From Wikipedia:
Operation Chastise was the official name for the attacks on German dams on May 17, 1943 in World War II using a specially developed "bouncing bomb". The attack was carried out by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the Dambusters.
There is a British film called the Dambusters made in 1954 which is the best version ever made. One problem that the current makers have is the name of Guy Gibson's dog, Guy was the leader of the raid. His dog was killed in a road accident the afternoon of the raid and dogs name was used as the code word for a successful attack. The problem is that dog was a black Labrador called ni**er. I'll let you fill in the missing letters but the clue is in the dogs colour.
In the non-PC days of WW2 / 1950s no one batted an eyelid, but the makers have got a real problem now. In fact 617 Sqn used the N word as its callsign until the 1980s when it was dropped.
I doubt the remake will be any better then the original. Rumour has it that a remake of 'Reach for the Sky' (Douglas Bader's life story) is in the works too. For the original look here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049665/
John
John
"That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The A-bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives." - Admiral William Leahy
Having worked in the cinema industry, I have heard rumours about a remake of The Dam Busters for years, and at one point, Mel Gibson was rumoured to have been picked to play the role of "Gibbo" - not the smartest move in casting; but having Peter Jackson's name linked to this - I'm not so sure that giving it the Hollywood treatment is such a wise move, true, 'tis where all the money is, but they will only bodge it like they have with every war film since The Deer Hunter, and especially one based on actual events - let's face it, Hollywood's versions of "true events" take a tangibly bent view on things....
Hollywood remakes of British classics... Pah don't get me started.
'Get Carter', 'The Italian Job', 'The Wicker Man' etc...
I hear they are thinking of doing a remake of 'A Long Good Friday'! Harold Shand, the Guvner, would have something to say, but it would be unprintable!!
John
John
"That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The A-bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives." - Admiral William Leahy