Who could play Guy Gibson in the remake? - The Dam Busters (1955) Discussion

[–] tumbledowned 18 years ago

How about my brother who played Gibson in the documentary about the Dambusters?

He has an uncanny resemblence to him and was only picked because he looked like him!!!

Or me..I'm the good looking brother.

Ed

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[–] satanicsausage 18 years ago

Whoever they get, I hope they call the dog Niggr, if only for the comedy value of the pointless row that would be bound to ensue.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] decibeller 18 years ago

Colin Farrell should play Guy Gibson if he can do a good British accent which I'm sure he can; he looks a hero Alexander notwithstanding.
As regards the dog's name they have already had one discussion on another thread which developed into a discussion on race and an excuse to use the 'N' word - split up and spelt differently so as not to get censored – but as someone pointed out on there it is the most offensive word in the English language so why use it?

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[–] satanicsausage 18 years ago

Because it was the dog's name, and the film will doubtless claim to be an accurate portrayal of the times.

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[–] decibeller 18 years ago

Oh dear! A discussion of who would play Guy Gibson in the remake is going to be hijacked again with a futile discussion of the dog's name; they might not portray his bloody dog; how would that suit you? As far as I know the RAF didn't allow dogs on base; maybe it was a fiction in the origional - who knows? But do we have to have another discussion about the dog's name to give the nut cases an excuse to chip in?
Give it a rest for ****'s sake!!

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[–] satanicsausage 18 years ago

Gosh, I'd no idea people on this board were so sensitive.

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[–] bongo-6 18 years ago

I don't think it's anything to do with sensitivity; there was a discussion on another thread about the dog’s name and racists from all over went on there and started misspelling the ‘N’ word and calling each other names and then on this thread you bring up the dog’s name again when we are talking about who should play Guy Gibson; so sensitivity? No! Just stick to the subject that is being discussed.

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[–] satanicsausage 18 years ago

Forgive me for saying, but you're sounding rather tightly wound as well.

But anyway, as for Gibson, to be completely honest no one springs to mind who would do the job justice. After all we would need someone young, preferably British (or at least capable of a completely convincing accent) an excellent actor and able to convey incredible bravery and coolness under pressure.

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[–] bongo-6 18 years ago

The original is on my Netflix list and it's due tomorrow and when I think of it Richard Todd is a lot like Colin Farrell - short and stocky; probably not that short but not long and lanky in any case but I agree; he has to have a good posh English accent but maybe not so posh as Richard Todd's was.
I don't know how many times I have seen this movie (and 'Reach for the Sky') so I am wondering if it will still have the same impact.
Great music though (by Eric Coates I think) and I can play it on my harmonica - if they do a remake he music has to stay!

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[–] st599 17 years ago

All of the people mentioned are too old to play Guy Gibson VC. He died just a month or so after his 26th birthday and was around 24 at the time he lead Operation Chastize.

There's a fantastic story about him being sent to lecture in America - a lady said she'd heard that US airmen were being sent home after 25 sorties as they were physically and mentally incapable of doing more due to the stress, she asked how many Gibson had done - he replied "174".

As for the dog's name, it is accurate (according to Gibson's own book "Enemy Coast Ahead") and should definitely stay. I'm sick of Hollywood movies re-writing history (U-571, Pearl Harbour etc.)

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[–] RichEyles 17 years ago

How about Mel Gibson. He's pretty good at acting. I saw him in Braveheart. He looked just like William Wilberforce. I'm also pretty sure he's Guy Gibson's uncle or something.

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[–] alex-wood1 18 years ago

The dog existed. The name was as stated, and the dog even flew with Gibson at times. And yes, he was killed the day before the raid, and Gibson asked for it to be kept quiet, lest the crews think it a bad omen. And yes, the name of the dog was broadcast as the code-word to signify the breach of the Mohne dam.

I'd recommend reading either Gibsons absolutely superb Enemy Coast Ahead or Brickhills excellent history or 617 Squadron, The Dambusters.

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[–] satanicsausage 18 years ago

In other news, I recently discovered that I share my birthday with Guy Gibson. (His was almost 70 years before mine, but I still think it's cool!)

