Google Ads
Login | Sign Up

Battle of Britain Overview:

Battle of Britain (1969) was a Action - Drama Film directed by Guy Hamilton and produced by Harry Saltzman, Benjamin Fisz and John Palmer.

Battle of Britain BlogHub Articles:

Battle Of Britain – part 8

By Tom on Feb 3, 2013 From The Old Movie House

Gripes and Kudos Laurence Olivier played Sir Hugh Dowding Trevor Howard played Sir Keith Park Ralph Richardson played ... Read full article

Battle Of Britain – part 7

By Tom on Jan 28, 2013 From The Old Movie House

The All Too Real and Some nice touches Germany attacked and bombed London ruthlessly and randomly. No one was safe, and no place was free of the possibility of being bombed. If it was English it was fair game. What you’re about to see are screen captures from the film, and some actual photos o... Read full article

Battle Of Britain – part 6

By Tom on Jan 27, 2013 From The Old Movie House

The Pilots Even though it was called The Battle Of Britain it’s a popular misconception to think the pilots who flew for Britain were entirely British. Even though the vast majority were indeed British (2,500) they did get a great deal of help from 147 Poles, 101 New Zealanders, 94 Canadians, ... Read full article

Battle Of Britain – part 5

By Tom on Jan 22, 2013 From The Old Movie House

What happens next is a very ordinary human fault . They got lost. A German air crew with a desire to return to their respective homes early drops their bombs on what they think isn’t London. The navigator doesn’t seem to have a clue where London is. He says it’s six kilometers b... Read full article

Battle Of Britain – part 4

By Tom on Jan 20, 2013 From The Old Movie House

A Stuka crashing at Ventnor radar station The scan below is a depiction of the radar system Britain had at the time of the Battle Of Britain. It’s from the book by Karen Farrington entitled World War II – Ground, Sea & Air Battles. If you want to look at it in detail would might be w... Read full article

See More Battle of Britain Articles

Battle of Britain Quotes:

Warr. Off. Warrick: Put that cigarette out! The mains have gone, can't you smell gas?
Section Officer Maggie Harvey: Don't you yell at me, MR Warrick!
Squadron Leader Colin Harvey: I'll give you a piece of advice: stay single.
[With the aid of an interpreter, Edwards has berated the Polish pilots for attacking German bombers against orders, before pulling a telegram out of his pocket]
Squadron Leader Edwards: Finally, and God alone knows why, I've received the following signal:
[looks down]
Squadron Leader Edwards: "Congratulations! As of today, this Squadron is operational." Signed, Air Vice Marshall Keith Park, AOC 11 Group
[the men start cheering, and Squadron Leader Edwards smirks, before the scene changes to Dowding's office]
Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I was wrong about the Poles.
Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: We also have the second Polish Squadron.
Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [Donning his cap] I *thought* you'd mention them. Allright, make them operational.
Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: And the Canadians?
Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: And the Czechs. We need them *all!*
[They exit]
Squadron Leader Skipper: Corporal! Re-fuel them immediately.
Corporal at French airfield: Yes, sir.
[Turns back to the other ground crew]
Corporal at French airfield: So anyway...
[continues his conversation]
Squadron Leader Skipper: Corporal - I don't mean with your blood! And re-arm them!
Corporal at French airfield: Yes, *sir*!
[Runs towards the aircraft]
[the Germans are about to overrun the airfield]
Squadron Leader Skipper: Right! Let's get the hell out of here!
Pilot Officer Archie: Where are we going, sir?
Squadron Leader Skipper: [Walking rapidly toward his plane] Why don't you follow me and find out?
See More Quotes from Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain Facts
Adolf Galland, the Luftwaffe pilot who fought during Battle of Britain, who later became the youngest German general at the age of 29, was hired as a technical advisor.
The Heinkel 111 bombers were in fact Spanish built CASA 2111 bombers, Heinkel 111 H constructed under license, but with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and many other modifications. The Rolls engines were more powerful than the original Junkers Jumo and so the planes had more performance. In fact, all the real airplanes used on the film, except the Junkers Ju 52 (also Spanish built CASA 352) had British-built Rolls Royce Merlin engines.
There were to have been scenes featuring Lord Beaverbrook. Alec Guinness was hired to play Lord Beaverbrook, but these scenes were cut from the script shortly before filming.
In the real Battle of Britain, there were other German airplanes used, mainly Messerschmitt 110 fighters, Dornier 17 bombers and Junkers 88 bombers. At the time of making the film, there were no flying examples of these aircraft.
Sir William Walton was first hired to write the score, which would have been his last. Because of his advanced age, he turned to friend Sir Malcolm Arnold for assistance with the orchestrations (which Arnold supplied, as well as writing additional cues). Producer Harry Saltzman rejected the score, stating it wasn't long enough. Ron Goodwin was hired to write a new score, but when told he would be replacing one of Walton's, his first reaction was, "Why?" Goodwin eventually wrote the replacement score, but Laurence Olivier threatened to have his name removed from the credits if none of Walton's original was used. For this reason, Walton's original music was kept for the "Battle in the Air" sequence towards the end of the film.
See More Facts about Battle of Britain >>