Was Sink the Bismarck! one of Britain's most accurate war films? What happens when one of the most famous naval engagements of the Second World War becomes a 1960 British classic? In this episode of Review It Yourself, Sean dives into Sink the Bismarck! with returning guest Richard M. Jones, author, historian, researcher and lifelong enthusiast of shipwrecks and maritime history. Rather than simply reviewing the film, this conversation explores why Sink the Bismarck! remains such an interesting and surprisingly restrained Second World War film. Richard brings his extensive knowledge of naval history to the discussion, examining what the film gets right, where Hollywood takes liberties, and why its portrayal of the Battle of the Denmark Strait and the hunt for the Bismarck still works more than six decades later. At the heart of the discussion is the film's unusual approach. Instead of concentrating solely on spectacular battles and life aboard the warships, Sink the Bismarck! spends considerable time with the people making decisions behind the scenes. Kenneth More's fictional character, Commander Shepherd, becomes the centre of a story about leadership, pressure, responsibility and the human cost of warfare. We also look at the film's portrayal of the HMS Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, Bismarck, Ark Royal and the wider British response to the German battleship's Atlantic sortie. The conversation considers the Battle of the Denmark Strait, the destruction of Hood, the eventual tracking and sinking of Bismarck, and the role of intelligence, reconnaissance and communications in the pursuit. Richard explains why the film's historical accuracy makes it stand out, while also identifying some of its notable departures from reality — including the mysterious fictional ship Solent. We discuss how the real Bismarck story compares with its cinematic depiction and why the filmmakers' decision not to turn the ending into a simple moment of triumph actually gives the film much of its power. The episode also takes us beneath the surface of the film and into Richard's own fascination with Bismarck. He explains how discovering Robert Ballard's Exploring the Bismarck as a young reader helped fuel his interest in the battleship, eventually leading to a lifelong passion for maritime history, shipwrecks, writing and research. About Richard M. JonesRichard M. Jones is an author, historian and researcher specialising in shipwrecks, shipping, military history and forgotten disasters. His interest in maritime history began at a young age and has developed into decades of research, writing, archive work and memorial campaigns. Richard's official website features information about his books, research, talks and presentations, as well as his extensive shipwreck archive. He also offers talks for societies, schools and other groups. Contact Richard: Email: shipwreckdata@yahoo.co.uk Richard M. Jones — official website The website also provides a contact form and information for media, podcast, presentation and research enquiries. Follow Review It YourselfIf you enjoy film reviews that go beyond the usual ratings and look at the history, context, accuracy and stories behind the films, make sure you follow Review It Yourself. 📸 Instagram: @reviewityourselfpodcast2021 on Instagram 🐦 X / Twitter: @YourselfReview on X / Twitter 🦋 BlueSky: Review It Yourself on BlueSky 🧵 Threads: @reviewityourselfpodcast2021 on Threads 📱 Cinova: @reviewityourself 📧 Email: reviewityourselfpodcast@gmail.com Support Review It YourselfIf you've enjoyed this episode, the best way to support Review It Yourself is simple: listen, follow, subscribe, rate, review and share the podcast with someone who loves films, history or both. Listen to the episode, revisit the film, and Review It Yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