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[–] Caz1964 17 years ago

If it must be remade,what about Jack Davenport, He looks the part,he has the right colouring,slim build, doesnt speak too posh and usually plays the roles of people in authority.

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[–] tony_osborne_02 17 years ago

Every actor mentioned here is to old ,Gibson was 24 at the time of the dams raid and most of the crews were even younger.Complete unknowns should be used preferably going through a couple of weeks at Cranwell to pick up the right attitude.

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[–] Caz1964 17 years ago

It would be best to use unknowns we all know that,but they will probably pick a big name Hollywood star to help promote the film,i dont think it would work either.

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[–] leighwarhurst 15 years ago

Yes we do!! The film should not be remade if it can't be done accurately. So, no dog, no remake!!

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[–] jonathan-371 17 years ago

My vote would have to be Jason Isaacs.

Anyone who's seen the Patriot knows he can pull off a posh British Accent. He's currently in a BBC series as the British Ambassador to the US and he's doing rather well in that as the Hero.

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[–] tgoc 17 years ago

Dear Rachael,

I love this film and don't know if I would want to see a remake. How could they possibly do it better?

Of the choices you list, however, I think that Hugh Grant would have the best chance. It would be the challenge of his life, compared to his other roles, to bring us a real, meaningful and accurate Gibson. If any remake were to be made, it would have to take into account the contributions made by such works as Richard Morris' biography of Gibson, which is not iconoclastic, but necesarity presents a fuller picture of him.

On balance, I hope that no remake is made. I mean that Gibson, like Bader and others ,are mythic characters really and should be left alone. Now, a film about Leonard Cheshire, one of the later commanders of Gibson's squadron, would be extremely worth while-- he was arguably the greatest bomber pilot of the war, and, after it, went on to create homes for the dying. I have even heard talk of making him a Saint.

Yours,

T.G. O'Connor

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[–] sfpenny1925 17 years ago

Or how about Christian Bale.

He is a very talented actor with an enormous scope for different roles. He would be very good, plus...he is good looking like Gibson! And British.

What is the crap about Mel Gibson being part of the film..?

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] rbsned 17 years ago

Just a thought but how about John Barrowman (Captain Jack from the BBC series Dr Who and Torchwood) as Gibson?

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[–] colin-barron 17 years ago

Most of the actors suggested for the part of Guy Gibson are far too old and also too tall. Gibson was only 24 at the time of the Dams Raid and he was also very short - I believe he was only about 5 foot 4ins. Would anyone like to correct me on this?

Richard Todd looked a bit like Gibson including the fact he was short but he was really too old as he was about 36 at the time the film was made.

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 17 years ago

I think Ewan McGregor would be my choice. Dominic Monaghan (Lost and the Lord of the Rings trilogy) would also be ideal.

As for Christian Bale...If they ever make a film about the life of Leonard Cheshire, he would be my first pick.

If Jackson decides to cast other people from previous films he's done, I can think of perfect roles for Andy Serkis and Jamie Bell.

Serkis would be perfect for either Flight Sergeant "Chiefy" Powell, the squadron's disciplinary NCO; or for the role of Mutt Summers, who was Wallis' main test pilot during the development stage of the bomb.

As for Jamie Bell, I would cast him as Flight Lieutenant David Shannon. Shannon (who wasn't given much screen time in the original film) was described in the book as a twenty-year old pilot who looked like he was sixteen (He'd been trying to grow a mustache to look older. He kept it until his fiance insisted he shave it off before they got married). He survived the attack on the Eder Dam and later became one of the squadron's flight commanders when Cheshire was the CO. He would make it through the war alive.

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[–] thinlad 17 years ago

Hugh Grant's far too old, Gibson was about 22 when they flew the mission, same goes for Colin Firth which is a shame as he'd have been ideal. Christian Bale is the only name actor I would see as suitable.

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 17 years ago

I think Bale would be far better as Leonard Cheshire, or -as they both are Welse- Willie Tait. Cheshire and Tait were two of Gibson's successors as CO of 617 Squadron. Under Cheshire they perfected pinpoint bombing and pioneered the use of Wallis' six-ton "Tallboy" bomb. Under Tait, the squadron sank the battleship Tirpitz.

