I haven't seen every war movie ever made, but I have seen scores of 'em. Dieppe - a TV miniseries - is one of the best. Before I discovered it listed here on IMDb I'd been unable to find any mention of it in the standard film reference books. So chalk up another one for the Internet.
All the elements of good film-making work together here, including cast, script, and direction. What distinguishes Dieppe from all but one or two other war films (I'm thinking of The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far) is its focus on the planning as well as the execution of a military operation - the high brass, all the way up to Winston Churchill in this case, as well as the poor sods on the sharp end of the spear. That the actual Dieppe landing was a disaster - largely the result of cross-purposes, rivalries, and petty politicking among those in charge - makes this an especially important story for the generation that thinks World War II was easy, uncomplicated, and maybe fun. Although British and token U.S. forces were also involved to make the landings a true Allied effort, the Canadians took the brunt of the punishment on the beach. We in the United States need a reminder that our northern neighbors were fully engaged in both World Wars.
Strategy and politics aside, Dieppe tells a gripping true story. Catch it if you can.
