It's 1940. Despite some losses and ominous reports, the French and British alliance is confident of their western European defenses. Reporter Charles Foreman (Bernard Lee) is concerned. When Germany invades neutral Belgium, the British Expeditionary Force and their allies become trapped in a pocket surrounding Dunkirk. Corporal 'Tubby' Binns (John Mills) leads a group of young recruits who find themselves left behind in the rush to retreat. Back in England, John Holden (Richard Attenborough) and many others are shocked by the losses and the state of the returning men. He joins a flotilla of little boats to rescue the boys stuck across the channel.
This is a perfectly fine war movie. There is solid British acting. The action consists of old stock footage, miniatures, hundreds of extras, and static explosions. There is a memorable sequence of a pier under attack. There is an early rear-guard action but the movie could have concentrated on that part of the story. The french soldiers are mostly missing. The German headquarter should have been included to show the flaw in their strategy. There is a compelling overall story that is missing.
This is a perfectly fine war movie. There is solid British acting. The action consists of old stock footage, miniatures, hundreds of extras, and static explosions. There is a memorable sequence of a pier under attack. There is an early rear-guard action but the movie could have concentrated on that part of the story. The french soldiers are mostly missing. The German headquarter should have been included to show the flaw in their strategy. There is a compelling overall story that is missing.