Battle of Britain (1969)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

James Kennaway (screenplay) and
Wilfred Greatorex (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 October 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | War

Plot:

In 1940, the British Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle vs. the Nazi Germany Air Force for control of British air space to prevent a Nazi invasion of Britain.

Plot Keywords:

Damaged Airplane | Casualties | Falling Down | 1940s | Bombing

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Harry Andrews	...	Senior civil servant
Michael Caine	...	Squadron Leader Canfield
Trevor Howard	...	Air Vice Marshal Keith Park
Curd Jürgens	...	Baron von Richter (as Curt Jurgens)
Ian McShane	...	Sgt. Pilot Andy
Kenneth More	...	Group Capt. Baker
Laurence Olivier	...	Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
Nigel Patrick	...	Group Capt. Hope
Christopher Plummer	...	Squadron Leader Colin Harvey
Michael Redgrave	...	Air Vice Marshal Evill
Ralph Richardson	...	Sir David Kelly (British minister to Switzerland)
Robert Shaw	...	Squadron Leader Skipper
Patrick Wymark	...	Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Susannah York	...	Section Officer Maggie Harvey
Michael Bates	...	Warrant Officer Warwick
Robert Flemyng	...	Wing Cmdr. Willoughby
Isla Blair	...	Mrs. Andy
Barry Foster	...	Squadron Leader Edwards
John Baskcomb	...	Farmer (as John Bascomb)
Edward Fox	...	Pilot Officer Archie
Tom Chatto	...	Willoughby's assistant controller
W.G. Foxley	...	Squadron Leader Evans
James Cosmo	...	Jamie
David Griffin	...	Sgt. Pilot Chris
Jack Gwillim	...	Senior air staff officer
André Maranne	...	French NCO (as Andre Maranne)
Myles Hoyle	...	Peter
Anthony Nicholls	...	Minister
Duncan Lamont	...	Flight Sgt. Arthur
Nicholas Pennell	...	Simon
Sarah Lawson	...	Skipper's wife
Andrzej Scibor	...	Ox
Mark Malicz	...	Pasco
Jean Wladon	...	Jean Jacques
Wilfried von Aacken	...	Gen. Osterkamp (as Wilfried Von Aacken)
Reinhard Horras	...	Bruno
Karl-Otto Alberty	...	Gen. Jeschonnek (Luftwaffe chief of staff) (as Karl Otto Alberty)
Helmut Kircher	...	Boehm
Alexander Allerson	...	Maj. Brandt
Paul Neuhaus	...	Maj. Föhn
Dietrich Frauboes	...	Field Marshal Milch (Inspector General, Luftwaffe)
Malte Petzel	...	Col. Beppo Schmidt (Luftwaffe Intelligence)
Alf Jungermann	...	Brandt's navigator
Manfred Reddemann	...	Maj. Falke
Peter Hager	...	Field Marshal Albert Kesselring
Hein Riess	...	Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering
Wolf Harnisch	...	Gen. Fink (as Wolf Harnish)
Rolf Stiefel	...	Adolf Hitler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Webb	...	(scenes deleted)
Paul Angelis	...	Albert (uncredited)
Graham Armitage	...	Radar officer (uncredited)
Hilda Barry	...	Old lady (uncredited)
Nicky Beaumont	...	Pilot - Föhn's crew (uncredited)
Kate Binchy	...	Grace (uncredited)
A.J. Brown	...	Air observer (uncredited)
Günter Clemens	...	Pilot - Falke's crew (uncredited)
John Comer	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Basil Dignam	...	Tactical Records Officer (uncredited)
Eric Dodson	...	RAF officer (uncredited)
Meriel Forbes	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gareth Forwood	...	Alistair (uncredited)
Paddy Frost	...	Edith (uncredited)
Brian Grellis	...	RAF Cpl. Ernie (uncredited)
Michael Guest	...	General staff officer (uncredited)
Barry Halliday	...	'A' Station pilot (uncredited)
Paul Hansard	...	Karl (uncredited)
Vincent Harding	...	ADC to Hitler (uncredited)
Pat Heywood	...	WRAF Cpl. Seymour (uncredited)
Stuart Hoyle	...	'A' Station pilot (uncredited)
Desmond Jordan	...	General staff officer (uncredited)
Geoffrey King	...	Air observer (uncredited)
Jack Le White	...	Archie's taxi driver (uncredited)
Illona Linthwaite	...	Wendy (uncredited)
Reg Lye	...	Workman (uncredited)
David McKail	...	Lac Arnold (uncredited)
Harald Meister	...	Pilot - Föhn's crew (uncredited)
George Merritt	...	Civillian (uncredited)
Hilary Minster	...	Pilot - Falke's crew (uncredited)
Ingo Mogendorf	...	Pilot - Falke's crew (uncredited)
Richard Morant	...	Replacement pilot, Red Section ("Red 2") (uncredited)
Richardson Morgan	...	British Embassy Valet (uncredited)
Steve Morley	...	Boy watching Archie's parachute landing (uncredited)
Geoffrey Morris	...	Air observer (uncredited)
Douglas Nottage	...	Sergeant pilot - Föhn's crew (uncredited)
Hugo Panczak	...	Pilot - Falke's crew (uncredited)
Clifford Parrish	...	Kelly's butler (uncredited)
Eileen Peel	...	Lady Kelly (uncredited)
David Quilter	...	'A' Station pilot (uncredited)
George Roubicek	...	Sergeant pilot - Falke's crew (uncredited)
John Savident	...	RAF officer (uncredited)
Clive Scott	...	'A' Station pilot (uncredited)
Kathleen St. John	...	Old lady (uncredited)
Frank Sussman	...	ADC in intelligence maps office (uncredited)
Nick Tate	...	RAF pilot (uncredited)
Reg Thomason	...	RAF sergeant (uncredited)
Chris Tranchell	...	'A' Station pilot (uncredited)
Michael Trubshawe	...	Air observer (uncredited)
Alan Tucker	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Franz Van Norde	...	Pilot - Föhn's crew (uncredited)
Dagobert Walter	...	Hans Falke (uncredited)
David Webb	...	RAF officer (uncredited)
Peter Wesp	...	Pilot - Föhn's crew (uncredited)
Alister Williamson	...	Air raid warden (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
James Kennaway		(screenplay) and
Wilfred Greatorex		(screenplay)
Derek Dempster		book "The Narrow Margin"
Derek Wood		book "The Narrow Margin"

