633 Squadron (1964)

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers:

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

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
Suzan Farmer	...	WAAF Sgt. Mary Blake / Bissell
Johnny Briggs	...	Lt Jones
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Brayshaw	...	Pilot
John Dray	...	Henrik
Drewe Henley	...	Thor
Peter Kriss	...	Lt. Maner
Arnold Locke	...	Innkeeper, Black Swan Inn
Cavan Malone	...	Ericson
Richard Shaw	...	Johanson
Chris Williams	...	Goth
Wendy Hall	...	WAF Officer in bar (uncredited)
Ricardo Montez	...	New Zealand Pilot (at Casino) (uncredited)
Anne Ridler	...	SS Torturer (uncredited)
Anne Ridley	...	Female SS Interrogator (uncredited)
Rita Tobin-Weske	...	Norwegian Farmer's 'Wife (uncredited)
Jeremy Wagg	...	Pilot Officer Reynolds (uncredited)
Katy Wild	...	WAAF Officer in bar (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Grauman		(as Walter E. Grauman)

Writing credits
James Clavell		(screenplay) and
Howard Koch		(screenplay)
Frederick E. Smith		(novel)

Produced by
Cecil F. Ford	....	producer
Lewis J. Rachmil	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Edward Scaife		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Bates

Production Design by
Michael Stringer

Makeup Department
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup artist
Tom Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Albert Becket	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Stevens	....	second unit director
Ted Sturgis	....	assistant director
Terry Lens	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Roger Simons	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Norman Dorme	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Mickey Lennon	....	chargehand dressing prop (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Bramall	....	sound recordist
Teddy Mason	....	sound editor
J.B. Smith	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special effects
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Captain John Crewdson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Atcheler	....	camera operator
John Wilcox	....	additional photographer
Steve Birtles	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Arthur Evans	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brian Owen-Smith	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Peter Elliot	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Martyn K.E. Green	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor
Bert Rule	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Eddie Frewin	....	transportation chief (uncredited)

Other crew
Hamish Mahaddie	....	technical advisor (as Group Captain T.G. Mahaddie D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C., R.A.F., {Ret'd})
Constance Willis	....	continuity (as Connie Willis)
Sean Barry-Weske	....	military advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The (presents)
• Mirisch Films (as A Mirisch Films Limited Production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (released through)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Mosquito air crews  this story is inspired by the exploits of, during World War II (as the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Mosquito air crews)

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 (video rating) | New Zealand:G | UK:A (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Four of the De Havilland Mosquitos seen in this film were airworthy and three could taxi on the ground. The same crash at Abindon Airfield, U.K., shot from a different angle, was used with matte painting (by 'Tommy Howard (IV)''s Special Effects team) to look like it was crashing in Norway. No shooting was done in Norway in fact. For "Norway" scenes, the mountains of Scotland were pressed into service.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Germans chase the resistance men in their lorry, the Germans armored car is actually a British Alvis Saracen, first produced in 1952.

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)

A bit cheesy, but magnificent!

I saw this movie as an American kid growing up in England in the early 1970's. It absolutely captivated me, as it did my 9 year old English schoolmates. The musical score still resonates to this day, as do the magnificent scenes of those twin Merlin powered Mosquitos. As a movie, its got its share of flaws, but as a piece of aviation memorabilia, let it live forever! Along with "The Battle of Britain", this movie will captivate audiences for generations to come who will wonder what it was like when a few brave airmen stood between barbarism and civilization. The movie may have its cheesy moments (like many WW2 flicks) but the emotions were real. A lot of those guys never came back from their missions. This film, quite simply, shows both the glory and the sacrifice of war. The De Havilland Mosquito was a remarkable aircraft, and this movie really is a tribute to all the men who designed, built, and flew it in combat.