This film reduces the Battle of Britain to a human scale by focusing on the experiences of a novice pilot at a fighter station in 1940. The hero is a bit of an annoying cocky type who tries to do everything by the book but who in truth makes a series of blunders due to his inexperience. Ultimately he dies because he can't bale out as his canopy is stuck despite being warned early on in the film to only get in an aircraft he's sure he can get out of by another pilot. He obviously ignored the advice.
The other characters are a realistic and likeable bunch. Polite and decent, and with a strong sense of humour that is always bubbling to the surface.
Overall with its flawed blundering hero, oily Hurricanes, lack of sentimentality and streak of humour in the face of adversity the film is a great tribute to the people that won one of the most important battles in history. The special effects of the German planes are pretty poor but the live action scenes of Hurricanes make up for it.
Review of Angels One Five
Angels One Five
(1952)
A worthy tribute to 1940 Britain and its air force
20 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers