Strong and Moving!

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

First, I must state that I was quite disappointed by the comment by a poster stating that the "lack of Americans saving the day" was the reason for so many low votes. That is ignorance to the highest degree. Winning WWII was a group effort with supreme contributions from many countries.I enjoyed what I saw, I thought the score was exceptional! While I am not a fan of current-day CGI-enhanced movies, the special effects, even for a 1964 movie, were below standard. It appeared to be a very low-budget film.It was a great story and one I would like to learn more about. Cliff Robertson put in his normal quality performance. And, how can you not like a movie with Angus Lennie! VNG

***May contain spoilers*** Wow. The De Havilland Mosquito is certainly the star of this film. What a beautiful, amazing aircraft.Clichéd plot and tired special effects aside, this is an aviation classic with some beautiful shots of the Mosquito and some thrilling, scenic action sequences. The very dated effects in places slightly detract from the enjoyment of the film, but that said it is very easy to watch and perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon when you have 91 free minutes.If the plot and characters manage to draw you in, then be warned that there are some truly depressing moments, revealing some of the sacrifices made by service people during WW2. The deaths and horrific injuries come thick and fast, but fortunately the film is very sanitised (it is a PG) so the audience is spared witnessing graphic splatter and scorched flesh. The film does help to drive home the pointlessness and idiocy of war.Definitely worth seeing.

I've always enjoyed this film, ever since I saw it at the cinema in the sixties. The flying sequences are always thrilling and listening to those Merlins! However, my Father, who was in the RAF (617 Sqn) during the war always pointed out that there were no NCO pilots in the film. There were always Sergeant Pilots/Aircrew in an RAF squadron, even Guy Gibson had his fair share of NCO's flying. I have read some of the comments about Cliff Robertson's character. As far as I understood it, his character is an American who volunteered, before America became involved, flying for the Eagle Squadron. Hence the large American eagle badge on the upper sleeve of his tunic. Some commenters thought that the character may have been a Canadian. Robertson does play a Canadian in another war film (starring William Holden) but not this one. However, he does play an American Officer attached to the Britsh Army in another war film (starring Michael Caine and Denholm Elliot.) So as the Britsh Police would say "He's got previous."

The theme tune from Ron Goodwin is possibly more memorable than the film itself, however it is a very watchable Second World War action drama film. Basically 633 Squadron have enjoyed a string of successful missions, and their latest assignment is to bomb a German rocket fuel plant in Norway, guarded by heavy anti-aircraft defences, and considered bomb proof. The only way the plant can be destroyed is by blowing the mountain above and creating a rock fall, and it is up to Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant (Spider-Man's Cliff Robertson) along with all other Squadron planes to carry this out. The rest of the film, besides the moments with flying planes and explosions has a little love story with Grant and Hilde Bergman (Maria Perschy), sister of Lt. Erik Bergman (George Chakiris), who was held hostage and tortured for answers by the Germans. Also starring Harry Andrews as Air Vice Marshal Davis, Donald Houston as Group Capt. Don Barrett, Michael Goodliffe as Squadron Leader Frank Adams, John Meillon as Flight Lt. Gillibrand, John Bonney as Flight Lt. Scott, Angus Lennie as Flying Officer Hoppy Hopkinson, Scott Finch as Flying Officer Bissell, Julian Sherrier as Flight Lt. Singh, Suzan Farmer as WAAF Sgt. Mary Blake/Bissell, John Church as Flying Officer Evans and Coronation Street's Johnny Briggs (aka Mike Baldwin) as Lt. Jones. The plane sequences are all fun to watch, Robertson makes quite a good leading man, and of course the theme music is always great to hear, a good film. It was number 45 on The 100 Greatest War Films. Good!