The First of the Few (1942)

Director:

Leslie Howard

Writers:

Henry C. James (story) &
Katherine Strueby (story) ...

Release Date:

14 September 1942 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

By the late 1920's aircraft designer R.J. Mitchell feels he has achieved all he wants with his revolutionary mono-planes winning trophy after trophy...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi Germany | Directed By Star | Fighter Pilot | WWII | Produced By Actor

Cast

Leslie Howard	...	R.J. Mitchell
David Niven	...	Geoffrey Crisp
Rosamund John	...	Diana Mitchell
Roland Culver	...	Commander Bride
Anne Firth	...	Miss Harper
David Horne	...	Mr. Higgins
J.H. Roberts	...	Sir Robert McLean
Derrick De Marney	...	Squadron Leader Jefferson
Rosalyn Boulter	...	Mabel Lovesay
Herbert Cameron	...	MacPherson
Toni Edgar-Bruce	...	Lady Houston (as Toni Edgar Bruce)
Gordon McLeod	...	Major Buchan
George Skillan	...	Mr. Royce
Erik Freund	...	Messerschmitt
Fritz Wendhausen	...	Von Straben (as F.R. Wendhausen)

Also Known As:

Spitfire (USA)

Runtime:

118 min | USA:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9204) | Finland:S | UK:U | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

D and P Studios, Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

British Aviation Pictures

Trivia:

In the film Leslie Howard's Mitchell says he wants his new fighter to be "a bird that breathes fire and spits out death and destruction; A *spitfire* bird", giving the aircraft its name. In reality, when RJ Mitchell was told the name the RAF had given to his design he is supposed to have said: "That's the sort of bloody silly name they *would* choose!"

Goofs:

Factual errors: During test flight of the plane, a close-up of the cockpit was shown. The type of canopy in the scene is called a "Malcom Hood" and was not used on early model Spitfires.

Quotes:

[the Mitchells have bumped into Crisp at a Dress Ball]
Reginald J. Mitchell: Well, who's the lucky lady?
Geoffrey Crisp: Don't know, I haven't met her yet!

fine swansong for Leslie Howard

This movie, a biopic of R.J. Mitchell, inventor of the Spitfire plane, saw the final appearance of that great British actor, Leslie Howard, who died in 1943 when his plane was shot down by the Germans. It was a fitting finale that one of his best roles, as the idealistic dreamer Mitchell, was his last.

Equally good (but perhaps a little young for the role) is David Niven as Mitchell's close pal Crisp. Niven was always good value and was convincing in uniform or official roles. Rosamund John has the remaining plum part as Mrs Mitchell, and plays the part very well.

'The First of the Few' works as propaganda, as an involving war actioner, and as a character study of an eccentric inventive mind. Howard's skill as a director ensures all angles are adequately covered and that the viewer is rarely bored. Dated it may be (and obviously so given the date of production) but should still appeal to a wide and discerning audience.