Rent Angels One Five (1952)
3.4 of 5 from 58 ratings
1h 35min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Amongst the very best of the 'Battle of Britain' war epics and one informed by director George More O'Ferrall's own WWII experience at Fighter Command HQ, 'Angels One Five' offers a slice-of-life depiction of aerial combat. The title refers to the cognomen bestowed upon a group of British fighter pilots whose squadron leader, Tiger Small (Jack Hawkins) is taken out of commission after an accident. Despite the protests from his fellow flyboys, Tiger insists upon taking to the air again, thereby setting the stage for the film's exciting and inspirational finale. The tense, nervous atmosphere is expertly created by the device of having most of the action take place off-screen with the progress of the principal characters relayed via radio reports and control-room charts. - Actors:
- Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond, Veronica Hurst, Harold Goodwin, Norman Pierce, Geoffrey Keen, Harry Locke, Philip Stainton, Vida Hope, Amy Veness, Ronald Adam, Humphrey Lestocq
- Directors:
- George More O'Ferrall
- Producers:
- John W. Gossage, Derek N. Twist
- Writers:
- Pelham Groom, Derek N. Twist
- Aka:
- Hawks in the Sun
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- All the Twos: 1902-62, Drama Films & TV, Holidays Film Collection, People of the Pictures, Remembering Timothy West, Romantic Film Pairings for Valentine's Day, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 British Actresses of the 1940s, Top Films, WWII Films: The Battle of Britain & In the Air
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- Not available for rental
- Run Time:
- 95 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (4) of Angels One Five
Great, Classic British War Drama - Angels One Five review by GI
This is one the classic and best of the British cycle of war films made during the 1950s. It's certainly a key film set at the height of the Battle of Britain. Set in 1940 it charts the lives, loves and losses of a Hurricane fighter squadron in the south of England. Yes it's a bit of a flag waver and draws on the slightly mythical vision of care free young men, former public schoolboys, who treat war as a big adventure but equally this is a film that delves a little deeper into the conflict and the difficulties of managing such men. Jack Hawkins plays the Station commander, a tough, no nonsense leader with a big heart and John Gregson, the shy former student, eager to fight but lacking experience. What is especially good here is the faithful recreation of the daily lives of all the staff, from the mess waiter to the women who map the German attacks. Like all these film this has that nostalgic feel of a past time, a time of British class difference, of a masculine dominance (indeed there is the obvious misogyny on show albeit portrayed as a gallant English trait). Overall this is a great film made at the height of the British film industry. It's been painstakingly restored for DVD & BluRay and well worth seeking out if you like a good war film.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Excellent 1950s Film about the Battle of Britain - Angels One Five review by PV
It would be great to watch this with the wonderful 1969 Battle of Britain film, which is superb.
This may be a bit dated but is also a superb film, the like of which we shall not see again.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Struggling to watch it as no subtitles - Angels One Five review by BS
As would be expected from a film set or made in this era, all the key characters have very “plummy” wartime accents. There seem to be no subtitles, surprising on a restored film, so watching the film it is a fair description as I heard little.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.