers war veteran generation made up much of the population, the war still being fresh in the minds of the public at large.
In such a time when many might still have been wondering where the 'home fit for heroes' had disappeared to for yet a second time (aka the period following World War 1), a war film depicting the outstanding bravery of a real event is going to be much more acceptable than one portraying the grim realities of war.
In later years people would question whether or not the losses were worth the result, even whether we should be putting praise on the whole concept of bombing from the air, but at that time when cities were still filled with rubble filled bomb sites, such questions would have been out of place.
The 'Dam Busters' have become legend, and legend doesn't always fit well with actual history, but World War 2 was that piece of history where the human race was both at it's worst, and it's best … a strange irony that I think fits in well into the British character.

Eccentric, dogged, fair and courageous.

The objective of all Brit-made war movies until Foyle's War came along.

I just saw DAM BUSTERS for the first time today, on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES, and it made me very, very proud.

I'm a Yank, of Canadian/ British heritage, and have always been a student of history,

When I was in London, in 1990, I attended Remembrance Day ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I saw the flyover, and was astonished when an older woman told me about the flyers..she said they were just "babies", and usually well under 25. Films like THE DAM BUSTERS, BATTLE OF BRITAIN and REACH FOR THE SKY do indeed represent the spirit and character of the British people...In SPADES!

One final thing, a British friend and I once talked about the Revolutionary War, and she expressed amazement that the United States could have won.

My reply was proud and direct: "Most of us at the time were BRITISH, or we couldn't have.."

"...America is the land of my Birth, but Britain is the home of my Heart..."

Good Luck with your report.
Joy