Angels One Five (1952)

'Septic' Baird has just joined a front line RAF squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. This is the story of "The Few" and how they managed to fight off the might of the Luftwaffe ... See full summary »

Director:

George More O'Ferrall

Writers:

Pelham Groom (story), Derek N. Twist (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Hawkins	...	Group Captain 'Tiger' Small
Michael Denison	...	Squadron Leader Peter Moon
Dulcie Gray	...	Nadine Clinton
John Gregson	...	Pilot Officer 'Septic' Baird
Cyril Raymond	...	Squadron Leader Barry Clinton
Veronica Hurst	...	Betty Carfax
Harold Goodwin	...	A.C. 2 Wailes
Norman Pierce	...	'Bonzo'
Geoffrey Keen	...	Company Sergeant Major
Harry Locke	...	Look Out
Philip Stainton	...	Police Constable
Vida Hope	...	W.A.A.F.
Amy Veness	...	Aunt Tabitha
Ronald Adam	...	Group Controller
Humphrey Lestocq	...	Flight Lieutenant 'Batchy' Salter

Storyline

'Septic' Baird has just joined a front line RAF squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. This is the story of "The Few" and how they managed to fight off the might of the Luftwaffe despite overwhelming German air power.

---

Plot Keywords:

battle of britain | raf | airfield | air force | aviation | 

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deres største time

Filming Locations:

Associated British Picture Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Templar Film Studios, Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ronald Adam plays the part of a Group Controller. During the Battle of Britain, he was Squadron Leader Ronald Adam and was the Group Controller at Hornchurch.

---

Goofs

When Nutmeg and Beeswax squadrons are getting airborne, the lookout reports: "12 Spitfires taking off." The aircraft used are Hurricanes, and are referred to as such throughout the film - including by Baird, speaking in the control room immediately after the lookout's report. While almost all the aircraft in the movie are Hurricanes, the fighters shown taking off right after the lookout's report are indeed Spitfires. You can tell by the way their landing gear folds outwards towards the wingtip. A Hurricane's gear is set further out on the wing and folds inwards towards the body of the plane. The video quality of this scene is not up to the high quality found in the rest of the movie, and it's obviously stock footage. Unless it was added to later digital versions of the movie to correct the continuity error, no error actually occurs.

---

Quotes

Group Captain 'Tiger' Small: [When the enemy first bombs their airfield, and he embodies the attitude of the whole nation] This is where we learn to take it.

---

Connections

Featured in Fifties British War Films: Days of Glory (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"Capito"
(uncredited)
Music by Teddy Foster

User Reviews

Bandits at twelve o'clock!

Typical fare for post-war British cinema-goers - stiff upper lips versus the might of the Nazi war machine.

Told over a few short weeks in 1940, the plot follows Pilot Officer 'Septic' Baird (John Gregson) as a fledgling Hurricane pilot posted to an operational squadron during the Battle of Britain. 'Septic' struggles stoically in the face of his boisterous comrades, an earnest would-be girlfriend and impossible numbers of enemy raiders. The Station Commander (Jack Hawkins) puts a human face on the RAF hierarchy, burdened by the knowledge that the fate of the nation really does depend on the skill of his young pilots. 'The few' eventually grasp victory but it doesn't come cheap.

Admittedly wooden by today's standards but, through films like this, a whole generation built up their Saturday afternoon understanding of the RAF's 'finest hour'.