A waste of 90 minutes of my life

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Another day, another 1950s-era patriotic British WW2 movie with an ensemble cast of respected male actors and the odd female face (namely the formly Dinah Sheridan here). Dirk Bogarde once again places the introspective lead character, a bomber pilot jaded by the pressures of the war and the endless toll of men and planes lost on a daily basis. This is a film that focuses almost entirely on human rather than wartime drama, although there's a bit of stock footage inserted here and there. The calibre of the acting is enough to see this one through, although in an overloaded genre the tale was done better elsewhere.

Appointment in London: It is 1943, and a Wing Commander of Bomber Command is fighting his personal demons whilst edging towards his 90th (and final) operation over Germany, flying Avro Lancaster bombers.To put this film into context it was made in 1952, from a story written by a WWII veteran who had himself survived over 100 operations. Most of the film's outdoor sequences were shot at RAF Upwood (http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/) which was at that time home to a squadron of soon-to-be obsolete Avro Lincoln bombers. These appear in the background and (at a distance) pass well enough as Lancasters, a few of which were of course used for the closer shots.Britain in 1952 was still suffering the after-effects of WWII; petrol had not long come off the ration, but rationing was to remain on many basic foodstuffs for another two years to come. Most folk didn't have two beans to rub together, yet the country faced the prospect of the developing Cold War, which could have turned hot at any time.Despite near bankruptcy, the UK was in the midst of developing it's V bomber force (the iconic 'Vulcan' had just made its maiden flight) and the nuclear weapons that they would carry; a product of the 'freedom at any cost' mentality which must have prevailed during WWII.Bomber Command's role in WWII is today in some danger of being overlooked. It should not be forgotten that for several years they were the sole means of striking back at the enemy, and that they arguably waged what remains the most costly air war ever fought; whilst the US Eighth Air Force suffered appalling aircrew losses (~26000 casualties), Bomber Command lost over twice as many, but from a smaller complement. Their losses averaged over 44%, and their daily losses were on occasion almost inconceivable, in some instances exceeding (say) the total losses of Fighter Command during the whole Battle of Britain.The effect of this air campaign will be debated for decades to come, but in round numbers -even without allowing for the bombing damage itself- it is estimated that at any one time it cost the Germans the use of about 1000 operational fighter aircraft, several hundred thousand men, about 10000 of the lethal 88mm gun (which was also one of the most devastating anti-tank weapons of WWII), millions of shells, and all the manufacturing facilities and infrastructure to support them.However Albert Speer (Germany's armaments minister during WWII) was in no doubt about the significance of the air war against Germany. Years after the war he is quoted as saying that "... No one has yet seen that this was the greatest lost battle on the German side".This is one of the few films that makes any real attempt to show what the bulk of Bomber Command's operations would have been like in 1943; night ops over Germany, with a high loss rate. The final operation in the film is portrayed as a mission against a secret weapon facility in Germany; this is quite realistic, echoing the real 'Operation Hydra' of August 1943, in which the V2 development facility at Peenemunde was bombed, causing significant delays to the missile programme.It is all played in a rather understated fashion in this film, and it perhaps lacks the drama of some other WWII films. (And of course there are a few goofs; e.g. the final scenes 'wartime London' show cars without blackout gear and a few 1950's unibody models...) Yet it is a very good, and rather significant film that is sadly underrated. Without films of this sort, important parts of our history may soon be forgotten.Near to me, there are still the remains of dozens of WWII airfields. In most cases they are just crumbling back into the landscape, home to little more than old ghosts and fading memories. I can't imagine what it would have been like over 70 years ago, but films like this can give you some idea.Definitely worth watching.

From my summary you are entitled to think I found this an inferior rip-off of Twelve O'Clock High and you'd be correct. Dirk Bogarde was no Gregory Peck and though he gives the battle fatigue resulting from leading 80 + missions his best shot he doesn't quite cut it. Of course, if you haven't seen Twelve O'Clock High (released a couple of years earlier) chances are you'll enjoy this take on life on a bomber station in World War Two. All the usual suspects are wheeled out from Brian Forbes to Sam Kydd and there's even William Sylvester and Bill Kerr to ensure a balance of nationalities. Unlike Twelve O'Clock High the film can't resist introducing the female element so Dinah Sheridan is trotted out as the target for a half-hearted rivalry between Bogarde and Sylvester. Check it out if you must then check out a real movie on the same subject, beginning with Twelve.

***SPOILERS*** Somewhat talky but very good WWII movie set on an English airfield of RAF Lancaster Bombers in the late summer of 1943. Grounded Wing-Commander Tim Mason, Dirk Bogarde, who has flown 89 bombing missions over German occupied Europe seems to have developed a dislike of his airmen under his command who have anything to do with their loved one's back home. Mason feels that their, the bomber pilots, emotions will get in the way of their ability in flying their dangerous bombing missions over Europe. One of those airmen pilot Pete Greeno,Bryan Forbes,who was just recommended for the DFC, Distinguish flying Cross, for bravery is called into his office and is chewed out by Mason for calling his girl, really his wife, after every mission to tell her in code that he was all right. Greeno who had an appointment in London to receive his DFC at Buckingham Palace never made it there, on his next mission his plane was lost over the English Channel after a bomb run over the skies of Germany. Mason is deeply hurt by what happened to Greeno and his crew since he feels that he jinxed him by giving him the berating that he did before his last flight and that may have taken the edge, by not being allowed to call his girl, off his flying skills.Meeting his wife Pam Greeno, Anne Leon, later to give his sympathy and condolences Mason is even more hurt to find out that Mrs. Greeno knew all about his attitude towards her as well as all the other wives and girlfriends of his air crews and hated him for it. Mason was also a bit hypocritical since he was itching to go on a bombing mission and has a girlfriend himself back in England Eve Canyon, Dinah Sheridan, a officer in Naval intelligence and also a war widow of a navy man who was lost at Dunkirk.Troubled and almost suicidal on what he did to the Greeno's Mason takes his 90th mission , against orders, on a night-time raid over German controlled Holland and guides his Lancaster Squadron over the target where they dropped their bomb payload successfully and then returned to the safety of the British Isles due to Mason's courage under fire. Receiving an award for bravery instead of a court-martial Mason together with bomber pilot and friend of the late Pete Greeno Bill Brown,Bill Kerr, and the widowed Pam Greeno are seen at the end off the movie on a taxi going to Buckingham Palace for their appointment in London. Even more important, to Mason, the late Pet Greeno's wife Pam has changed her mind about him and due to his brave actions in the air over Holland knows that he was very mournful and sorry for what he did to her husband by browbeating him about her and, what seems like to me, forgave Wing-Commander Mason for it.The movie "Appointment in London" not only shows the courage under fire of the brave men and women of the RAF in WWII but also the dedication and courage of their friends families and loved ones that they left behind who may have never seen them come back.