Battle of Britain (1969)

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:

Luftwaffe | Nazi | 1940s | Royal Air Force | Bomber

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 Van 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 Göring
Wolf Harnisch	...	Gen. Fink (as Wolf Harnish)
Rolf Stiefel	...	Adolf Hitler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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)
Harry Fielder	...	Soldier (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

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
Nick Allder	....	assistant: Glen Robinson (uncredited)
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Alan Barnard	....	special effects (uncredited)
Ron Burton	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Colin Chilvers	....	junior assistant: Glen Robinson (uncredited)
Peter Dawson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Rodney Fuller	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Peter Hutchinson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Malcolm King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Jack Mills	....	special effects director of photography (uncredited)
Robert Nugent	....	special effects (uncredited)
William Plampton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
John Richardson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Brian Warner	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Roy Whybrow	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Richard Conway	....	model handler (uncredited)
William Creighton	....	carpenter: model aircraft and cockpits (uncredited)
Alf Levy	....	special photographic mosaics (uncredited)
Roger Turner	....	assistant modeler (uncredited)
Ronnie Wass	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Brian Wilsher	....	model art finisher (uncredited)

Stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Huke	....	director of photography: second unit (as Bob Huke)
David James	....	still photographer
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)
• United Artists Films (1969) (Finland) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (????) (Finland) (video)
• 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)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• 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

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Bentley Priory, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Spitfire Productions

Trivia:

The movie lost $10 million worldwide.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene where Kenneth More is talking to Susannah York and the Germans start to bomb the airfield; the blast from the first bomb landing in the distance is heard at the same time as the blast occurs. Both actors react to the true sound seconds later, making them look rather slow on the uptake.

Quotes:

Baron von Richter: David, we are not asking for anything. Europe is ours, we can walk into Britain whenever we like.
Sir David Kelly: If you think we're going to gamble on Herr Hitler's guarantees, you're making a grave mistake. All those years in England seems to have left you none the wiser. We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel. The last little Corporal who tried came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall... and even then we won't listen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Very good.

Never knew this movie existed until I happened upon it at the local video store. I decided to give it a chance. This movie can be compared to "Tora! Tora! Tora!" in that it gives one the factual perspective of the Battle of Britain and not some love story or "shoot'em up" action adventure set around the Battle of Britain. It is the absence of such elements that makes some viewers not enjoy this kind of film. However, if you are interested in seeing history played out on the screen, or are a history buff like me, you will enjoy this movie. The characters are not deep or complex and there is little character development, but in a movie like this, it is not necessary. There is a pretty useless subplot involving a man and his wife, but other than that, this film is not to be missed by those who enjoy WWII history.