# The Dam Busters (Peter Jackson) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313 "2010-10-16T02:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/1 "2010-10-16T02:38:33Z")
Any news on Peter Jackson’s remake of _The Dam Busters_? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/2 "2010-10-16T02:47:10Z")
Last I heard the script that Stephen Fry wrote for it was being reworked, and visual effects tests were being done. But that was second hand news, several months ago. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/3 "2010-10-16T11:55:48Z")
What will they call the commander’s dog? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/4 "2010-10-16T15:46:00Z")
I would prefer that he be historically accurate. At the time and place, the word wasn’t especially derogatory. In British usage it just meant ‘dark-skinned foreigners’. But I don’t think he can get away with using it today. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/5 "2010-10-16T20:58:28Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > What will they call the commander’s dog? That was going to be my question too! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/6 "2010-10-16T21:28:23Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > What will they call the commander’s dog? The Wikipedia indicates that “Nigsy” might be what they’ll go ahead with. Works for me. For people who know what the dog was actually named, it’s close enough that it seems accurate. For people who don’t know, it won’t be a distraction. On the other hand, a modern equivalent like Blacky would probably be sufficiently accurate – it’s just using modern language instead of period. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/7 "2010-10-16T22:16:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Last I heard the script that Stephen Fry wrote for it was being reworked… Why do I get the impression that if Shakespeare were alive today and writing movies, he’d be told “Bill! We love the script! It’s perfect! Now we’re gonna get Akiva Goldman to do a polish on it…” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/8 "2010-10-18T02:43:39Z")
Jackson will be doing the two _Hobbit_ movies for sure now, and probably before _The Dam Busters_. > **[TIME: Peter Jackson Definitely Directing The Hobbit](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/10/15/39126-time-peter-jackson-definitely-directing-the-hobbit/)** > > It's been decided--the movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit will (thankfully!) be directed by The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Unfortunately, the movie still has another obstacle in its way before a February start date can be... ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/9 "2010-10-18T02:48:45Z")
Jackson wasn’t slated to Direct, but Produce. The intended Director was Christian Rivers. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/10 "2010-10-18T02:59:22Z")
As long as it’s directed well. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/11 "2018-12-29T14:39:30Z")
Bump. [Sir Peter Jackson on why it’s chocks away for the Dam Busters movie](https://www.noted.co.nz/culture/movies/sir-peter-jackson-dam-busters-movie-chocks-away/) > [@](#): > > Peter Jackson has his sights back on his movie about the Dam Busters raids which he has been hoping to make for 15 years. > > He tells _The Listener_ that the movie… is back on the cards in an interview in the magazine’s latest issue… > > “We’ve got the rights for two or three more years,” Jackson told _The Listener_. “I would be very surprised if you talk to me three years from now and the film hasn’t been made… > > Jackson acknowledges that the positive reception for recent World War II movies _Darkest Hour_ and _Dunkirk_ may help the film finally take flight. Replicas of Lancaster bombers, which launched bouncing bombs against the dams, have already been built. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/12 "2018-12-29T16:16:33Z")
The dog has been replaced by a pet badger named Orville. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/13 "2018-12-29T16:44:54Z")
The dog is a white, black, and brown [beagle](https://www.pedigree.com/images/default-source/article-images/pedigree-happy-beagle-field-header.jpg), called Progress. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/14 "2018-12-29T17:04:58Z")
I hope they keep the [theme music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKQHVdgCeXo). Like the Star Wars theme, half the effect of the movie depends on it. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/15 "2018-12-30T16:46:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Bump. > > [Sir Peter Jackson on why it’s chocks away for the Dam Busters movie](https://www.noted.co.nz/culture/movies/sir-peter-jackson-dam-busters-movie-chocks-away/) His reference to having the rights for three more years is weird. You don’t need to use Brickhill’s book to dramatise Operation Chastise there are other sources available. It’s a historical event for goodness sake anybody can turn it into a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/16 "2018-12-30T16:51:48Z")
Hope they do it! Here’s Wiki on the remake: [The Dam Busters (film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dam_Busters_(film)#Remake) ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/17 "2018-12-30T19:19:38Z")
The name is important intellectual property which you would probably want to use if you can, and if you don’t buy the rights to SOMEBODY’s book on the subject they will probably try to sue. You can’t do it all from public domain sources. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/18 "2018-12-31T12:30:32Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > What will they call the commander’s dog? Why mention his name at all? It should be possible to show the dog around, without ever speaking the word. Then you could have dialogue like: Wallis: “What shall be the code for mission success?” Commander: “How about my dog’s name?” Wallis : “Good idea, sir.” […] Pilot: Dam destroyed. Send the signal. [Radio operator begins to operate the radio Scene cut to female radio operator at base, hears the signal over her headphones. Look of joy comes over her face. Runs to tell the commander.] Radio operator: “Sir, we have received the signal. Mission success.” Do it cleverly enough, and people might not even notice that the word is never actually spoken. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/19 "2018-12-31T12:39:51Z")
A good idea, Peter. That would be acting niggardly in using the dog’s name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313/20 "2018-12-31T19:34:22Z")
I am always up for war films made with 21st century technology. The Dambusters combines scientific ingenuity and military daring like few other stories and I would love to see the final flying sequences in Imax 3D. And yes that theme music wonderfully evokes an old-fashioned Britishness and I hope they make use of it in some way. I wonder if the film will address the moral complexity of the attacks, which killed hundreds of civilians and would have been illegal after changes in the 1949 Geneva conventions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dam-busters-peter-jackson/557313.md?page=2)