633 Squadron (1964)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers:

James Clavell (screenplay) and
Howard Koch (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

April 1964 (UK)

Genre:

War | Drama

Plot:

An RAF squadron is assigned to knock out a German rocket fuel factory in Norway,, which is part of the Nazi effort to lauch rockets on England during D-day, by flying up a well-defended fjord at low level.

Plot Keywords:

Squadron | Norway | Torture | Telegraph | Skittles

Cast

Cliff Robertson	...	Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant
George Chakiris	...	Lt. Erik Bergman
Maria Perschy	...	Hilde Bergman
Harry Andrews	...	Air Vice Marshal Davis
Donald Houston	...	Group Capt. Don Barrett
Michael Goodliffe	...	Squadron Leader Frank Adams
John Meillon	...	Flight Lt. Gillibrand
John Bonney	...	Flight Lt. Scott
Angus Lennie	...	Flying Officer Hoppy Hopkinson
Scott Finch	...	Flying Officer Bissell (as Scot Finch)
John Church	...	Flying Officer Evans
Barbara Archer	...	Rosie the barmaid at Black Swan Inn
Sean Kelly	...	Lt. Nigel
Julian Sherrier	...	Flight Lt. Singh
Geoffrey Frederick	...	Flight Lt. Frank

Also Known As:

Squadron 633

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | New Zealand:G | Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Most of the attack on the Fjord at the end of the film was done with 1/48th scale Mosquito models.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene that show the special bombs convoy , you can see in the background two modern cars - looks like a Rover van - on the road .

Quotes:

Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant: Two die, two get married. Kind of evens things up.
Lt. Erik Bergman: I thought you were against marriage.
Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant: I'm also against death...
Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant: But it happens anyway.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Not the best special effects but a definite winner!

I remember 1964 quite well and "633 Squadron" was one of those highlights. I first saw "633" during its initial release. I was 8 years old at the time and infatuated with just about any plane that flew especially WWII aircraft. My dad, being in the Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) at the time, knew that "633 Squadron" was for me.

Yes, I have read some comments on this movie about the use of less than realistic props (airplane models) but let's not forget this was shot back in the early 60's. I think it was done well for the special effects technology available at the time.

Just the sight of the actual Mosquito flying scenes (don't forget there weren't very many restored Mosquitos around to fly) did it for me not to mention the opening scene flying through the clouds as the opening score played on. It really gets my blood pumping to this day!

No, I haven't said a lot about the plot or the characters because the movie went beyond that for an 8 year old boy "flying" with the Squadron. Now at 42 I have re-lived those great memories by seeing this movie a second and third time. I recommend this movie for just about everyone.

Sometimes we must look thru the leaves to see the tree.