Reach for the Sky (1956)

The true story of airman Douglas Bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident to become a successful fighter pilot and wing leader during World War II.

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Paul Brickhill (book), Lewis Gilbert (screenplay),

Stars:

Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The true story of airman Douglas Bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident to become a successful fighter pilot and wing leader during World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

battle of britain | british | pilot | disability | aircraft | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1956 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Vainqueur du ciel

Filming Locations:

Bagshot, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£380,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The, Angel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 105 min (TCM Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's opening prologue states: "Douglas Bader has become a legend in his own life time. His courage was not only an example to those in War but is now a source of inspiration to many in Peace. For dramatic purposes it has been necessary in this film to transpose in time certain events in Douglas Bader's life and also to re-shape some of the characters involved in this story. The Producers apologise to those who may have been affected by any changes or omissions."

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Goofs

In the opening scene, raw recruits at Cranwell carry out a short but very complicated drill maneuver in civilian dress. In reality they would have known nothing on that first day. In fact the "raw recruits" all seem to be ex-Public School boys where they would have been drilled as cadets in school as part of the curriculum, as was common practice until relatively recently.

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Quotes

Bader: [Bader is at a sanatorium in recovery and listening to a fellow patient complain about pains to one of his legs] . Have it off, old boy, have it off.

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Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Goodnight Sweetheart"
(uncredited)
Written by Ray Noble, Reginald Connelly and Jimmy Campbell

User Reviews

Great Movie!

The facts of Douglas Bader's life were accurately portrayed in this excellent movie. It is a great movie to watch when you are feeling lousy, and life has got you down. Douglas Bader had an amazing spirit, and lived life to the fullest. Eventhough his lost both of his legs in a flying accident. That did not stop him from becoming a war hero. Who contributed a lot to destroy Nazism, and to preserve our free way of life. I salute Douglas Bader, and this excellent movie about his life.