# Nolan shows preview of Dunkirk at CinemaCon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2017, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337 "2017-03-30T10:35:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/1 "2017-03-30T10:35:24Z")
A [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ01tJ4EWeg) for the movie has been out for a while but Christopher Nolan showed extensive footage to those attending the CinemaCon trade show in Las Vegas. (Not up on the net unfortunately.) I am really looking forward to this one. I’m English and, as Nolan comments, Dunkirk is in the British DNA. Apart from that I usually love Nolan’s movies (other than Interstellar which was a massive disappointment). I think this will be spectacular and that he will do the subject justice. One personal point. I hope he takes time, even just one scene, to show the British troops who were in the rearguard at Dunkirk. While their mates were being evacuated these guys, just a few companies of them, were dug in on the outskirts of Dunkirk waiting for the Germans and hoping to slow their advance just long enough to give the soldiers on the beaches a chance to get away. The men in the rearguard knew for a fact that they would either die or be captured but they were pretty stoical about it. I know because my father, a Sergeant in the Buffs, was one of them. He knew what was coming but he said they gave it everything they had. They didn’t slow the Germans by much but any delay helped. He and his mates (the ones that weren’t dead) ended up in German stalags for the duration of the war, some 4 years. They deserve a mention in Nolan’s film and I will be annoyed if they don’t get one. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/2 "2017-03-30T11:21:36Z")
I’m looking forward to this one and have seen a couple of trailers since late last year. I know the history, but don’t remember the story being depicted in a move before. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/3 "2017-03-30T13:33:32Z")
I hope the movie’s a big success, if only because I’ve long felt that Admiral Ramsay doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves; pulled out of retirement in 1938, he’s the guy who engineered the Dunkirk evacuation, AND was the guy who pulled off the naval piece of the Normandy landings, as well as having his fingers in the pie of all the other major Allied naval operations. Plus, the story’s a very inspiring one in pretty much all respects, and deserves to be told to a wider audience. And we apparently get the bonus of seeing Harry Styles sink to the bottom of the Channel! How can we lose? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/4 "2017-03-30T13:51:54Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I know because my father, a Sergeant in the Buffs, was one of them. What’s a “Buff”? Is that a unit nickname? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/5 "2017-03-30T14:05:47Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > What’s a “Buff”? Is that a unit nickname? [Buffs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffs_(Royal_East_Kent_Regiment)) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/6 "2017-03-30T14:32:11Z")
Something I wondered about the Dunkirk evacuations as I watched the trailer; how was the need for the flotilla communicated and organized? Was there a radio announcement in coastal communities asking for volunteers to sail to France? Did someone just go to the docks and ask people to help? And were some boats or ships just commandeered without the knowledge of their owners? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/7 "2017-03-30T14:36:50Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > [Buffs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffs_(Royal_East_Kent_Regiment)) 400 years of tradition! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/8 "2017-03-30T14:59:21Z")
I am mistaken, but I had heard that the rear guard was French. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/9 "2017-03-30T15:21:55Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I am mistaken, but I had heard that the rear guard was French. Read the first para: > **[Dunkirk](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Pd0P2qn6axQC&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=the%2Bbuffs%2Bdunkirk&source=bl&ots=i2dkAeySPo&sig=7YfCnotHgR6Rgix3-3GyTSz1lLk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5hIPbw_7SAhXHIMAKHXbHD2IQ6AEIYzAN#v=onepage&q=the%20buffs%20dunkirk&f=false)** > > A masterly work of military history and a gripping story of British heroism.In May 1940, the small British Expeditionary Force was sent to help the Belgians and French hold back the German army. Ill-equipped and under-trained, they fought hard for... ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/10 "2017-03-30T17:04:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Something I wondered about the Dunkirk evacuations as I watched the trailer; how was the need for the flotilla communicated and organized? Was there a radio announcement in coastal communities asking for volunteers to sail to France? Did someone just go to the docks and ask people to help? And were some boats or ships just commandeered without the knowledge of their owners? This is a good BBC docudrama that goes into that. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tBX4z-w1w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tBX4z-w1w) > [@](#): > > \*On the 14th day of May, 1940, the BBC made the following announcement: “The Admiralty have made an Order requesting all owners of self-propelled pleasure craft between 30’ and 100’ in length to send all particulars to the Admiralty within 14 days from today if they have not already been offered or requisitioned”. > > Although this may have sounded something like a request, it was, in fact, an Order. These ships were required for harbour services and national defense and thus the idea of using private yachts as naval auxiliaries was quite well established by the time the emergency of Dunkirk broke upon the Nation. > \* > **[The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.](https://www.adls.org.uk/)** > > The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships is an association of vessels that took part in Operations Dynamo, Cycle and Aerial in May/June 1940. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/11 "2017-03-30T17:12:14Z")