When you think of it, the story of 617 Squadron would really be good material for at least two movies, maybe three.

As for Gibson, I maintain Dominic Monaghan. He's about the right age and height for Gibson.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] JFDAddison5458 17 years ago

1) Jude Law
2) Daniel Craig (probably too old but he does have the right look)

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room. (Dr Strangelove)

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] beefman22 17 years ago

How about James McAvoy.A great young actor,British and with the right look I think.

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[–] christopher_sargeant 17 years ago

Brainwave - how about a British Black actor - then he could use the original dog's name without causing any more contraversy!

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[–] droog69uk 17 years ago

Someone mentioned this theory before on here about the new version -

How with Hollywood's track record of appalling Americanized re-makes of Brit Classics which ruined the originals (Get Carter, The Italian Job, The Wicker Man etc..), why not get over the dog name by casting Eddie Murphy/Chris Rock as Guy Burgess? Genius!

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[–] zelenazaba 16 years ago

Whilst only being 19 in 2008 Daniel Radcliffe could easily be made to look a few years older, he is only 5ft 6in and very well spoken. If he could be Harry Potter and David Copperfield, Gibson could be a great career move, after his performance of Jack Kipling in "My boy Jack".

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[–] Corfman 17 years ago

Hugh Grant? How about Hugh playing Barnes Wallis? Put some round framed black glasses on and try a screen test? It would be an interesting older character study.

Orlando Bloom would make a good Flight Lieutenant J.V. Hopgood. Same with Christian Bale, and Collin Farrell playing other flight commanders. Need a cocky young Australian to play the low flying expert Flight Lieutenant H.B. Martin.

Russell Crowe (43) would be my choice to play Gibson. Guy Gibson was 24 at the time of the raid. However a 'youthful looking' Crowe balanced against the strain of over a 100 plus sorties....it might look about right. Second choice...Ewan Mcgregor

Banish Mel Gibson from the set!

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[–] westley747 17 years ago

After seeing the amazing Atonement recently, I think the incredibly James McAvoy would be perfect as Gibson.

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

How about David Anders (who plays Adam/Kensei on Heroes as Gibson? Ewan McGregor could be a plausible choice as well. His brother is even a real RAF pilot, so he would know how to look credible.

Christian Bale? I maintain he'd be better as one of 617's future CO's -either Leonard Cheshire or Willie Tait.

For Barnes Wallis, there's Sir Ian McKellan or Sir Anthony Hopkins. McKellan is familiar with Jackson. And Hopkins would be good at playing a brilliant, but eccentric, inventor.

Andy Serkis would be good as either Vickers test pilot Mutt Summers, or Flight-Sergeant Powell.

Jamie Bell would be F/Lt David Shannon. (Shannon was a veteran pilot, who looked so young some people doubted he was old enough to be in the Air Force).

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] jamesbloke 16 years ago

No-one should play Gibson in the remake because there should not even BE a remake. The whole thing is a hideous idea.
Regards,
James

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

Yeah, that was how Gibson really was.

He was a very difficult person to get to know and could be tough to work with. However, nobody doubted that he was a very talented pilot and had immense personal courage. That was likely why he was an effective leader. He was skilled at his job, and had the courage to lead from the front.

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[–] clivey6 16 years ago

Yes, Todd was 34 during filming, 10 years older than Gibson. That said, Todd did actually take part in the D-day landings and reprised that in the film The Longest Day.

My choice? Henry Cavill should be considered.

A young actor, suggested for James Bond before Craig took the role, he's about 24 now. Recently seen in The Tudors. Has the right look. Otherwise, James McAvoy aint bad, and his shortness would be fitting. However, he's starting to age a bit now. And it may seem a bit routine for him after Atonement.

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

McAvoy seems to be receiving a good consensus.

I would wonder who would play the various members of 617 Squadron. One thing that director Michael Anderson did in the original film was try to find actors that looked like the characters they played.

For example, Bill Kerr looks amazingly like the real Micky Martin. (Admittedly, that's assisted by the fact that Martin's most striking physical feature was his mustache.)

For starters, I'd have Jamie Bell played F/Lt David Shannon and Andy Serkis as F/Sgt Powell (617's discplinary NCO for the ground crews).

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