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Summary

Two Englishmen (Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling) train with the Royal Air Force, ending with a bombing raid on Berlin.

Cast

Richard Attenborough

David Wilton

Jack Watling

John Aynesworth

David Tomlinson

Smith

Stuart Latham

Flight Sergeant Fitter

Edward G. Robinson

Dean McWilliams

Hugh Wakefield

Acting Lieutenant

Bromley Challenor

Airman Second Class Jay

Z. Peremowski

An Anson Pilot

Ronald Squire

Group Captain on Aircrew Interview Board

Derek N. Twist

Wing Commander on Aircrew Interview Board

Leslie Nixen

Group Captain, Aircrew Reception Centre

Len Reeve

Corporal at Air Crew Reception Centre

W. Busby

Squadron Leader at Air Crew Reception Centre

Arthur Macrae

Wing Commander - Initial Training Wing

Reginald Tate

Commanding Officer, Initial Training Wing

Elwyn Price

Instructor, Initial Training Wing

Tommy Dugan

Cadet, Initial Training Wing

John Justin

Flying Instructor, Flying Grading School

Anthony Hulme

Chief Flying Instructor, Flying Grading School

Michael Harroway

Commanding Officer, Flying Grading School

Edward Rutherford

Commander, Air Crew Distribution Centre

Sebastian Shaw

Squadron Leader Marshall

Ronald Adam

Commanding Officer at Falcon Field

Bessie Love

Mrs. Mary McWilliams

Arthur Bolton

Airfield Controller, Canadian Navigation School

Fletcher Markle

Staff Pilot, Canadian Navigation School

Jack Baker

Flight Commander, Canadian Navigation School

Stuart Dick

Wireless Instructor, Canadian Navigation School

Peter Bayliss

Wireless Instructor, Canadian Navigation School

Nicholas Stuart

Meteorological Officer at Canadian Navigation School

Patrick Waddington

Flight Lt. Mander

Tommy Tomlinson

Briefing Officer, English Bombing Station

Michael McNeile

Lancaster Crew

Jerry Fitzgerald

Lancaster Crew

Eric Worth

Lancaster Crew

George Cole

Curley, Bomb Aimer, Lancaster Crew

Hamish Nicol

Lancaster Crew

Norval D. Crutcher Sr.

U.S. Army Driver

Murray Matheson

Lancaster Crew

Sidney Rider

A Fitter

Rex Harrison

Guest (uncredited)

Miles Malleson

(uncredited)

Crew

Director, Writer

John Boulting

Story

Terence Rattigan

Reviews

Geronimo1967

November 13, 2022

Made by the RAF Film Unit, this is essentially a celebratory film that starts off a bit propagandist in nature but actually turns into quite an enjoyable and characterful wartime story. It centres around "Wilton" (Richard Attenborough - who did actually serve in the Royal Air Force) who joins up intent on being a pilot. He passes through basic training and is sent to Canada where he encounters "Dean" (Edward G. Robinson) whose job it is to teach him to fly a plane. Thing is, he can fly the thing ok - but his landings look like they were designed by Barnes Wallace! "Dean" recommends he switch to navigating, but the young man feels that a demotion, a failure, and so it falls to his colleagues to instil in him the critical value of that role to all aboard. The last half of the film leaves the training behind as he and his crew are involved in a perilous bombing raid over Germany and, somewhat shot-up, have to make their way back home to safety. The film takes it's time to get going, maybe a wee bit too long spent developing the characters - but that does pay off as the denouement approaches and "Wilton" - and the audience - find the values of loyalty and teamwork re-iterated and reinforced. The cast consists plenty of familiar faces including a rare appearance from Bessie Love and they gel well together to deliver a sense of inter-reliability and comradeship. Very much at the better end of these feel-good dramas, this, and well worth a watch.