633 Squadron (1964)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

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 | New Zealand:G | Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Three of the airworthy Mosquitoes used in the film were TT35 models (target tug versions of the B35 bomber). These were made to resemble FB MkVI (fighter bomber) versions by painting over the clear perspex nosecones and side windows and fitting dummy machine gun barrels. The fourth airworthy Mosquito was a T3 model with a solid nose which only required the fitting of dummy gun barrels.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the "earthquake" bombs are being pulled in single file along a lane in preparation for the raid, a modern car (1964) is seen driving past the end of the lane in the background.

Quotes:

Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant: I killed him, Hilde.
Wing Cmdr. Roy Grant: He was in the building. And I knew it.
Hilde Bergman: You knew they were toturing him. You stopped it.
Hilde Bergman: Erik cannot thank you, Roy. So I thank you for him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced 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.