Produced by
Benjamin Fisz	....	producer (as S. Benjamin Fisz)
John Palmer	....	associate producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Freddie Young		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Bates

Casting by
Maude Spector

Art Direction by
Maurice Carter		(supervising art director)
Bert Davey
William Hutchinson
Jack Maxsted
Gil Parrondo
Lionel Couch		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Eric Allwright	....	chief makeup artist
George Frost	....	chief makeup artist
A.G. Scott	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Claude Hudson	....	production manager (as Claud Hudson)
Agustín Pastor	....	production manager: Spain (as Agustin Pastor)
Sydney Streeter	....	production supervisor
Bernard Williams	....	production manager: aerial unit
Denis Johnson Jr.	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Bracknell	....	second unit director
Derek Cracknell	....	first assistant director
Terence A. Clegg	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Mike Gowans	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Garth Thomas	....	first assistant director: aerial unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Brian Ackland-Snow	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Terry Ackland-Snow	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
William Alexander	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Timothy Bryan	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Vernon Dixon	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Roy Dorman	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Julián Martín	....	painter (uncredited)
Tony Reading	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Gus Walker	....	construction manager (uncredited)
Frank Willson	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon Everett	....	sound
Teddy Mason	....	sound editor (as Ted Mason)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound (as Gordon McCallum)
Jim Shields	....	sound editor (as James Shields)
Ron Davies	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Ken Reynolds	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ray Caple	....	special effects
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects
Glen Robinson	....	special effects
Wally Veevers	....	special effects
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Alan Barnard	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Robert Nugent	....	special effects (uncredited)
Roy Whybrow	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
William Creighton	....	carpenter: model aircraft and cockpits (uncredited)
Ronnie Wass	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Huke	....	director of photography: second unit (as Bob Huke)
John Jordan	....	aerial photographer
Skeets Kelly	....	aerial photographer
Chic Anstiss	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Robin Browne	....	focus puller: aerial unit (uncredited)
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Dudley Lovell	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John Morgan	....	focus puller: aerial unit (uncredited)
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Carl Fox-Duering	....	casting: Germany

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brenda Dabbs	....	wardrobe mistress
John Wilson-Apperson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Timothy Gee	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Andy Smith	....	first assistant editor: second unit (uncredited)

