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633 Squadron (1964) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   1,062 votes
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Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
James Clavell (screenplay) and
Howard Koch (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for 633 Squadron on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
April 1964 (UK) more
Genre:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
An Aviation Classic more (54 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Six Three Three Squadron (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Squadron 633
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Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Stereo
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Three of the airworthy Mosquitoes used in the film were TT35 models (target tug versions of the B35 bomber). These were made to resemble FB MkVI (fighter bomber) versions by painting over the clear perspex nosecones and side windows and fitting dummy machine gun barrels. The fourth airworthy Mosquito was a T3 model with a solid nose which only required the fitting of dummy gun barrels. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: During the final attack, one of the Mosquitos is shot down and crashes into a rock in the fjord and explodes. Behind the explosion, the complete fuselage and tail flip unrealistically over the rock and onto the water more
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.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV) more

FAQ

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9 out of 10 people found the following review useful.
An Aviation Classic, 10 August 2005
Author: colin-barron from United Kingdom

I am a great fan of "633 Squadron" and have read a few articles about the making of the film so I can correct a few errors in previous postings.

In the original 1956 novel the central character was Wing- Commander Roy Grenville. This was changed to Wing - Commander Roy Grant for the film. The script did make it clear that Grant was an ex - Eagle Squadron pilot. A number of Americans did fly for the RAF during WW2. After Pearl Harbour the Eagle Squadrons were eventually transferred to the USAAF but some Americans stayed in the RAF so it is not totally implausible to have an American leading an RAF squadron.

I agree that the Greek American actor George Chakiris does not look very Norwegian! However the casting of these two American actors (Robertson and Chakiris) was done to ensure the success of the film at the American box office. British war films with all- British casts tend to bomb at the American box office. The 1969 film "Battle of Britain" was the most successful film at the UK box office when it came out but it was a financial disaster in most other countries. That was why the American role in "Operation Market Garden" was prominently featured in the 1977 film "A Bridge Too Far".

I agree that the ending was ambiguous. In Frederick E Smith's 1976 sequel "Operation Rhine Maiden" it was made clear that Wing Cdr Grant had survived the crash and become a POW - in the film it is not clear whether he had died or just lost consciousness.

All the Mosquitoes used in the film were obtained from No 35 Civilian Anti Aircraft Cooperation Unit in Exeter which retired its last Mosquitoes only a few weeks before filming began. These civilian - piloted Mosquitoes were the last in service anywhere in the world.

A total off 11 Mosquitoes were used in the filming though only four were airworthy . Three Mosquitoes were destroyed during filming.

A few of the Mosquitoes used in the film still exist though none are currently airworthy. The B-25 Mitchell used as the camera plane still exists albeit in a derelict condition at North Weald Airfield in England.

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The music robinbanks911
Remake equus707
Any Mosquitos still flying? The_Khazi
Opinion on Grant at the end of the film (SPOILER WARNING) killuane
What is the RAF rank structure? geo1284060
Messed up Lines jack787
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