The Battle of Britain (1943)

The official World War II US government account of Great Britain's stand against the Nazi war machine after the Dunkirk evacuation.

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein,

Stars:

Douglas Bader, Arno Breker, Winston Churchill

2 wins.

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Douglas Bader	...	Himself (after downing Me-109 and Dornier) (archive footage) (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Arno Breker	...	Himself - Views Eiffel Tower with Hitler and Speer (archive footage) (uncredited)
Winston Churchill	...	Himself - with Londoners, Donates Coin on Street (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hermann Göring	...	Himself - with Hitler at the Berghof (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself - Gazes Across English Channel (archive footage) (uncredited)
John B. Hughes	...	Narrator (uncredited)
Walter Huston	...	Narrator (uncredited)
Frieda Inescort	...	Narrator (uncredited)
Alfred Jodl	...	Himself - Views Map with Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Keitel	...	Himself - in Railway Carriage with Göring (archive footage) (uncredited)
King George VI	...	Himself - Views Beach Laid with Barbed Wire (archive footage) (uncredited)
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother	...	Herself - Visits Bombed Londoners with the King (archive footage) (uncredited)
Erich Raeder	...	Himself - in Map Room with Hitler and Jodl (archive footage) (uncredited)
Erwin Rommel	...	Himself - in Railway Carriage with Göring and Keitel (archive footage) (uncredited)
Albert Speer	...	Himself - Views Eiffel Tower with Hitler and Breker (archive footage) (uncredited)

Storyline

In this installment of the "Why We Fight" propaganda film series, we have the account of Great Britain's last stand against the forces of Nazi Germany. This mainly focuses on the desperate, but successful, battle to maintain their vital air superiority over the British Isles and the morale of the people to prevent invasion.

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Plot Keywords:

propaganda | orchestral music score | bomber | fighter plane | country name in title | 

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 1945 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Why We Fight, 4

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

54 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This documentary is the fourth film in Frank Capra's seven-film 'Why We Fight' documentary film series.

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Connections

Followed by War Comes to America (1945)

User Reviews

Up in the clouds with David and Goliath

With all of mainland Europe under his control Hitler prepares for the last obstacle in his way before heading for North America, Great Britain. With an overwhelming edge in aircraft Goering's Luftwaffe looks unstoppable on paper. Once in the air however the RAF tenaciously disrupts the paradigm by blowing the enemy out of sky air at a seven to one rate. The Battle of Britain rages on for a over a year as the Island nation is bloodied but unbowed providing crucial time for their American allies to produce more arms for the inevitable struggle.

Using more staged footage than the three previous documentaries in the Why We Fight series the Battle of Britain has a more propaganda like feel to it with the dramatized (some with unmistakable Warners music score ) scenes glaringly obvious to newsreel. In an ironic twist amid the devastation caused by German air attacks Beethoven's Seventh Symphony is employed to underscore the visual suffering. The story itself is one of remarkable courage by a defiant nation who refused to buckle under to the devastating attacks inflicted upon it by up until that point an invincible war machine. It is the 20th century version of the 300 Spartans.

There have been more exhaustively researched and better looking commercial efforts done on this battle since this film but the immediacy and motivation The Battle of Britain provided then will always make it a more valuable document of England during its "Finest Hour".