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Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]
 
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Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]

DVD ~ Kenneth More
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £3.38 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956] + The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954] + 633 Squadron [DVD] [1964]
Total RRP: £35.97
Price For All Three: £13.24

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]
77% buy the item featured on this page:
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Product details

  • Actors: Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook, Lee Patterson, Alexander Knox
  • Directors: Lewis Gilbert
  • Writers: Lewis Gilbert, Paul Brickhill, Vernon Harris
  • Producers: Anthony Nelson Keys, Daniel M. Angel
  • Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: ITV DVD
  • DVD Release Date: 14 April 2003
  • Run Time: 136 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CYY5
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,506 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in these categories:

    #27 in  DVD > Classics > War and Westerns
    #40 in  DVD > Action & Adventure > War
    #61 in  DVD > Classics > Drama

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Reach for the Sky was a box-office hit in 1956 and rightly remains a fondly regarded classic of British cinema. Kenneth More is ideally cast as Douglas Bader, the gifted pilot who loses both legs in a pre-war air crash, only to play a major role in the Battle of Britain, rise to the rank of Group Captain and become a war hero. Based on Paul Brickhill's biography, this is an "official" history maybe, but Lewis Gilbert's screenplay and direction are historically accurate and informed by that very British humour, of which More was a natural. The film is graced by a decent supporting cast and a typically "widescreen" score from John Addison.

On the DVD: Reach for the Sky is vividly reproduced in 16:9 anamorphic format and decent mono. There are subtitles for the hard of hearing and detailed biographies of More, Gilbert and Barder. The original theatrical trailer is included, but it would also have made sense to include an interview or documentary footage of Bader himself. --Richard Whitehouse



Special Features

16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
Original Theatrical Trailer
Biographies

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An Inspirational Classic, 29 April 2006
The story of Douglas Bader is a well known one. He crashed a Bristol Bulldog doing low level aerobatics and lost both legs. He overcame this disability and flew for the RAF in the battle of britain - with great success.
This classic film tells Bader's tale. Kenneth More portrays Bader as a really nice guy, which is not really what the real Bader was like, but some artistic licence is forgivable in film. His relationship with Thelma is well depicted, as are the aerial combat scenes. One of the advantages of Black and White films is the ability to use actual WW11 combat footage. It certainly looks better than when special effects are used. All the flying scenes are great, except that the spitfires used are late marks, with the 'bubble' canopy. This is an annoying thing for air buffs like myself, but in this case we can forgive it, since the all round quality of the picture makes up for it.

I consider Bader's tale one of the most inspiring in history, and it is a story that will live on thanks to this film.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good adaption of book, 16 May 2005
By Graeme J. W. Smith "graemejwsmith" (Newport, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
A very faithful adaption of the book by Paul Brickhill conveying Douglas Bader's spirit and determination in the face of adversity. In an era when anti-biotics and modern intensive care treatment simply didn't exist - the loss of both legs after a flying accident mean't once the surgeon had done his best - it was up to you - with the help of some supportive nursing - to survive - or not. Bader nearly did not.

The later part of the movie includes some "good for the period" special effects of the Battle of Britian using a mix of real footage, model shots and actual combat footage. If you want to see Nicholson VC's actual footage of the wingless and tailess Dornier crashing onto Victoria Station after he rammed it in 1940 - it is included. Purists will spot the odd Spitfire being shot down by another Spitfire. Made with the co-operation of the RAF the Hurricanes were presumably dug out of mothballs as they had not flown in over 10 years when the movie was made. The Spitfires are post-war marks - presumably as they were easily available and jar the eye when flown in "1940". However if you don't care about this sort of nit-pick - it certainly doesn't detract from the movie.

The film also perpetuates and explains Bader's "Big Wing" tactic and his selling of it to Leigh-Mallory - commander of 12 Group. Post war analysis showed that the tactic was deeply flawed and led to overclaims and made the wings themselves subject to succesful attacks by the German defending forces through 1941. Indeed Bader is shot down during one of his own sweeps over France in 1941 - and his plane's end follows the view of the witnesses rather than his own rememberance of the event.

In the genre of 1950's war movies - this one stands above the crowd for its portrayal of Bader and is worth a look.

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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Truely Inspriring..., 19 Jun 2001
By sal46@student.canterbury.ac.co.nz (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reach For The Sky [VHS] [1956] (VHS Tape)
Kenneth More portrays the life of Duglas Bader from the time he first joined the R.A.F through until the end of World War Two. This film is truely inspiring, and despite its age, is an amazing story of utter determination and ture courrage. With great flying footage, surpurb music, and a brilliant story... Reach For The Sky is one of my all time favourites.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best
Som gammal privat flygare med bakgrund i Sv. flygvapnet anser jag att denna film är helt otroligt bra.
En ny upplevlse varje gång jag ser filmen. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Tore Almgren

4.0 out of 5 stars My Picture Memory
I remeber I saw the film in Italy named Bader il Pilota "Bader the aircraft man" when I was young. Kenneth More portrays the life of Duglas Bader from the time he joined the R.A. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Massimo Santilli

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
I was under the impression that I would receive a NEW DVD (as confirmed).
However I received a rather damaged/scratched version (with certain parts skipped where the damage... Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. S. Sikkens

5.0 out of 5 stars More at his best
Kenneth More at his best - what a superb performance from a superb actor.

More stars as Douglas Bader the fighter pilot from the war era who after an accident loses... Read more
Published 11 months ago by thephotographer

5.0 out of 5 stars Douglas Bader - What a legend
I am going to assume most of you interested in this DVD know the story of Douglas Bader the legendary WWII fighter pilot who lost his legs, nearly died and still flew fighter... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Tangerine

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie
One of the best war movies ever made.
Technically, a few little faux pas (bubble canopies on 1940 Spitfire) but most people wouldn't notice that. Read more
Published on 24 Jul 2007 by ray dorrity

4.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling inspirational courage
The story of Wing Commander Douglas Bader. After joining the RAF in the late 1920s, Bader badly injured himself in an air crash, losing both legs. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2007 by M. Davies

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling and thoughtful story of Courage .
I feel more than lucky to be the American Son, of an English Mother, who was in Southampton during the Battle of Britain. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiration
This classic true story depicting the determination of Douglas Bader in the face of what many would consider overwhelming odds is superb. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2000

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