Sink the Bismarck!1960Sink the Bismarck!
1960
In May 1941, Germany's new battleship Bismarck breaks out into the Atlantic and sinks HMS Hood. In the Admiralty war room in London, Captain Jonathan Shepard directs the hunt to find and stop her.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
A taut true story told largely from the war room. A grieving officer is devoted to duty, and it doubles as a history lesson.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Naval battles destroy ships and kill many men (no gore), including the Hood's explosion, which may be intense for little ones. Shepard learns his son is missing in action, and there's smoking in the war room.
Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Why was the Bismarck so dangerous?
- How did Shepard handle the news about his son?
- Which moment in the hunt was most tense?
- How did both sides show courage?
Content advisory
WebSearch synthesis: naval combat with ships destroyed and wartime deaths, no gore; no notable language or sexual content reported.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
DVD · May 20, 2003
Blu-ray listed on Blu-ray.com (release date unconfirmed)
Edition link coming soon.
Listing on Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.