Summary
The year is 1940 and Pilot Officer T.B. Baird arrives straight out of flight school to join a front line RAF squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. After an unfortunate start and a drumming down from his commanding officer, Baird must balance the struggle to impress his Group Captain, regain his pride, fit in with his fellow pilots, and survive one of the most intense air battles in history.
Cast
Jack Hawkins
Group Captain 'Tiger' Small
Michael Denison
Squadron Leader Peter Moon
John Gregson
Pilot Officer T.B. 'Septic' Baird
Cyril Raymond
Squadron Leader Barry Clinton
Veronica Hurst
Betty Carfax
Harold Goodwin
A.C. 2 Wailes
Geoffrey Keen
Company Sergeant Major
Philip Stainton
Police Constable
Vida Hope
W.A.A.F.
Amy Veness
Aunt Tabitha
Ronald Adam
Group Controller
Humphrey Lestocq
Flight Lieutenant 'Batchy' Salter
Andrew Osborn
Squadron Leader Bill Ponsford
Dulcie Gray
Nadine Clinton
Harry Locke
Look Out
Norman Pierce
'Bonzo'
Peter Jones
Sentry
Russell Hunter
Pimpernel Pilot
Victor Maddern
Airman
Harry Fowler
Airman
Sam Kydd
Mess Waiter
Marianne Stone
W.A.A.F
John Barry
Jacko, Pimpernel Pilot
Richard Dunn
Pimpernel Pilot
Elwyn Daniel
Pimpernel Pilot
Douglas Hurn
P.O. Tony Raines, Pimpernel Pilot
Richard Levin
Pimpernel Pilot
Terence Longdon
Falk, Pimpernel Pilot
Donald McLisky
Pimpernel Pilot
Bryn Roberts
Pimpernel Pilot
Harold Siddons
Mortimer, Pimpernel Pilot
Anthony Moore
Squadron Leader Marlow
Gordon Bell
Ops. B.
W. Thorp Deverreux
Sergeant
Neil Wilson
Army Liaison Officer
Rosemary Lomax
Ops. A.
Vida Hope
W.A.A.F
Marianne Stone
W.A.A.F.
Josephine Douglas
W.A.A.F.
Gillian Maude
W.A.A.F.
Freda Bamford
W.A.A.F.
Vari Falconer
W.A.A.F.
Karen Grayson
W.A.A.F.
Ann Lancaster
W.A.A.F.
Joan Sterndale-Bennett
W.A.A.F.
Helen Stirling
W.A.A.F.
Wendy Remington
W.A.A.F.
Colin Tapley
Adjutant
John Sharp
'Soss'
Ewan Roberts
Medical Officer
Hugh Moxey
Intelligence Officer
John Phillips
Engineer Officer
John Harvey
Station Warrant Officer
Russell Waters
Airman
Warwick Ashton
Airman in Ops Room (Uncredited)
Jack Dearlove
Flight Controller (Uncredited)
Otto Friese
Mess Waiter (Uncredited)
Victor Harrington
Airman in Officers Club (Uncredited)
Joan Hickson
Housekeeper (Uncredited)
Joe Phelps
Casey (Uncredited)
Ambrosine Phillpotts
Mrs. Falk (Uncredited)
Harold Sanderson
Guard with Wailes (Uncredited)
John Wilder
Airman (Uncredited)
Crew
Director
George More O'Ferrall
Original Story
Pelham Groom
Writer
Derek N. Twist
Reviews
Geronimo1967
October 9, 2023
7
John Gregson is quickly christened "Septic" as he (sort of) arrives a Royal Air Force airfield at the height of the Battle of Britain. Everyone there is knackered - exhausted by the war, weary, tired and scared. They are led by the motivating "Tiger" (a decent effort from Jack Hawkins) who has long since mastered the carrot/stick approach to his flyers who are often little more than boys straight out of school or university. "Septic" is keen - but will he remain so? Can he remain so? People are dying all around him! It's actually quite a complex drama this. Some fine aerial photography and some familiar music help to illustrate just how perilous these men's daily lives were. The infrastructure that supported not just the pilots but their logistics and co-ordinating teams is also exposed in a way that cinema rarely tended to do - we realise a great deal more about just how the cogs and wheels interacted to makes the defence of the country against a determined - and outnumbering - foe was essential. A solid cast of British screen talent are in support - notably a rather stronger role for Michael Denison and, of course, you cannot have him without Dulcie Gray. The conclusion isn't what we'd expect, nor probably what we'd wanted either - but that adds a little authenticity to this well strung together wartime drama that is well worth a watch.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
