Battle of Britain - the film

[aeropilot]

Simpo Two said:

aeropilot said:

Only Tora, Tora, Tora (filmed the year afterwards) comes close to the Battle of Britain for numbers of aircraft used and aerial scenes filmed.

Sadly the film 'Atora Atora Atora', set in the Suet Crisis, never took off.

[anonymous-user]

shirt said:

Would these have been replicas or the real deal? If the latter, what has happened to them all?

At least one of them is now back in the hands of its original owner. Quite the film star if you read the history.

Edited to add: Better make that two

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th September 11:08

[aeropilot]

Crossflow Kid said:

shirt said:

Would these have been replicas or the real deal? If the latter, what has happened to them all?

At least one of them is now back in the hands of its original owner. Quite the film star if you read the history.

LF363 has never been in anything but RAF hands, and is the longest serving RAF a/c having been continually 'on charge' since 1944.

3 x airworthy Hurricanes were used in the BofB filming, the RAF's LF363, Hawker's PZ865 and a Canadian Mk XII that had recently be rebuilt to flying status and was bought by the film comapany and shipped over to the UK for filming. After the filming this Hurricane was bought and flown by the Strathallan Collection in Scotland, until 1984 when it was bought by the Candadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and transported back to Canada. It was sadly totally destroyed in their hangar fire in 1993.
A few years after the filming Hawkers then donated PZ865 to the BBMF.

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 8th September 11:37

[Simpo Two]

aeropilot said:

A few years after the filming Hawkers then donated PZ865 to the BBMF.
A few years later, Hawkers presented PZ865 to the BBM.

Phew, I thought I was seeing double...

[aeropilot]

Simpo Two said:

aeropilot said:

A few years after the filming Hawkers then donated PZ865 to the BBMF.
A few years later, Hawkers presented PZ865 to the BBM.

Phew, I thought I was seeing double...

Brain - digit interface issue.....

[ErnestM]

I thought Olivier's representation of Dowding was one of the best performances on film. Ever.

[alwayzsidewayz]

Couple years back I was chatting with a volunteer guide at Duxford.

We talked about the film and explained that the filming and explosions for the film did far more damage to the airfield and its buildings than the germans ever did!

He also explained how many of the extras were locals hired for the filming and had great fun on set

[anonymous-user]

ErnestM said:

I thought Olivier's representation of Dowding was one of the best performances on film. Ever.

BoB screenplay said:

Senior civil servant: I see. So I tell the cabinet, that you're trusting in radar and praying to God, is that right?
Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [chuckles] more accurately the other way round. Trusting in God and praying for radar.

Not sure if that's poetic license or a genuine quote but I do like it.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th September 12:06

[Simpo Two]

ErnestM said:

I thought Olivier's representation of Dowding was one of the best performances on film. Ever.

I like this, because it blows a hole right through bullst both then and now:

"Minister, I'm not much interested in propaganda. If we're right, they'll give up. If we're wrong, they'll be in London in a week"

[Wacky Racer]

I first saw "Battle of Britain" when it first came out in 1969 and thought it was poor then, and I haven't changed my opinion since...naff acting all round, although some of the action scenes are OK.

Far better (imo) is "Angels one five" from 1952 starring John Gregson and Jack Hawkins..

[rhinochopig]

Watched the Blue Ray of it this week - well worth a watch for the extra detail and clearer sound.

Does anyone know who the Burned chap is at the beginning in the fighter command scene? I'd assumed he was an ex-pilot doing a cameo or something.

[aeropilot]

rhinochopig said:

Does anyone know who the Burned chap is at the beginning in the fighter command scene? I'd assumed he was an ex-pilot doing a cameo or something.

Yes, he was a Guinea Pig Club member..... and no, I can't remember his name right now.

[FourWheelDrift]

aeropilot said:

rhinochopig said:

Does anyone know who the Burned chap is at the beginning in the fighter command scene? I'd assumed he was an ex-pilot doing a cameo or something.

Yes, he was a Guinea Pig Club member..... and no, I can't remember his name right now.

W.G. Foxley

[aeropilot]

FourWheelDrift said:

aeropilot said:

rhinochopig said:

Does anyone know who the Burned chap is at the beginning in the fighter command scene? I'd assumed he was an ex-pilot doing a cameo or something.

Yes, he was a Guinea Pig Club member..... and no, I can't remember his name right now.

W.G. Foxley

Just found it... but you beat me to it

[rhinochopig]

Cheers - I'd never heard of the Guinea Pig Club. Interesting reading about it on Wiki - but 649 members, how sad.

[aeropilot]

rhinochopig said:

Cheers - I'd never heard of the Guinea Pig Club. Interesting reading about it on Wiki - but 649 members, how sad.

My late, Great Aunt was one of the nurses there during the war under Sir Archibald McIndoe.

[robm3]

Well I like this film for so many reasons and can easily overlook it's shortcomings, as can most of us I suspect (but there again, I really like 'A Bridge Too Far' as well).

Edited by robm3 on Wednesday 8th September 13:55

[aeropilot]

robm3 said:

Well I like this film for so many reasons and can easily overlook it's shortcomings, as can most of us I suspect (but there again, I really like 'A Bridge Too Far' as well.

Agreed..... and there's some awful filming 'howlers' in ABTF..... but in the context of a film trying to cram 8 days into an hour or so it's a good effort.

[FourWheelDrift]

A Bridge Too Far does benefit by using the actual people portrayed in the film as advisers, the real Colonel John Waddy, Major General John Dutton Frost, General James M. Gavin, Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks, Major General Roy Urquhart, Brigadier J.O.E. Vandeleur were all involved.

[rhinochopig]

It's the use of US equipment in BOB by the Germans that makes my teeth grind for some reason. The use of models, dodgy painted on explosions, etc. I can forgive.