Reach for the Sky (1956)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Paul Brickhill (book)
Lewis Gilbert (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 October 1956 (Denmark)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

10,000,000 Americans Have Thrilled to This Stirring Story in Reader's Digest!

Plot:

The true story of airman Douglas Bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident...

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Hero | Royal Air Force | Prisoner Of War | Aviation

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Kenneth More	...	Douglas Bader
Muriel Pavlow	...	Thelma Bader
Lyndon Brook	...	Johnny Sanderson
Lee Patterson	...	Turner
Alexander Knox	...	Mr. Joyce
Dorothy Alison	...	Nurse Brace
Michael Warre	...	Harry Day
Sydney Tafler	...	Robert Desoutter
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	'Woody' Woodhall (as Howard Marion Crawford)
Jack Watling	...	Peel
Nigel Green	...	Streatfield
Anne Leon	...	Sister Thornhill
Charles Carson	...	Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
Ronald Adam	...	Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory
Walter Hudd	...	Air Vice-Marshal Halahan

Runtime:

135 min | USA:123 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:U (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Bagshot, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Angel Productions

Trivia:

Kenneth More had his legs cased in Aluminium in order to accuratly convey Bader's style of walking with his metal legs.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: During the meeting in Dowding’s office there is a RAF plaque on his desk with a Queen’s crown on it, which was correct for when the film was made, but when as the film is set in 1940 it should have been a King’s crown.

Quotes:

Turner: Legs or no legs, I've never seen such a mobile fireball.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Reach for the Sky

The Right Stuff!

It's always encouraging to see the indomitable human spirit gain control against all odds. How easy it would have been for pilot Douglas Bader, played by Kenneth More here, to simply give in to circumstances, drop out of active life, and lead a limited existence all because of a dreadful plane accident in which he lost both legs. But he didn't choose to go that way, and with the advent of WW2 he managed to resume his active pilot career despite the fact of having artificial legs, and had more than a few adventures which he survived. I like this movie for its positive grasp of life and living, and shows that you can create your world if you have singleminded determination. Also of interest were the real life film footage of aerial manoeuvrings used from the war. I'd recommend this war movie any time.