Spitfire (1942)
The First of the Few (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Approved
- 1h 58min
- Adventure, Biography
- 12 Aug 1943 (Mexico)
- Movie
Aircraft designer/patriot R. J. Mitchell, alarmed at growing German militarism, works to perfect a defense against the German Messerschmidt at the cost of his health.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Leslie Howard | ... |
R.J. Mitchell
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| David Niven | ... |
Geoffrey Crisp
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| Rosamund John | ... |
Diana Mitchell
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| Roland Culver | ... |
Cmdr. Bride
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| Anne Firth | ... |
Miss Harper
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| David Horne | ... |
Mr. Higgins
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| J.H. Roberts | ... |
Sir Robert McLean
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| Derrick De Marney | ... |
Squadron Leader Jefferson
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| Rosalyn Boulter | ... |
Mabel Lovesay
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Herbert Cameron | ... |
MacPherson
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| Toni Edgar-Bruce | ... |
Lady Houston
(as Toni Edgar Bruce)
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Gordon McLeod | ... |
Maj. Buchan
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George Skillan | ... |
Mr. Royce
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Erik Freund | ... |
Messerschmitt
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Fritz Wendhausen | ... |
Von Straben
(as F.R. Wendhausen)
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John Chandos | ... |
Krantz
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| Victor Beaumont | ... |
Von Crantz
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| Suzanne Clair | ... |
Madeleine
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| Filippo Del Giudice | ... |
Bertorelli
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| Brefni O'Rorke | ... |
The Specialist
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Gerry Wilmot | ... |
Radio Announcer
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Jack Peach | ... |
Radio Announcer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Joseph Goebbels | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as Josef Goebbels)
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| Hermann Göring | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Adolf Hitler | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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John Adams | ... |
Officer at Schneider Cup Race (uncredited)
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| Robert Beatty | ... |
American Airman (uncredited)
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Albert Chevalier | ... |
Civilian in Control Room (uncredited)
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| Winston Churchill | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Bunny Currant | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Peter Gawthorne | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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| Everley Gregg | ... |
Mitchell's Housekeeper (uncredited)
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Pat Hagan | ... |
Assistant at Schneider Cup Race / Waiter at Party (uncredited)
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| Peter Hammond | ... |
Marching German Youth (uncredited)
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| Gerard Heinz | ... |
German Officer (uncredited)
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Leslie Ruth Howard | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Peter Howard-Williams | ... |
Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
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Brian Kingcome | ... |
Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
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Brian Kingcome | ... |
Fighter pilot (uncredited)
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| Miles Malleson | ... |
Vickers Representative (uncredited)
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| Jack May | ... |
Spectator at Schneider Cup Race (uncredited)
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| Gibb McLaughlin | ... |
Sir Ian MacLaren (uncredited)
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| Patricia Medina | ... |
Venetian Girl (uncredited)
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| Bernard Miles | ... |
Lady Houston's Agent (uncredited)
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Olaf Olsen | ... |
Civilian at Richtofen Club (uncredited)
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| Cyril Raymond | ... |
Radio Control Officer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Leslie Howard | ||
Written by
| Henry C. James | ... | (original story) & |
| Katherine Strueby | ... | (original story) (as Kay Strueby) |
| Miles Malleson | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Anatole de Grunwald | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Leslie Howard | ... | producer |
| George King | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| John Stafford | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| William Walton | ||
Cinematography by
| Georges Périnal | ... | (uncredited) |
Editing by
| Douglas Myers | ||
Editorial Department
| Eve Catchpole | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Hazel Wilkinson | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Paul Sheriff | ... | (as Paul Sherriff) |
Production Management
| Phil C. Samuel | ... | production manager |
| Herbert Smith | ... | executive in charge of production (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| George Pollock | ... | assistant director |
| Frank Bevis | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Frank Hollands | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Peggy Gick | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Dennis | ... | recording director |
| Harry Miller | ... | sound editor |
| Sid Cowcher | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| Stanley Lambourne | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| W. Percy Day | ... | backgrounds |
| Eric Cross | ... | model photographer (uncredited) |
| Arthur Ibbetson | ... | camera operator: model photography (uncredited) |
| Johnny Mills | ... | in charge of model work (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jack Hildyard | ... | camera operator |
| Georges Périnal | ... | lighting expert (as Georges Perinal) |
| Jack Dooley | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Alan Hume | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Arthur Ibbetson | ... | camera operator: model unit (uncredited) |
| Eugene H.E. Pizey | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ray Sturgess | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Muir Mathieson | ... | musical director |
| Roy Douglas | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | music player (uncredited) |
| Mischa Spoliansky | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Richard Wagner | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Hazel Wilkinson | ... | continuity (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Adrian Brunel | ... | production consultant |
| Sidney Cole | ... | technical advisor |
| Hugh Findlay | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Samuel Goldwyn | ... | presenter (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- British Aviation Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1942) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as General Film Distributors Ltd.)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1943) (United States) (theatrical)
- Filmtrust (1946) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Associated British Film Distributors (A.B.F.D.) (1947) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release) (as Ealing Distribution)
- Fotorama (1948) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Odeon Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Rare Films and More (2016) (United States) (DVD)
- Sidef Films (1947) (Belgium) (theatrical)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
By the late 1920's aircraft designer R.J. Mitchell feels he has achieved all he wants with his revolutionary mono-planes winning trophy after trophy. But a holiday in Germany shortly after Hitler assumes power convinces him that it is vital to design a completely new type of fighter plane and that sooner or later Britain's very survival may depend on what he comes to call the Spitfire. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26} |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | True and Thrilling! THE STORY OF THE PLANE THAT SAVED AN EMPIRE! and The Dream, The Faith and The Love behind its creation! (Print Ad- Brooklyn Eagle, ((Brooklyn, NY)) 8 June 1943) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In the film Leslie Howard's Mitchell says he wants his new fighter to be "a bird that breathes fire and spits out death and destruction--a 'spitfire' bird", giving the aircraft its name. In reality, when RJ Mitchell was told the name the RAF had given to his design, he is supposed to have said, "That's the sort of bloody silly name they WOULD choose!" See more » |
| Goofs | The Rolls Royce Merlin engine is not named after the character from the King Arthur legends. Rolls Royce named some of its engines after birds of prey, such as Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Goshawk. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn (2016). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Giovinezza See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: Zero Day September 15th, 1940 See more » |
| Quotes |
Geoffrey Crisp:
Mitch, what do really think I can get out of her? Reginald J. Mitchell: Oh, two eighty five. Geoffrey Crisp: [astonished] Two eighty-five? Mitch, this is 1927, not 1977! See more » |