Reach for the Sky (1956)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Paul Brickhill (book)
Lewis Gilbert (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 October 1956 (Denmark)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

10,000,000 Americans Have Thrilled to This Stirring Story in Reader's Digest!

Plot:

The true story of airman Douglas Bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident...

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Hero | Royal Air Force | Prisoner Of War | Aviation

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Kenneth More	...	Douglas Bader
Muriel Pavlow	...	Thelma Bader
Lyndon Brook	...	Johnny Sanderson
Lee Patterson	...	Turner
Alexander Knox	...	Mr. Joyce
Dorothy Alison	...	Nurse Brace
Michael Warre	...	Harry Day
Sydney Tafler	...	Robert Desoutter
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	'Woody' Woodhall (as Howard Marion Crawford)
Jack Watling	...	Peel
Nigel Green	...	Streatfield
Anne Leon	...	Sister Thornhill
Charles Carson	...	Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
Ronald Adam	...	Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory
Walter Hudd	...	Air Vice-Marshal Halahan

Runtime:

135 min | USA:123 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:U (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Bagshot, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Angel Productions

Trivia:

Originally scripted with Richard Burton in mind for the lead role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The scenes set in the days leading up to the onset of the Second World War feature late model Mark XVI Spitfires with 'teardrop' canopies, four-bladed propellers and cannon in the wings. In addition, the serial number on one aircraft (VT151) was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Meteor F Mk 4's. (The serial can't be V7151 either, as this was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Hawker Hurricanes - Gloster being part of the Hawker group).

Quotes:

Turner: Legs or no legs, I've never seen such a mobile fireball.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Profile of 'A Town Like Alice' (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Reach for the Sky

Inspirational British World War II Air Force drama

What do you mean, you haven't seen this film? A classic World War 2 RAF adventure film depicting the true British spirit of one man's (Douglas Bader) fight to overcome the loss of both legs in a flying accident, to become a Wing Commander in the Battle of Britain. Lewis Gilbert keeps the film crackling along at a fast pace with Kenneth More, at the peak of his form, delivering the goods with a first rate supporting cast - don't miss it.