Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free First Class Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
25 used & new from £2.45

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]
 
See larger image
 

Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]

DVD ~ Kenneth More
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £3.98 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £6.01 (60%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Temporarily out of stock.
Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.
Items for dispatch to UK will be sold by Amazon's Preferred Merchant. (Why?) Gift-wrap available.

16 new from £2.70 9 used from £2.45
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

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: £12.93

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

  • This item: Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956] DVD ~ Kenneth More

    Temporarily out of stock.
    Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    Eligible for FREE UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954] DVD ~ Richard Todd

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    Eligible for FREE UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • 633 Squadron [DVD] [1964] DVD ~ Cliff Robertson

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    Eligible for FREE UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956]
71% buy the item featured on this page:
Reach For The Sky [DVD] [1956] 4.7 out of 5 stars (9)
£3.98
The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]
10% buy
The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954] 4.8 out of 5 stars (13)
£4.98
First of the Few [1942] [DVD]
7% buy
First of the Few [1942] [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£3.98
633 Squadron [DVD] [1964]
6% buy
633 Squadron [DVD] [1964] 3.4 out of 5 stars (15)
£3.97

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: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CYY5
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,772 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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



See all Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]

The Dam Busters [DVD] [1954]

DVD ~ Richard Todd
4.8 out of 5 stars (13)  £4.98
633 Squadron [DVD] [1964]

633 Squadron [DVD] [1964]

DVD ~ Cliff Robertson
3.4 out of 5 stars (15)  £3.97
First of the Few [1942] [DVD]

First of the Few [1942] [DVD]

DVD ~ David Niven
4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £3.98
The Cruel Sea [DVD] [1953]

The Cruel Sea [DVD] [1953]

DVD ~ Jack Hawkins
4.7 out of 5 stars (46)  £4.98
Battle of Britain - Definitive Edition [1969] [DVD]

Battle of Britain - Definitive Edition [1969] [DVD]

DVD ~ Laurence Olivier
4.5 out of 5 stars (11)  £5.88
Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
17 of 18 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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
26 of 29 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
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

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 7 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 14 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 24 months ago 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

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
war film 2nd 0 4 hours ago
Films that made you cry?? 23 7 hours ago
what's been the scariest film you have seen? 28 7 hours ago
Goriest ACTION movies... 11 11 hours ago
Predator 3 28 13 hours ago
desert war film 2 1 day ago
Green Haired boy 5 1 day ago
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

Discover Health & Beauty

 

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates