Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Operation Crossbow Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 23, 2023

Michael Anderson's "Operation Crossbow" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Archive. The supplemental features on the release include an archival program about the final stages of WWII and restored trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Keep testing and make it work!

Initially, the secret creation is only a semi-operational flying torpedo, which is not what the Germans want. The Germans want to build a fully operational long-range rocket that can strike London and determine who wins WWII. In the Baltic region, the Germans have been performing secret tests to transform the flying torpedo into a long-range rocket but repeatedly failed to improve its maneuverability.

While risking her life, a brave pilot (Barbara Rutting) finally gives German military engineers the information they need to make the crucial adjustments. Shortly after, a dozen long-range rockets are prepared for launch.

In London, Winston Churchill (Patrick Wymark) authorizes the Chairman of the British War Cabinet Committee (Richard Johnson) to do whatever is necessary to prevent the Germans from mass-producing long-range rockets and bombing the country. A few days later, three espionage experts – John Curtis (George Peppard), Robert Henshaw (Tom Courtenay), and Phil Bradley (Jeremy Kemp) – are selected to secretly enter Germany and cripple the rocket program. To reach the only manufacturing facility, the three experts will pretend to be Dutch scientists that have been summoned by the Germans to assist with preparation efforts.

Directed by Michael Anderson in 1965, Operation Crossbow is one of only a few old-fashioned WWII action-adventure films that do virtually everything right to appear as authentic as possible. For example, Operation Crossbow maintains a crystal-clear understanding that the war made equally smart people enemies, which is the reason its characters look so convincing. Operation Crossbow shows an unmissable preference for accurate technical information over patriotic messaging, which keeps its drama realistic and action pragmatic. Operation Crossbow successfully tames its stars, too. While the stars shine in different ways and enthusiastically engage each other, it never looks like they compete for the spotlight.

The balance between the quickly evolving drama and action is managed superbly as well. The fact that Operation Crossbow tolerates little fat in its story has a lot to do with it because it allows it to establish a very steady rhythm. As a result, the drama, action, and technical information constantly overlap without distracting the viewer or affecting his ability to have a good time. (As odd as may sound, often the technical information and its quick deconstruction by the stars are far more entertaining than the action).

The final act offers flashy large-scale entertainment of the kind that would have been perfect in many of the early James Bond films. After Peppard and Kemp’s characters are forced to improvise in a giant underground facility where the German scientists are building an even bigger rocket that can reach New York City, British planes appear ready to bomb it. But they need a pointer, and with time running out, it begins to look like the entire war could be decided by one man who must take matters into his hands and act like a classic superhero.

Anderson collaborated with cinematographer Erwin Hillier, who a decade earlier lensed the classic British war film The Dam Busters. It is not difficult to argue that Hillier’s work in Operation Crossbow is just as good, possibly even better. While the rocket tests and air attack look predictably great, the quality of the action is a bit surprising. Indeed, the action looks very stylish but at the same time appropriately intense and unusually realistic.

The cast also includes John Mills, Sophia Loren, Lilli Palmer, Anthony Quayle, Trevor Howard, Sylvia Syms, Helmut Dantine, Wolf Frees, and Karel Stepanek.

Operation Crossbow Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Operation Crossbow arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Archive.

A few years ago, Operation Crossbow was fully restored and now looks tremendous on Blu-ray. I think that excluding a superior dynamic range of the visuals with an expanded color gamut -- both of which would have to materialize on 4K Blu-ray -- everything is as good as it should. I projected the film and thought that depth, delineation, and clarity were outstanding. The film has a lot of diverse material too, so there is a lot of footage from darker areas and spaces with restricted lighting that is particularly impressive. Color balance is great. The primaries look very healthy and nicely balanced and the supporting nuances appear very carefully set. Because of this, it was a pleasure to view the film. There are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks very healthy as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Operation Crossbow Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. Also, there are many scattered exchanges in German and they have automatic English subtitles.

Obviously, the 5.1 track is not the original audio for the film, but I thought that the track was excellent. The dialog was always very clear, sharp, and east to follow. I did not think that there were any balance issues to report either. On the contrary, there was quite a bit of footage, like the large air attack at the end of the film, where I thought that balance and separation were handled very, very well.

Operation Crossbow Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a fully restored trailer for Operation Crossbow. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• A Look Back at Crossbow - this archival program examines the final stages of WWII and Germany's quickly evolving rocket program at the time. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

Operation Crossbow Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The intelligence and pragmatism of Operation Crossbow remain quite impressive, which is why it is one of the best old-fashioned WWII action-adventure films that you can see. Ironically, or perhaps not, the film's main concern, which is the development and use of ICBMs, is now an even bigger threat to humanity. Warner Archive's Blu-ray release offers an outstanding technical presentation of the film and is Region-Free. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.