Interesting that the BBC announcement was was made on May 14, two weeks before the evacuation started on May 26. Looks like they were already aware they were about to be in a serious bind. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/12 "2017-03-30T17:35:02Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > I’m looking forward to this one and have seen a couple of trailers since late last year. I know the history, but don’t remember the story being depicted in a move before. There was actually a 1958 film with John Mills and Richard Attenborough called **Dunkirk** that was successful in the UK but made little impact across the pond. Certainly, the most memorable depictions for a US audience would be there tangential roles in _Mrs. Miniver_ and _Atonement_. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/13 "2017-03-31T10:39:25Z")
For people in the UK, the b&w 1958 **Dunkirk** comes around sometimes on tv channel [Talking Pictures](http://talkingpicturestv.co.uk/) (Freeview 81). As do lots of other hoary old b&w films! edit: might actually be in colour, I forget… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/14 "2017-03-31T13:59:25Z")
It’s black and white. When I was growing up it used to be one of those Sunday afternoon films on BBC1 - Richard Attenbough, the bloke who was James Bond’s M, and a lot of small boats. Tells the administrative part quite well - registration, owners/captains/volunteering for Dunkirk duty, etc. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/15 "2017-03-31T14:00:17Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > [Buffs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffs_(Royal_East_Kent_Regiment)) I thought a buff was a bomber… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/16 "2017-03-31T16:54:21Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Interesting that the BBC announcement was was made on May 14, two weeks before the evacuation started on May 26. Looks like they were already aware they were about to be in a serious bind. I think after the breakthrough at Sedan on the 14th, the writing was pretty much on the wall, as least as a strong likelihood. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/17 "2017-03-31T20:42:11Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Read the first para: > [Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory - Julian Thompson - Google Books](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Pd0P2qn6axQC&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=the+buffs+dunkirk&source=bl&ots=i2dkAeySPo&sig=7YfCnotHgR6Rgix3-3GyTSz1lLk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5hIPbw_7SAhXHIMAKHXbHD2IQ6AEIYzAN#v=onepage&q=the%20buffs%20dunkirk&f=false) Great link, **up\_the\_junction** , I’ll certainly be seeking that book out. I wish I’d asked my father more questions about the war rather than reading books on it. Although he didn’t much like talking about that time sometimes he would open up. He said it wasn’t so much the long captivity at Lamsdorf, in fact except towards the end when things got tougher it wasn’t really so bad there (except for the poor Russians whom he really felt sorry for). It was the Long March that was among his worst memories, the forced march of the prisoners in 1945 across Poland and Germany in the bitterest of winters with men dropping like flies. He talked sometimes of how they would try to catch cats they came across in order to eat them, of the death of close friends by cold, malnutrition or the bullet of a guard , but mainly of the deathly cold and the road that seemed to go on for ever. My mother said that when she first met him just after his return from Germany he looked like a Belsen survivor. When I was a teenager, before I was really aware of any of this, I’d gripe to my parents about how tough my life was, they didn’t understand the pressures, the usual teenage crap. How he had the forbearance not to beat the shit out of me I’ll never know! ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/18 "2017-03-31T21:23:24Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Interesting that the BBC announcement was was made on May 14, two weeks before the evacuation started on May 26. Looks like they were already aware they were about to be in a serious bind. Actually it was just a general requisition of small boats for the war effort, not specific to evacuation. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/19 "2017-03-31T22:04:39Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I wish I’d asked my father more questions about the war rather than reading books on it. Don’t we all? The B-25 with two models of cannon…but I digress. > [@aldiboronti](#): > > How he had the forbearance not to beat the shit out of me I’ll never know! Perhaps he had seen to many people beaten and suffer. ---
**Author:** ![TYphoonSignal8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@TYphoonSignal8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TYphoonSignal8)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nolan-shows-preview-of-dunkirk-at-cinemacon/783337/20 "2017-04-03T03:43:53Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I hope the movie’s a big success, if only because I’ve long felt that Admiral Ramsay doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves; pulled out of retirement in 1938, he’s the guy who engineered the Dunkirk evacuation, AND was the guy who pulled off the naval piece of the Normandy landings, as well as having his fingers in the pie of all the other major Allied naval operations. > > Plus, the story’s a very inspiring one in pretty much all respects, and deserves to be told to a wider audience. And we apparently get the bonus of seeing Harry Styles sink to the bottom of the Channel! How can we lose? I didn’t spot him. Did he trade that ridiculous bouffant for a regulation crew cut? The trailer is pretty inspiring: it really captures the despair of the men on the beach.