- 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
- Classification: U
- Studio: Carlton
- VHS Release Date: 26 Jan 2000
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CJUA
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,293 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
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
Synopsis
Reach For The Sky tells the remarkable story of Douglas Bade, a talented pilot who lost both his legs in an air crash in 1931. After his accident, Douglas learnt to walk with two artificial limbs and flew again during the Battle Of Britain.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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. He left the air force and seemed condemned to a life of boring 'civviedom' trapped in an office. The outbreak of World War 2 however gave him another opportunity to fly and he rejoined the RAF as a fighter pilot. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain before eventually being shotdown during the 'Rhubarb' flights over occupied France. Even in captivity he continued to campaign against the Germans, attempting to escape numerous times before being transferred to the infamous Colditz prison camp for serial escapers.
This film, like all war films of the immediate post war period, gains greatly by being able to use actual footage from the war interspersed with the actors. A stunning film portraying a true British hero.
This film, like all war films of the immediate post war period, gains greatly by being able to use actual footage from the war interspersed with the actors. A stunning film portraying a true British hero.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
fight the good fight
quite entertaining and amusing
kenneth more plays bader in his own way
actually fifties films were vehicles for glamour
only those with good looks could gain the... Read more
kenneth more plays bader in his own way
actually fifties films were vehicles for glamour
only those with good looks could gain the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by angloaust
Good for its time
A film that thrilled me when it first did the rounds - what? half a century ago? Now showing signs of its age but still shows the courage and commitment and bravado that secured... Read more
Published 1 month ago by kozykat
Probably the quintessential British war movie
Douglas Bader, the subject of this movie is portrayed as the archetypal British hero.
Bader was in reality brash and overconfident in his own abilities, wholly disliked... Read more
Bader was in reality brash and overconfident in his own abilities, wholly disliked... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Claptonian
Now Your'e Talking
NOW YOUR'E TALKING !DOUGLAS BAADER,FLEW a SPIT in the WAR,with NO LEGS!!!KENNETH MORE looking surprisingly good after a nasty incident with an iceberg.What a TOP BLOKE. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Awfully nice chap
Enjoyable.
I agree with all the other comments on the film. It's a typical English film of its time. There is an announcement at the beginning of the film stating that there would be some... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. P. Gundill
reach for the sky
Received in good time. Film was as I expected to find it. Most enjoyable and great value. A truly inspirational film.
Published 4 months ago by sinny
Dave Scholes
A great black and white war film as good as i remembered. A true classic of the British cinema of the time all stiff upper lip and heroic.
Published 5 months ago by Dave Scholes
Kenneth More is great
Despite the view that this is not historically accurate in many respects, e.g. Bader's personality, the mark of the spitfires used in combat scenes and a few other elements, I... Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
Reach for the Sky
I hadn't seen this movie for along time, so i bought it on the spur of the moment for old times sake. I really enjoyed it of course kenneth More is always good value. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cammie
Reach for the sky
Great film, recommended.If you like old films of this type I would also recommend "The Sound Barrier" and 633 Sqd
Published 8 months ago by Mike Bell
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