tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post2732668025507572098..comments2024-03-28T10:44:41.756-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: #90 - Battle of Britain (finally)War Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-8298717617792396142024-03-28T10:39:45.239-05:002024-03-28T10:39:45.239-05:00I'm rather surprised that neither this review ...I'm rather surprised that neither this review nor any of the comments makes the connection that Robert Shaw's "Skipper" character is an obvious stand-in for Adolf "Sailor" Malan, similar to the way "Falke" represents Galland. I still don't know why they created fictionalized versions, when so many other actual historical figures were featured. Perhaps it was because the real Galland served as a technical advisor (supposedly Galland pitched a fit and threated to quit over the scene in which a Luftwaffe officer gives the departing Goering a straight-arm Nazi salute, which he claimed would never have happened.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-22400568488641303042020-02-16T13:18:09.900-06:002020-02-16T13:18:09.900-06:00I wouldn't have expected Andy to have anything...I wouldn't have expected Andy to have anything but a stiff upper lip.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-6396427647329364542020-02-16T02:44:56.197-06:002020-02-16T02:44:56.197-06:00I recently rediscovered this film. My father watch...I recently rediscovered this film. My father watched this movie when I was a kid and I always thought it was a BBC SERIES because of how much it covered. Always felt I must have missed something because there were always new characters around that I didn't recognize.<br /><br />Hell how many people realize Cainefeild died BEFORE being told by Jaime when he landed. I get that they wanted to portray that sense of "you never see the one that gets you" but still. He goes from joking around at the beginning of the scene and you never even get a sense that it's his plane blowing up unless you're able to follow the combat which upon rewatching IS done well. Just not THAT well. <br /><br />It's not the only time,Andy loses his wife and kids and it's never even addressed verbally. Just a look from Robert Shaw's character (who's name I still don't remember) as if to check on him. Again I get what they were TRYING to get across and maybe to the older generation it does the job but it always felt like he just carried on completely unaffected by his family being killed. I mean it could have been worse. We could have done the thing Band of Brothers did when that same exact scene happened and have Andy reach in and pull out one of his son's broken Spitfires. lol. But still they just skip right over it.<br /><br />Still this movie is not talked about enough. The shoot of Archie peeling off and then engaging the Hienkel before being shot down is one of the most awesome shots in the movie and one of my favorite shots in a war movie/anything with aerial combat. And the fact that it's real, done for real, with a real plane. *kisses the wind* amazing. Radimushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12641690518148071582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-46016082696109485122019-11-19T18:44:21.019-06:002019-11-19T18:44:21.019-06:00I refuse to give up on the idea that CGI could be ...I refuse to give up on the idea that CGI could be used to simply substitute for models without the bull shit violations of reality. It is my dream.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-79792633031563013882019-11-19T11:57:10.962-06:002019-11-19T11:57:10.962-06:00It is a very good movie and you're probably ri...It is a very good movie and you're probably right that the urge in a modern production to overuse CGI would be almost irresistible. What they should do instead is film battles with modern planes or even drones that could roughly simulate the performance of the WWII aircraft and then use CGI afterward to change the outward appearance of those planes, add bullets and battle damage, and so on.<br /><br />Even if that could do for the special effects there are all sorts of ways a remake could go wrong. I will defer to your judgment on this point; I can live without a remake of this fine film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-42651188192857336252019-11-12T14:07:40.840-06:002019-11-12T14:07:40.840-06:00Yes but a remake would be full of cgi, making the ...Yes but a remake would be full of cgi, making the aircraft do unbelievable things as in Pearl Harbor. The joy of BOB for those of us who saw it at the cinema was the fact that they were real planes for the most part. There was some obvious model work but it was quite well done. I even had one misgiving corrected later. I thought the way stricken planes shattered was unrealistic. However, a later documentary showing actual POV filming from a Spitfire, had an Me109 disintegrating in exactly the same manner! I am also aware that there are hardware errors e.g. the Spits all had bubble cockpit canopies when they should have had "greenhouse" style. But, whatever. When the film was released there was an accompanying book which detailed the main events of the battle and the story of the making of the film. I particularly enjoyed the details about the psychedelic B24 camera plane, and the fact that, when negotiating with the Spanish Air Force, the film makers picked up a load of scrap fuselages and