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Battle of Britain (1969)

G   |    |  Action, Drama, History

Battle of Britain (1969) Poster

In 1940, the British Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle to prevent the Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority over the English Channel as a prelude to a possible Axis invasion of the U.K.

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  • Robert Shaw in Battle of Britain (1969)
  • Robert Shaw in Battle of Britain (1969)
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  • Battle of Britain (1969)
  • Robert Shaw and Harry Saltzman in Battle of Britain (1969)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

James Kennaway (screenplay), Wilfred Greatorex (screenplay), Derek Dempster (book), Derek Wood (book)
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Awards

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Another 1 win.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
17 January 2000 | Britlaw
Their Finest Hour
This has some of the best aerial fight scenes ever - 'Top Gun' nothwithstanding. If it has faults it is that it can sometimes be a bit dull as it is very historically accurate, as it was a very well documented battle and presumably because when it was made many of the participants were still alive (and some still are).

It might have been better if like the 'Dam Busters' it had adopted a rather more documentary style, rather than having ground based ficticious sub-plots.

There are no particular stars (save the aircraft) but many cameos and it is even handed to the Germans as well, who lost many brave men.

The bits I liked were, as one other has commented, British diplomat Ralph Richardson telling German Curt Jurgens (over tea of course) that we wouldn't be dictated to and the scene in the RAF command bunker as one of the biggest daily air battles develops, where Churchill (suggested only by a puffing cigar but very much a hands on war leader), on surveying the plotting board showing hundreds of attacking German aircraft, orders more reserves into the battle only to be told there are none left, everything we had was in the air or on the ground being refuelled.

If the technology looks dated now, we must not forget that at the time radar was ultra secret and definitely cutting edge - this was the start of electronic warfare.

I believe I am correct in saying the film opened on 15th September 1969, celebrated in the UK as Battle of Britain day and the actual anniversary of the Churchill incident above.

This was truly the finest hour of those young pilots and we did it all without American help or even a Yank guest star..........

PS Christopher Plummer is Canadian!

Critic Reviews

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Majors Foehn and Falke, the two German squadron commanders, were based on Adolf Galland and Werner Molders, two of the most famous German fighter aces of the war. Galland was on the movie set as an advisor. He almost walked out at one point because he was angry at how the Germans were being portrayed in a stereotypical manner. Many scenes were re-written and re-shot at his insistence.

Quotes

Minister: Dowding, look, our people in Washington are having trouble with the American press. It's about today's figures. German sources there are saying that our claims are wildly exaggerated. - - Hello? - Are you there Dowding?
Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I'm here, Minister.
Minister: Well, I ...

Goofs

At the beginning of the film, an Me109 strafes a Hurricane. The 109 is over the Hurricane before the bullets strike the ground and airplane.

Alternate Versions

The DVD version is struck from a slightly different widescreen print than the VHS version (which is pan-and-scan except for the titles), as the distinctive main titles (created by Maurice Binder) have been greatly simplified and titled 'The Battle of Britain'. Sir William Walton is given credit for the music, though only 'Battle in the Air' and his 'Battle of Britain March' appear in the film; the rest of the soundtrack is composed by Ron Goodwin.

Soundtracks

Battle in the Air
Composed by William Walton (as Sir William Walton O.M.)
Conducted by Malcolm Arnold

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Action | Drama | History | War

Details

Release Date:

24 October 1969

Language

English, German, Polish, French

Country of Origin

UK

Filming Locations

Old War Office Building, Whitehall, Westminster, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

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