Music Department
Malcolm Arnold	....	conductor: "Battle in the Air"
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor
William Walton	....	composer: "Battle In the Air" (as Sir William Walton O.M.)
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
David Bracknell	....	aerial director
Hans Brunstellin	....	technical and tactical advisor: Germany (as Col. Hans Brustellin)
B. Drobinski	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as Sqn. Ldr. B Drobinski)
Carl Fox-Duering	....	dialogue director: Germany
Franz Frodl	....	technical and tactical advisor: Germany (as Major Franz Frodl)
Adolf Galland	....	technical and tactical advisor: Germany (as Lt. General Adolf Galland)
Tom Gleave	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as GP. Capt. Tom Gleave)
'Ginger' Lacey	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as Sqn. Ldr. Ginger Lacey)
Claire Legge	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as Wg. Cdr. T. Claire Legge {W.R.A.F.})
Hamish Mahaddie	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as GP. Capt. Hamish Mahaddie)
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Robert Stanford-Tuck	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as Wg. Cdr. Robert Stanford Tuck)
Robert Wright	....	technical and tactical advisor: British (as Wg. Cdr. Robert Wright)
Douglas Bader	....	advisor: British military (uncredited)
R.D. Coles	....	pilot (uncredited)
Dave Curry	....	pilot: Hawker Hurricane (uncredited)
Connie Edwards	....	pilot (uncredited)
Duane Egli	....	pilot: B-25 (uncredited)
June Faithfull	....	continuity: second unit (uncredited)
Lefty Gardner	....	pilot (uncredited)
David Haft	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Jeff Hawke	....	pilot: B-25 (uncredited)
Joan Kirk	....	continuity: second unit (uncredited)
Josephine Knowles	....	continuity: aerial unit (uncredited)
Quentin Lawrence	....	aerial unit director (uncredited)
R.B. Lloyd	....	pilot (uncredited)
Gerald Martin	....	pilot (uncredited)
M.R. Merret	....	pilot (uncredited)
Tim Mills	....	pilot: Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane (uncredited)
Lloyd Nolen	....	pilot (uncredited)
J.M. Preece	....	pilot (uncredited)
D.J. Spink	....	pilot (uncredited)
S. St.J. Homer	....	pilot (uncredited)
Peter Townsend	....	advisor: British military (uncredited)
Mike Vickers	....	pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Spitfire Productions (made by)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Battle of Britain Fighter Association  the producers wish to thank
• Board of Trade  the producers wish to thank
• Greater London Council  the producers wish to thank
• Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited  the producers wish to thank
• Imperial War Museum  the producers wish to thank
• London Fire Brigade  the producers wish to thank
• Metropolitan Police, The  the producers wish to thank (as Metropolitan Police)
• Ministry of Defence  the producers wish to thank (as The Ministry of Defence)
• Polish Air Force Association  the producers wish to thank
• Port of London Authority  the producers wish to thank
• Rolls Royce  the producers wish to thank (as Rolls-Royce Limited)
• Royal Air Force (RAF)  the producers wish to thank (as The Royal Air Force)
• Royal Canadian Air Force  the producers wish to thank
• Simpson's Aero Services  the producers wish to thank
• Spanish Air Force  the producers wish to thank

Also Known As:

The Battle of Britain (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

133 min | UK:151 min (original version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | Polish | French

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1969) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Canada:G | USA:G | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Bentley Priory, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Spitfire Productions

Trivia:

Towards the end of the film, a British Spitfire flyer shoots down a German bomber, which then falls over central London before crashing into a railway station. This actually happened, (although the fighter used in the real incident was a Hurricane, not a Spitfire and the bomber was a Dornier Do17 rather than a Heinkel 111). The RAF pilot didn't shoot the bomber down, though; he had run out of ammo when he spotted the bomber apparently trying to attack Buckingham Palace. In desperation, he rammed the bomber, taking off the tailplane. The fuselage then crashed into Victoria Station. Incredibly, he managed to parachute to safety. His own plane rammed into the ground at 350 mph. It was buried so deep that the authorities just left it there. In May 2004 the former RAF pilot was on hand as the remains of his aircraft were unearthed to make way for a new water main. Remarkably, part of the incident was captured on film, the tailplane fluttering down and the fuselage section (minus the wings outboard of the engines, which were torn off by aerodynamic forces) plummeting towards the ground.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the end of the movie a list showing all of the non-UK pilots flying for the RAF is shown. At the end of the list they mention one Israeli pilot flying for the RAF. Israel was not formed until 1947, and in fact the pilot in question was from British Mandated Palestine. The one Icelandic pilot flying for the RAF in the Battle of Britain is not mentioned, neither are the pilot from Egypt, one from Austria nor the two from Jamaica.

Quotes:

[British pilots in France are listening to a French officer talking about the German advance]
Pilot Officer Archie: For the benefit of the uneducated among us, I shall now translate.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Harry Saltzman: Showman (2000) (V)

A Classic!!!

The Battle of Britain is a classic movie about one of the key battles of World War 2. It stands up there with the epics The Longest Day, Tora,Tora, Tora and a Bridge Too Far. The all-star cast has well known and lesser known English, Canadian, German and others actors who play their roles well. The movie does a good job of portaying both sides of the battle. The special effects and the air battles hold up well after well over 30 years. The criticisms that people have to me are quite unfair. As for charcter development, the movie is about the battle, much like the Longest Day was and there was no time to develop that part of the movie because it focused on the entirety of the battle. Also this is not like Cross of Iron that someone compared it to. Cross of Iron was a fictious story, while this is done in semi-docudrama style.It is an unfair comparison. The best comparison would be with the three previously listed movies. I liked that fact that some big stars characters did get hurt or died just like many of the better pilots did in the the battle and the war. The movie gives an excellent overview of the battle, much like the other movies listed here. I like the fact about the bit of English snobbery concerning the foreign pilots that they were training even if some were as good or better than they were.This is a four star war movie obout Britains Finest Hour. Where if it wasn't for the Brits holding off the German's, the Allies would not have been able to launch D-Day against the German's. The movie showed bravery and courage from both sides men and pilots. It is a great portrayal of young men in battle as knights of the early war skies. Rent it or buy it, because this is a classic.