Good adaption of book, 16 May 2005

By	Graeme J. W. Smith "graemejwsmith" (Newport, RI United States) - See all my reviews

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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