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Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain

6.8

Battle of Britain

G·1969·132m

Summary

In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing the Nazi invasion of Britain.

Cast

Harry Andrews

Harry Andrews

Senior Civil Servant

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Squadron Leader Canfield

Trevor Howard

Trevor Howard

Air Vice Marshal Keith Park

Curd Jürgens

Curd Jürgens

Baron von Richter

Ian McShane

Ian McShane

Sgt. Pilot Andy

Kenneth More

Kenneth More

Group Capt. Baker

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding

Nigel Patrick

Nigel Patrick

Group Capt. Hope

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer

Squadron Leader Colin Harvey

Michael Redgrave

Michael Redgrave

Air Vice Marshal Evill

Ralph Richardson

Ralph Richardson

Sir David Kelly - British Minister to Switzerland

Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw

Squadron Leader Skipper

Patrick Wymark

Patrick Wymark

Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory

Susannah York

Susannah York

Section Officer Maggie Harvey

Michael Bates

Michael Bates

Warrant Officer Warwick

Robert Flemyng

Robert Flemyng

Wing Cmdr. Willoughby

Isla Blair

Isla Blair

Mrs. Andy

Barry Foster

Barry Foster

Sqd. Leader Edwards

John Baskcomb

Farmer

Edward Fox

Edward Fox

Pilot Officer Archie

Tom Chatto

Willoughby's Assistant Controller

W.G. Foxley

W.G. Foxley

Squadron Leader Evans

James Cosmo

James Cosmo

Jamie

David Griffin

Sgt. Pilot Chris

Jack Gwillim

Jack Gwillim

Senior Air Staff Officer

André Maranne

André Maranne

French NCO

Myles Hoyle

Peter

Anthony Nicholls

Anthony Nicholls

Minister

Duncan Lamont

Duncan Lamont

Flight Sgt. Arthur

Nicholas Pennell

Simon

Sarah Lawson

Sarah Lawson

Skipper's Wife

Andrzej Scibor

Ox

Mark Malicz

Pasco

Jean Wladon

Jean Wladon

Jean Jacques

Wilfried von Aacken

Wilfried von Aacken

Gen. Osterkamp

Reinhard Horras

Bruno

Karl-Otto Alberty

General Jeschonnek - Luftwaffe Chief of Staff

Helmut Kircher

Boehm

Alexander Allerson

Maj. Brandt

Paul Neuhaus

Maj. Föhn

Dietrich Frauboes

Field Marshal Milch (Inspector General, Luftwaffe)

Malte Petzel

Col. Beppo Schmidt (Luftwaffe Intelligence)

Alf Jungermann

Brandt's Navigator

Manfred Reddemann

Maj. Falke

Peter Hager

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring

Hein Riess

Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring

Wolf Harnisch

Gen. Fink

Rolf Stiefel

Adolf Hitler

Nikki Van der Zyl

Nikki Van der Zyl

Dubbing (voice)

Tony Allen

NCO in Plotting Room (uncredited)

Paul Angelis

Paul Angelis

Albert (uncredited)

Graham Armitage

Radar Officer (uncredited)

Hilda Barry

Old Lady (uncredited)

Roy Beck

Roy Beck

French Soldier / RAF Pilot (uncredited)

Kate Binchy

Grace (uncredited)

Ernest Blyth

Civilian Watching German Bomber Crash (uncredited)

A. J. Brown

Air Observer (uncredited)

Daniel Brown

Refugee (uncredited)

Fay Bura

Woman in Air Raid Shelter (uncredited)

Mary Burleigh

Minor Role (uncredited)

Bill Burns

RAF Officer (uncredited)

Pauline Chamberlain

Woman in Church Hall Shelter (uncredited)

Massimo Ciprari

Massimo Ciprari

German Soldier (uncredited)

Günter Clemens

Günter Clemens

Pilot - Falke's Crew (uncredited)

John Comer

John Comer

Policeman (uncredited)

Les Conrad

RAF Sergeant (uncredited)

Victor Croxford

Refugee (uncredited)

George Curtis

Man in Air Raid Shelter (uncredited)

Basil Dignam

Basil Dignam

Tactical Records Officer (uncredited)

Eric Dodson

RAF Officer (uncredited)

Jim Dowdall

German Pilot (uncredited)

Hugh Elton

Docker (uncredited)

Harry Fielder

Soldier (uncredited)

Meriel Forbes

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Gareth Forwood

Gareth Forwood

Alistair (uncredited)

Paddy Frost

Edith (uncredited)

Hugh Futcher

RAF Ground Crew (uncredited)

Brian Grellis

Brian Grellis

RAF Cpl. Ernie (uncredited)

Michael Guest

General Staff Officer (uncredited)

Barry Halliday

'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)

Paul Hansard

Paul Hansard

Karl (uncredited)

Vincent Harding

ADC to Hitler (uncredited)

Pat Heywood

Pat Heywood

WRAF Cpl. Seymour (uncredited)

Stuart Hoyle

'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)

Desmond Jordan

General Staff Officer (uncredited)

Geoffrey King

Air Observer (uncredited)

Jack Le White

Archie's Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Aileen Lewis

Woman in Air Raid Shelter (uncredited)

Illona Linthwaite

Wendy (uncredited)

Maureen Lipman

Maureen Lipman

Radar Operator (uncredited)

Reg Lye

Reg Lye

Workman (uncredited)

David McKail

David McKail

Lac Arnold (uncredited)

Harald Meister

Pilot - Föhn's Crew (uncredited)

Rosalind Mendleson

Refugee (uncredited)

George Merritt

George Merritt

Civilian (uncredited)

Hilary Minster

Hilary Minster

Pilot - Falke's Crew (uncredited)

Ingo Mogendorf

Pilot - Falke's Crew (uncredited)

Richard Morant

Richard Morant

Replacement Pilot - Red Section 'Red 2' (uncredited)

Richardson Morgan

British Embassy Valet (uncredited)

Steve Morley

Boy Watching Archie's Parachute Landing (uncredited)

Christopher Morris

Boy (uncredited)

Geoffrey Morris

Air Observer (uncredited)

Norman Morris

RAF Sergeant in Shelter (uncredited)

Douglas Nottage

Sergeant Pilot - Föhn's Crew (uncredited)

Hugo Panczak

Hugo Panczak

Pilot - Falke's Crew (uncredited)

Clifford Parrish

Kelly's Butler (uncredited)

Eileen Peel

Lady Kelly (uncredited)

David Quilter

'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)

Pam Rose

WAF in the Plotting Room (uncredited)

George Roubicek

Sergeant Pilot - Falke's Crew (uncredited)

John Savident

John Savident

RAF Officer (uncredited)

Clive Scott

'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)

Jack Sharp

Old Man (uncredited)

Albert Shepherd

Soldier at Self-Propelled Gun (uncredited)

Sadie Slade

Radio Operator (uncredited)

Kathleen St John

Old Lady (uncredited)

Philip Stewart

Man in Air Raid Shelter (uncredited)

Frank Sussman

ADC in Intelligence Maps Office (uncredited)

Nick Tate

Nick Tate

RAF Pilot (uncredited)

John Tatham

Fighter Command Officer (uncredited)

Reg Thomason

RAF Sergeant (uncredited)

Chris Tranchell

'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)

Joseph Tregonino

Refugee (uncredited)

Paul Tropea

Peasant Boy (uncredited)

Rosetta Tropea

Peasant Girl (uncredited)

Michael Trubshawe

Michael Trubshawe

Air Observer (uncredited)

Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker

Charlie (uncredited)

Franz Van Norde

Pilot - Föhn's Crew (uncredited)

Mickey Varey

Rescue Worker (uncredited)

Dagobert Walter

Hans Falke (uncredited)

David Webb

David Webb

RAF Officer (uncredited)

Peter Wesp

Pilot - Föhn's Crew (uncredited)

Alister Williamson

Alister Williamson

Air Raid Warden (uncredited)

Fred Wood

Rescue Worker (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Guy Hamilton

Novel

Derek Dempster

Novel

Derek Wood

Screenplay

James Kennaway

Screenplay

Wilfred Greatorex

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

April 14, 2020

7

Stirring chest beater for those prepared to indulge.

You don't need me to give you a history lesson here, Battle Of Britain, much like 98% of all war movies is a glossed up extension of an historical event, if you want history then go read all the serious historian comments instead.

Wanna read about a film? OK, Battle Of Britain is something of a frustrating love of mine, I'm not one to be over enthused as regards jingoistic fervour, but there are a handful of films that really have me pounding my chest like some flag waving King Kong clone, Battle Of Britain, in spite of the obvious flaws is one such film. The plus points will always outweigh the bad for me, as a top array of acting talent line up to tell the tale of the British Air Force fighting the good fight against the German Air Force for control of British air space - and thus stopping the Nazis from invading England on the south coast. It should be noted that the film gains extra credit for giving the due respect to the other European countries that also fought in the Battle for the skies in 1940.

The aerial sequences are a delight, it's easy to see where the main portion of the budget went here, be it dogfights or squadrons looming ominously in the sky, the effects are never less than good, and some of the POV cockpit shots firmly have the blood pumping. The climatic battle (played out to an almost operatic score) is deftly shot and is a riveting reel of film that pays you back for having sat through one of the film's flaws, that of the sadly scripted moments of tedium.

True enough to say that the film is a bit overlong, and whilst it's smart in portraying the reality of pilots under prepared, it just comes across as at times like boorish filler, while the inevitable love interest strand involving Susannah York is not only pointless, it's also bloody annoying. The score is hit and miss as well, at times Ron Goodwin & Henry Walton's music lights up the proceedings as the planes swoop and conquer, but does the operatic switch for the film's final battle enhance the picture? I would say no because the harshness of battle gives way to swan lake like indulgence, it's not for me I have to say.

Still, I don't think anyone is proclaiming this as a masterpiece, it entertains far above average, and for this viewer at least, it makes me proud for a couple of hours at least. Lest we ever forget the real life heroes of The Battle of Britain. 7/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$12,000,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

world war ii
based on true story
aerial combat
british history
1940s
battle of britain
luftwaffe
royal air force
raf