bits of planes to use for crashes and mock-ups.And, apparently, the French weren't entirely happy at the thought of a fleet of swastika-adorned aircraft flying over their country on its way to England! Not a classic. But it's ours so leave well aloneOld Tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-3824716874926973642019-11-12T08:44:45.492-06:002019-11-12T08:44:45.492-06:00Well said!Well said!War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-89785232986697521082019-11-08T12:36:26.398-06:002019-11-08T12:36:26.398-06:00For some reason I can't post on your review of...For some reason I can't post on your review of Midway (2019) so I'll make my comment here, since you reference the possibility of remaking this movie. Thanks, by the way for watching Midway (2019 for those of us who now don't need to. <br /><br />I agree that we are overdue for a movie that conveys the tension of air combat in a realistic way. It would require a lot of restraint in the CGI effects and more reliance on dialogue and acting to convey the dangers that pilots faced but I am convinced that it could be done, and done well.<br /><br />"Battle of Britain" is a movie that seems fairly decent in that regard - especially the climactic scene that showed the confusion of a massive air melee while managing to also keep the airplanes realistically distant from each other.<br /><br />"Battle of Britain" has some silliness, like the silhouette aircraft that sometimes dot the bottom of long shots, but such lapses were easily to overlook because it is clear that the people who made that movie were at least partially motivated by a respect for the history and for the people who were a part of it. <br /><br />Unlike a lot of well-made older movies I could see it being surpassed by a remake, but I wouldn't nominate Emmerich for the job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-54888592060609235852019-11-08T12:33:07.282-06:002019-11-08T12:33:07.282-06:00Robert Shaw actually seems to be the only guy who ...Robert Shaw actually seems to be the only guy who doesn't belittle or shout at his wife! Perhaps there is some complex cultural context that I don't understand, but the other pilots seem to have rocky marriages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-48941326999882384242019-09-14T10:46:08.574-05:002019-09-14T10:46:08.574-05:00I just re watched this film again as it approaches...I just re watched this film again as it approaches its 50th anniversary. I agree that we had gotten more of Robert Shaw's character then the romantic subplot. The combat scenes are really the highlight, especially as it was done all with real planes. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-60999662534060768912019-01-14T10:05:11.260-06:002019-01-14T10:05:11.260-06:00IncredibleIncredibleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-30842896173272890072018-03-18T13:00:53.524-05:002018-03-18T13:00:53.524-05:00I looked up Ray Holmes and he is the subject of an...I looked up Ray Holmes and he is the subject of an incredible programme "The Search for the Lost Fighter Plane", on National Geographic Channel. You can find it on YouTube.<br /><br />On Battle of Britain Day, Pilot Sergeant Ray Holmes was flying his Hurricane MK1 as part of 504 SQN operating out of Hendon Aerodrome, to meet a vastly superior German bombing force, on its way to London.<br />He met the attacking force just outside London and chose his target, a Dornier Bomber. He made his attack from the rear, and immediately fell foul of a secret German weapon. He thought he had damaged the plane as 'smoke' was coming out of it.<br />In fact it was oil, spread across his windscreen, from the secret weapon, that was in fact a tail mounted flame thrower(!) that had in fact failed to ignite. This oil covered his windscreen, totally obscuring his view. Pilot Sergeant Holmes broke away, and eventually the wind cleared the oil. He looked around and found himself alone, apart from a lone German bomber, damaged, heading directly for Buckingham Palace. He attacked from the front , only to find that his guns were jammed or out of ammunition. He swung round, and decided to ram the Enemy plane. He flew straight through the bomber, cutting off the tail. The Dornier bomber faired not so well. It crashed on a part of Victoria Station, with no one on the ground hurt.<br /><br />His Hurricane badly damaged, he bailed out , injuring himself but surviving. He was greeted by an ever growing crowd, who had seen his gallant deed. His plane crash into the juction on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1.<br /><br />Pilot Sergeant Ray Holmes became an over night celebrity, and was asked about his heroism, and he replied that, " He was only doing his duty."