Battle of Britain

[Orita]

- This is a 2 hours and 12 minutes movie from 1969. It's all about the "Battle of Britain" from the summer of 1940. Great actors star in this movie: Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Curt Jurgens, Robert Shaw, Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer, Kenneth More, Edward Fox and many others. Great WW2 movie! Orita 12/11/05

[FW-190 Pilot]

thanks for the info, but what is your opinion toward this movie?

[Orita]

- I wrote that it is a "great WW2 movie" [in my opinion]. The movie shows how the Germans bombed by mistake London and the RAF later bombed Berlin. The Germans started to bomb the British cities instead to focus on the British industry and plants which manufactured war material and this was a BIG mistake the Germans did. By October 1940 the Germans already lost the "Battle of Britain" and Hitler gave up his plan to invade England. Good for England and very bad for Germany! Orita 12/11/05

[Piotr]

This is likely one of the 10 best WWII movies of all times. Great cast, actually a decent plot, believable characters, true events, the first-time acknowledgement in the west that Polish pilots actually fought in WWII, and NO PROPAGANDA. my understanding is that this movie was just as popular in Germany as it was in England.
A trivia tidbit A) Polish sequence in the movie was shortened from 20 minutes to 10 after German protest refereing to a scene where Polish pilot continues to shoot at a burning HE111. the CO says " We fight fair." Later in the movie German ME 109 strafed a British pilot who bailed out. the sequence ends with the CO apologizing to the Polish pilot.
B) the movie was to be originally scored by a composer, who could not finish the score on time. The producer higher another composer (Goodwin)who scored another hit WWII movie released in 1964. Any idea what movie I'm talking about? Hint, a scene from the the 1964 movie inspired George Lucas to film the "trench attack" scene at the end of the original Star Wars. :P

[jnd2089]

An excellent film! Gives an insight to what the Battle of Britain was like for the RAF Personnel...

[Digger]

Yes an excellent movie for it's time, though it must be said such a pivotal Campaign can not be adequately covered by a movie barely over two hours long.

Also new information released in the last forty years would add more depth to the subject. A min series perhaps?

One of my main gripes about war movies is the air war is largely neglected and it's good to see a re-make of the Dambusters under production.

Regards Digger

[ww2admin]

You guys know that a special edition was released, right? Contains lots of behind the scenes stuff, including interviews with BOB veterans.

[GermanSoldier]

You guys know that a special edition was released, right? Contains lots of behind the scenes stuff, including interviews with BOB veterans.

This is the one I got. Very good features and movie. You must see this movie if you like the British Campaign.

[1PUK]

true events, the first-time acknowledgement in the west that Polish pilots actually fought in WWII, and NO PROPAGANDA. my understanding is that this movie was just as popular in Germany as it was in England.
A trivia tidbit A) Polish sequence in the movie was shortened from 20 minutes to 10
:P

It is definitely a good film.
Addition of the part played by the Poles made it for me.
Shame the Polish sequence was reduced.

Marek

[shoogs]

another great movie watched about 50 times at least

[Amrit]

Is the The Battle Of Britain (2 Disc Special Edition) the one with the option to choose either the Walton or Goodwin score?


B) Any idea what movie I'm talking about? Hint, a scene from the the 1964 movie inspired George Lucas to film the "trench attack" scene at the end of the original Star Wars. :P

633 Squadron

[Clausewitz]

This is a good film which shows german soldiers as normal humans (no german = nazi).

Planes could be better, but with respect to year 1969...

[Digger]

I'm going to make you guys jealous. One of my first girlfriend's father was a Polish fighter pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain.

To this day I still can't figure out how he fitted into a Spitfire's cockpit.

Regards digger.

[32Bravo]

This is a good film which shows german soldiers as normal humans (no german = nazi).

Planes could be better, but with respect to year 1969...


Most of the german planes were authentic and hired from the Spanish Airforce.

[Clausewitz]

Authentic? Authentic was only Ju 52. 111s were converted Siebel si 204

[Amrit]

Actually the 111s were real, and from the Spanish air Force (as were a number of other aircraft). Have a look at some of the pictures from the filming of the Battle of Britain:

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/place/gdg18/battleofbritain.shtml

However, some of flying sequences did use models.

More details can be found in Mosley's "Battle of Britain: The Story of a Film" (which I don't have)

[Clausewitz]

I made mistake(my friend told me they used si 204), spanish 111 had different engine:oops:

http://www.aire.org/farmacia/photogallery/photo25243/HEINKEL%20111.jpg

german plane:

http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/heinkel/images/He111RAFM.jpg

spanish plane(CASA-2.111B):

http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/heinkel/images/CASA2111CAF.jpg

http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/heinkel/images/casa_2.111_BR.2I-129.jpg

http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/heinkel/images/Casa2111%20CAF2.jpg

http://images.newsru.com/pict/id/large/564412_20030711080052.gif

[Amrit]

spanish 111 had different engine:oops:

So did the 109s - they had Merlins!! :)

I'd love to see performance data on that combo.

[Clausewitz]

I knew about Merlins in Buchons, but I didn´t know anything about 111s in Spanish service.

[Mosquito]

I like the movie, quite well made. Id give it a 3 1/2 out of 5. maybe a 4.