633 Squadron (1964)

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers:

James Clavell (screenplay) and
Howard Koch (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

April 1964 (UK)

Genre:

War | Drama

Plot:

An RAF squadron is assigned to knock out a German rocket fuel factory in Norway,, which is part of the Nazi effort to lauch rockets on England during D-day, by flying up a well-defended fjord at low level.

Plot Keywords:

Squadron | Norway | Torture | Telegraph | Skittles

Cast

Cliff Robertson	...	Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant
George Chakiris	...	Lt. Erik Bergman
Maria Perschy	...	Hilde Bergman
Harry Andrews	...	Air Vice Marshal Davis
Donald Houston	...	Group Capt. Don Barrett
Michael Goodliffe	...	Squadron Leader Frank Adams
John Meillon	...	Flight Lt. Gillibrand
John Bonney	...	Flight Lt. Scott
Angus Lennie	...	Flying Officer Hoppy Hopkinson
Scott Finch	...	Flying Officer Bissell (as Scot Finch)
John Church	...	Flying Officer Evans
Barbara Archer	...	Rosie the barmaid at Black Swan Inn
Sean Kelly	...	Lt. Nigel
Julian Sherrier	...	Flight Lt. Singh
Geoffrey Frederick	...	Flight Lt. Frank

Also Known As:

Squadron 633

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating) | New Zealand:G | UK:A (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

The Mosquito's used in the film were RS715 Cockpit section only TJ118 Cockpit section only TV959 At Bovingdon airfield, but did not fly in film TW117 Flew in film RS709 Flew in film RS712 Flew in film TA639 Flew in film TA719 Flew in film

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Germans chase the resistance men in their lorry, the Germans armored car is actually a British Alvis Saracen, first produced in 1952.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Squadron Leader Adams: Well, at least the rockets won't happen.
Air Vice Marshal Davis: Of course they'll happen. But they won't start tommorow, or this month or on D-Day, and that's important.
Squadron Leader Adams: Then what's it all add up to? All their sacrifice?
Air Vice Marshal Davis: A successful operation.
Squadron Leader Adams: But they're probably all dead. All 633 Squadron.
Air Vice Marshal Davis: You can't kill a squadron.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

A bit cheesy, but magnificent!

I saw this movie as an American kid growing up in England in the early 1970's. It absolutely captivated me, as it did my 9 year old English schoolmates. The musical score still resonates to this day, as do the magnificent scenes of those twin Merlin powered Mosquitos. As a movie, its got its share of flaws, but as a piece of aviation memorabilia, let it live forever! Along with "The Battle of Britain", this movie will captivate audiences for generations to come who will wonder what it was like when a few brave airmen stood between barbarism and civilization. The movie may have its cheesy moments (like many WW2 flicks) but the emotions were real. A lot of those guys never came back from their missions. This film, quite simply, shows both the glory and the sacrifice of war. The De Havilland Mosquito was a remarkable aircraft, and this movie really is a tribute to all the men who designed, built, and flew it in combat.