Rent The First of the Few (1942)
3.7 of 5 from 69 ratings
1h 54min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Filmed during the dark days of 1942, this is the immortal story of the Spitfire which had helped to win the Battle of Britain the previous year. Leslie Howard stars as R.J. Mitchell, the inventor of the Spitfire, whose aircraft designs were turned down for funding by Whitehall because they were too revolutionary. A chance meeting with Messerschmitt in the early 1930's gives Mitchell the inspiration to build Britain's fastest and deadliest fighter plane. But first he must find a devil-may-care pilot to risk his life on the test flights. Salvation comes in the form of Geoffrey Crisp (David Niven), an out of work veteran fighter pilot from the First World War. Together they build the aircraft that so many will owe their lives to. However, as Mitchell strives to perfect his fighter plane, he is rocked by the news that he has only one-year to live unless he stops working. His stark choice is to save himself or save his country. - Actors:
- Leslie Howard, David Niven, Rosamund John, Roland Culver, Anne Firth, David Horne, J.H. Roberts, Derrick De Marney, Rosalyn Boulter, Herbert Cameron, Toni Edgar-Bruce, Gordon McLeod, George Skillan, Erik Freund, Fritz Wendhausen, John Chandos, Victor Beaumont, Suzanne Clair, Filippo Del Giudice, Brefni O'Rorke
- Directors:
- Leslie Howard
- Producers:
- Leslie Howard, George King, John Stafford
- Writers:
- Henry C. James, Katherine Strueby
- Aka:
- Spitfire
- Studio:
- Showbox
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like: Operation Mincemeat, All the Twos: 1902-62, Cinema Paradiso's 2024 Centenary Club: Part 3, Drama Films & TV, Films to Watch If You Like..., A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 British War Films (1939-45), Top 10 Films About Planes and Pilots, Top Films, WWII Films: The Battle of Britain & In the Air
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 30/04/2012
- Run Time:
- 119 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- None
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- A Conversation with David Niven
- Warbirds: The Royal Air Force
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Reviews (1) of The First of the Few
Flawed Biography. - The First of the Few review by Steve
Heavily fictionalised biopic about RJ Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, which is repurposed for propaganda, and to acknowledge the UK's survival of the Battle of Britain. It begins in 1940 during the Blitz, and then reflects on his life from 1932 to his death in 1937. But while it is understandable that audiences would wish to salute their heroes, some of the liberties taken are questionable.
This was written, directed and starred Leslie Howard who claims Mitchell as an English gentleman, a genial toff in his pastoral sanctuary. Whereas he was from Staffordshire and worked his way up from the shop floor. More problematically, an aristocratic sponsor is portrayed as a patriot, when in reality she supported Hitler and Mussolini through her newspapers.
This rewrite of history didn't even survive WWII as the nation turned to socialism and meritocracy. However, it has some value as a record of the times, including footage of actual spitfire pilots and their machines. Howard and David Niven as the test pilot/narrator are easygoing and likeable, with Rosamund John steadfast support as Mitchell's wife.
The other main negative is it is too long. It is competently made and works as propaganda, with the rousing Spitfire Prelude composed by William Walton. Yet, almost nothing of this actually happened, beyond Mitchell designing the Spitfire. It brought inspiration and hope to a nation still in peril. And in 1942, that was the greater good. It couldn't possible have a similar impact now.
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