A New Year turns (and a happy one to all readers of this blog) but there is no word yet on how the remake of The Dam Busters is going. Screenplay writer Stephen Fry is currently in New Zealand, but is working on a BBC nature documentary, rather than the movie. All the industry gossip about Peter Jackson’s current workload is to do with his forthcoming film version of Tintin, to the cast of which Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are the latest additions. Christian Rivers who is due, as they say in film circles, to ‘helm’ the Dambusters project is currently working on a film called The Laundry Warrior about an Asian warrior assassin. Where does this leave the remake of Britain’s 11th favourite war movie? As there has been no word at all on a cast, I’m not budging from my prediction that it won’t hit the cinema screens until 2011.
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Dambusters Blog 
I wish them well and sincerely hope that the spirit and atmosphere is correct as this is so important. Please let´s not suddenly find out that Guy Gibson was in fact homosexual or an American or that the bouncing mine was in fact justa lot of propoganda!
Remakes have the habit of destroying the feel of the original films and spoiling the whole story and this one – to be attempted so long after the event itself and the original film is in real danger of becoming another modern computer assisted botch up.
It will be an interesting challenge – I hope Peter Jackson and the rest of his team get it right – I have my reservations.
I think it unlikely that Gibson, a notorious womaniser, will be shown to be homosexual — but if he was, so what? 133 men flew on the Dams Raid, and it is therefore quite statistically likely that some of them were gay, as were many other people who fought in World War 2. Not too many were ‘out’ about it, but that was normal for the time.
The long awaited remake of the “dambusters”will begin on monday
13 Sept at Mackenzie British Columbia Canada.
They will be using a mocked up DC 4 made to look like a Lancaster, from Buffalo air in yellowknife.
Filming will take part on Williston lake the largest man made lake in the world.
Two WW11 vetrans will be advising the film crew on site.
John
John — Can you give me any further information about this? Charles Foster
opmg i livei n amckenzie and fora couple daysi sw planes like ghoing around town and then one of my firneds told me that they weerre makinga movie i am soo going ot watch tht and its goingo tbe ce soo colol eieng mackenzie in a movie!!
My son and I (both Canadians) are huge fans of the Dambusters history and the movie of 1954. I have heard rumours that the Dambusters Remake is on hold or cancelled. Is this true? If so I am greatly saddened.
Is this the aviation artist Henry Trickey? “on wings as Eagles”.
Hello,
I am an artist who has done a number of aviation paintings of Spitfires, Lancaster Bombers etc. over the years (some years ago now as today I mostly do wildlife, and figuative and portrait paintings) and have a great interest in WW2 aircraft. I stopped doing WWII planes since most of those interested are getting on if not gone from this world.
But I am not sure if one of mine was entitled ‘On Wings of Eagles’ although the name is very very familiar. I did paint a large picture of a Lanc with a small portrait of ‘Guy Gibson” in the pilot seat, sold I think in Essex Ontario. I also painted a spitfire for Jerry Billings, with a mini portrait of him in his pilot seat (who when I knew him he had been flying Spits for 50 years not only during the War in Malta but also in Canadian Air Shows ever since – as a personal gift to him also in Essex Ontario where I lived at that time. Either one I think may have been entitled ‘On Wings of Eagles’ (as I said it does ring a bell). There are only a very few Trickeys in Canada and no other Henry Trickey that I know of much less an aviation painter so I am guessing I must be the one.
I am sure I took a photo of both these (I did a number of others as well) but I am not quite sure where to find them although I may be able to dig them up. I can however show you some more recent work in various genres if you are interested.
Also if you are interested I do commissions (people – aircraft etc) but only if I like the photo reference or references and agree on the price. FYI
Henry Trickey
Thank you very kindly for the reply. I too have a great interest in WW2 aircraft, the fliers and the stories. I own the painting of the Lancaster Bomber you spoke of and knew nothing of the artist. It was signed “H. Trickey 89”. I would love to converse with you about that painting either here or by private email. Thank You, Jay Burroff, hornet@suddenlink.net
El Dorado Arkansas USA
Hi Jay,
Yes. That is the one I painted including the right date – I am sure of it. It is fliying from left to right over a typical English country side. The vieiw is slightly from above looking down with the ground seen below. The actual Lanc reference picture is of the flighing Lanc in England (one of only two left — the other in Hamilton as I am sure you know. I think this one in the picture is part of the ‘Battle of Britain Flight’ which also includes a flighing Spitfire and Hurrican although Lancasters were not yet in use in the summer of 1940. If you would like to chat more my email is henry.trickey@gmail.com
During a 3 year period I met most of the Dam Busters, including ground crew etc., even the guys who came afterwards. Later, in a Swedish shipyard, I even worked with a German on the wrong end of a Grand Slam!
