This BAFTA nominated classic continues to screen regularly on British television. Directed by Guy Hamilton the film had an all star cast including Michael Caine (Squadron Leader Canfield), Ian McShane (Sergeant Pilot Andy), Laurence Olivier (Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding), Christopher Plummer (Squadron Leader Colin Harvey), Patrick Wymark (Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory) and Susanna York (Section Officer Maggie Harvey); the character of Maggie Harvey was based on the real life experiences of Air Commodore Dame Felicity Peake when she was based at RAF Biggin Hill in 1940. Despite some obvious errors listed on IMdB, the Internet Movie Database, the film has incredible flying sequences which pushed the budget upwards ($12 million total). The plot is based loosely around events prior to and during the Battle of Britain when the RAF successfully fights back against the force of the German Luftwaffe. A huge amount of period aircraft were needed during filming and the production team secured 100. Of the 109 Spitfires in the UK only 12 would actually fly out of the 27 available, and of the 6 Hawker Hurricanes available only 3 of them could fly. A positive outcome therefore was that the production helped towards the preservation of these marvellous craft. The production team had the same challenges with the German and Spanish period planes. Filming in England took place at North Weald, Duxford and Debden in the East of England and Hawkinge in Kent which were all operational RAF stations in 1940; filming also took place at Bovingdon airfield in Hertfordshire which was a former wartime bomber base.

Release / Airing: 15/09/1969