<br /><br />What a man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-69023121008552135472018-02-11T10:53:34.654-06:002018-02-11T10:53:34.654-06:00Fun Fact: The Edward Fox character "Pilot Off...Fun Fact: The Edward Fox character "Pilot Officer Archie", is based on Flight Sergeant Ray Holmes of No. 504 Squadron RAF. On 15 September 1940, now known as "Battle of Britain Day", Homes used his Hawker Hurricane to destroy a Dornier Do-17 bomber over London by ramming but at the loss of his own aircraft (and almost his own life) in one of the defining moments of the Battle of Britain. Holmes, noticed a German bomber heading towards Buckingham Palace, in a bombing attempt. Avoiding the bomber's machine gun fire, Holmes made a head-on attack, and found his guns inoperative. He decided to make a ramming, and flew his plane into the top-side of the German bomber, cutting off the rear tail section with his wing and causing the bomber to dive out of control and crash. Its pilot, Feldwebel Robert Zehbe, bailed out, only to die later of wounds suffered during the attack, while the injured Holmes bailed out of his plane and survived. As the RAF did not practice ramming as an air combat tactic, this was considered an impromptu manoeuvre, and an act of selfless courage. Holmes was feted by the press as a war hero who saved Buckingham Palace. This event became one of the defining moments of the Battle of Britain and elicited a congratulatory note to the RAF from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands who had witnessed the event. This event is depicted - with considerable artistic licence - in the film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-29111618287593067252015-02-27T22:52:13.589-06:002015-02-27T22:52:13.589-06:00Thanks. You don't have to tell me its fascina...Thanks. You don't have to tell me its fascinating. This blog should make that apparent. This is why some war movies are considered to be among the best movies of any genre. War brings out the full range of human emotions and actions. War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-42720084179561426672015-02-25T12:23:29.795-06:002015-02-25T12:23:29.795-06:00War is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious ...War is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.<br /><br />Your article is very well done, a good read.Geraldhttp://www.greatmilitarybattles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-22807772127941700712013-01-06T23:54:21.930-06:002013-01-06T23:54:21.930-06:00What does the word "cropper" mean in thi...What does the word "cropper" mean in this movie as Baron von Richter and Sir David Kelly meet and have tea?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-84733256242497209072010-12-06T18:47:07.830-06:002010-12-06T18:47:07.830-06:00If I had a dollar for every time a war movie fan d...If I had a dollar for every time a war movie fan demands "more Leigh-Mallory" I would have a dollar. A perfect movie would have more L-M on the screen and more cow bells in the sound track.<br /> I am afraid I have to side with Park on this one. The "Big Wings" were too slow in forming up and although they were more cost effective in planes and pilots, they were less likely to stop the bombing of the airfields and the cities. If the Germans had been able to take out the airfields, the saving of a few more British aircraft would have been outweighed by the elimination of their bases. Would you rather beat the crap out of an arsonist after he sets your house on fire or stop him before he strikes even if it means you might get beat up a bit?War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-51475831035785661632010-12-05T21:46:38.334-06:002010-12-05T21:46:38.334-06:00I love the movie. So much so, I've got the dv...I love the movie. So much so, I've got the dvd and have watched it several times over the years.<br /><br />My one complaint?! Not enough Leigh Mallory! Never enough Leigh Mallory, even in Ike: Countdown to D-Day, with Tom Selleck (another war movie I really liked). <br /><br />L-M has always gotten the bad end of the debate stick on his "Big Wing". Maybe had he lived past the war he could have had a better chance defending his theory, and maybe the public would remember him more.<br /><br />On a tangential note, if people are interested in learning more about the Traff, they can get the biography, "Big Wing", written by his nephew some time back. It's a bit dry, but gives a very thorough history of L-M.<br /><br />By the by, as an aside, I believe I've heard that a movie is to be done about his mountaineering brother, George who died on Everest. <br /><br />Cool site you got yourself wmb, aka Mr. H!<br /><br />I'm going thru a little hiatus on my own site.Wading Acrosshttp://www.wadingacross.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-11726283044872967132010-12-05T16:34:45.267-06:002010-12-05T16:34:45.267-06:00I guess it shows how bad the love story was that y...I guess it shows how bad the love story was that you can not recall it. Susannah York is lovely to look at, but not much of an actress. I did not feel my review was harsh. I just think it does not lead the pack of epics like Tora, Midway, Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far. It is better than Battle of The Bulge, however.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-83268122730118441752010-12-05T12:49:50.605-06:002010-12-05T12:49:50.605-06:00You may guess who likes this movie... I think he w...You may guess who likes this movie... I think he watched it xtimes. I think it is far better than you think. I like the switching of POV + original languages without silly accents. That's a plus. Yes, we have that in Tora!Tora!Tora! as well. Apart from that and the air combat I wouldn't compare them at all. I prefer Battle of Britain and can't remember any love story. It must be very minor. There is much more of a love story in The Blue Max. I have to watch this again should I want to review it myself. It's at least three or four years ago since I last saw it.allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.com