Gibson wasn’t gay that I’m aware, but it did seem he had a death-wish, one of the guys lived up near where his parents lived (or at least their weekend country-home?) decided to visit them and give condolences on behalf of the lads, and, VERY begrudgingly allowed inside (not even offered a chair or a drink) left with the definite opinion that they were a millstone around his neck he didn’t want, “They loved having a war-hero in the family. But not a dead one. It seemed to explain things about Gibson’s attitude”, he told us.
I must add this is over 50 years ago and only his opinion, though heads were docked sagely.
And, yes, I do wish I had a tape recorder at the time – I did suggest they record memories – even better a modern video. The stories I heard! Some I can vaguely recall, but I’m not Superman. Wallis I met a couple of times, a grumpy man, I knew Elizabeth well, his doctor daughter, she was the South England Medical Officer and I moonlighted as a model for med-students, meeting her many times. Grumpy? He roundly bawled out Britain’s Finest. “There were times I almost asked them who’s side they were on! And despite our success they pushed me aside after the war, forcing me to work for the American’s. And, despite their promises, it seems THEY aren’t any better!”
It seemed that the Yanks were changing his designs to the degree they didn’t work, refusing to believe it was them, but HIM!
I am so very proud to have been able to call many of the original Dambuster crew “friends” – My late Father was a 617 Sqdn Historian, and I grew up, learning everything to do with this amazing Squadron. I didn’t have much choice! But, looking back now, I am so very pleased I took an interest from a very early age.
I am so very proud to have known these wonderful, brave men, and I am proud to be my Father’s daughter.
I have the re-mastered version of the original film, and I am looking forward to the remake. Simply because it will include so much information that was not allowed to be included in the original due the Official Secrets Act.
So, even if they make a complete mess of it, which I sincerely hope they don’t, I eagerly await the re-make, for reasons stated.
I also think it is so great that the film is being re-made, because it will highlight to younger generations, who may not have even heard of The Dambusters, what these amazing men did for our Country, and our Freedom.
May they rest in eternal peace – God Bless each and every one of them.
Lest We Forget.
I would love to have see a re-make and I hope that it will happen.
The original was made at a time in the 50s when the country needed something to boost morale. Looking at the original there were a few things that were not true as was pointed out in Martin Shaw’s documentary about the Dambusters. But it was a “movie” not a factual documentary. I think the original movies just glossed over the fact that so many men were killed and it never really mentioned that and the bravery.
Guy Gibson was portrayed as a British version of “John Wayne” in the movie, some type of hero leading his troops into battle that was loved by his men. It was not like that at all.
I am fearing the worse regarding a remake. It just does not seem to be happening, and that is a great shame, for reasons I stated.
I think if they ever do manage to produce this, it should contain factual events, as like I said, in the 50’s, this operation was still under the Offical Secrets Act, so yes, it was lacking, and was most probably used to boost morale.
I’ve met many men who describe Gibson as ‘difficult’, but they still hold admiration for him. He had a very difficult job, at a very difficult time, and as Gibson is no longer with us, we can only guess about his personality, or rely on those who knew him…though sadly, there are very few left.
My only hope it the Americans don’t get their hands on the film, because I think we can guess what will happen if they do!
Fingers crossed re the remake – I keep researching, but so far, I’ve not seen any updates.
There is no need to modify another aircraft to “make it look” like a Lanc.
The Canadian Air Museum near Toronto has a flying Lancaster that could be used. I have the original film on DVD and would welcome a re-make, so long as it keeps true to the original.
It was a “Discovery Channel Special” that used a DC4 to drop the bouncing bomb on a damn in British Columbia. It was nothing to do with a “remake” of the movie and nothing to do with trying to make a DC-4 look like a Lanc. It was an experiment to be conducted on a special built dam.
The project was in conjunction with Cambridge University to see if a bouncing bomb like the one that was dropped by a Lanc in WWII could be done today. It was a 2 hour special and they were succesful in building a bouncing bomb to the same specs as the original..