Battle of Britain Film
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Thanks Shy Torque. And a Hurricane, and as a special treat 35 minutes in a 109 (though I suppose I should own up, and say Bouchon).
Been following this thread with interest, and eagerly awaiting the call from Hollywood. But since I now find it hard to get in and out of my car with any degree of elegance, I think a Spit would be beyond me, computer generated or not! And does't Tom Cruise fly warbirds, so he can do the whole thing himself, with maybe occasional back up from that well known Qantas captain John Travolta.
I must say the thought of Kiera has certain attractions, though I have to admit sheepishly that I never saw Susannah, in or out of her webbing, if you see what I mean. And I think that stuff they put in the tea at Cranners which Beags was on about must be working at last. But, on second thoughts, it must be anno domini, the spirit is still willing, just everything else is weak!
Do like the variations on the theme suggested by those inventive ppruners, more please.
I remember Skeets Kelly, John Jordan and John Crewdsen, who flew the chopper for many of the close shots. All gone, sadly, doing what they did best.
Long time ago, great experience.
Been following this thread with interest, and eagerly awaiting the call from Hollywood. But since I now find it hard to get in and out of my car with any degree of elegance, I think a Spit would be beyond me, computer generated or not! And does't Tom Cruise fly warbirds, so he can do the whole thing himself, with maybe occasional back up from that well known Qantas captain John Travolta.
I must say the thought of Kiera has certain attractions, though I have to admit sheepishly that I never saw Susannah, in or out of her webbing, if you see what I mean. And I think that stuff they put in the tea at Cranners which Beags was on about must be working at last. But, on second thoughts, it must be anno domini, the spirit is still willing, just everything else is weak!
Do like the variations on the theme suggested by those inventive ppruners, more please.
I remember Skeets Kelly, John Jordan and John Crewdsen, who flew the chopper for many of the close shots. All gone, sadly, doing what they did best.
Long time ago, great experience.
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Find DVD for the best prices of DVDs
Battle of Britain 2 Disc film ranges from £5.79 (SelectCheaper) to £21.63
Battle of Britain 2 Disc film ranges from £5.79 (SelectCheaper) to £21.63
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For Keira out of her webbing (see BEagles post for more info) see brit teen horror flick 'The Hole'. Blink and you'll miss it though. 
There are plenty of Brit Hollywood stars about (Clive Owen, Jude Law etc) who might be up for it. IMHO even a good remake wouldn't be up to the original and I would hate a rewrite of history version in the same model as that insulting
submarine/enigma film.
There are plenty of Brit Hollywood stars about (Clive Owen, Jude Law etc) who might be up for it. IMHO even a good remake wouldn't be up to the original and I would hate a rewrite of history version in the same model as that insulting
submarine/enigma film.
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For those persons interested...There is a Hurricane AND a Bouchon at Breighton....and for a bonus, a P51D. Costs £4 to get in and wander at your hearts content
watp,iktch
watp,iktch
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Have a look at http://www.realaero.com/ for details?
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Making the Film The Battle of Britain
For anyone interested Leonard Mosley wrote a book 'The battle of Britain, the making of the film', published in 1969: SBN 297 17909 8. Long out of print of course but you might be lucky to be able to read it c/o the British Library or if really lucky, get a copy through a specialist book seller, which is where I got mine about 3 years ago.
It was an ex-Pathfinder Gp Capt Hamish Mahaddie who played one of the most significant parts in getting the film made: he spent 3 years trawling the world for the aeroplanes and then striking the deals to get them. The Spanish Air Force were still using their He111s and had only recently stopped flying their Me109s, which had been retrofitted with Merlins! The Spanish government offered their He111s on loan.
Many of the 'real' aircraft were OK to taxi but not airworthy; others were pure wood and fibreglass mock-ups.
I remember the film being made as a boy - seeing the B25 Mitchell camera aircraft often doing fly-bys over Swanton Morley near Norwich on its way somewhewre more interseting - and saw it for the first time at RAF Coltishall at the air display there in 1969.
It was a joy to read Stuffy's famous letter when I first visited the library in College Hall at Cranwell. Every line. It was still on display there about 3 years ago.
And as my children often quote from the film, our favourite line: "Don't you shout at me Mr Warwick!". Do they mean me?
It was an ex-Pathfinder Gp Capt Hamish Mahaddie who played one of the most significant parts in getting the film made: he spent 3 years trawling the world for the aeroplanes and then striking the deals to get them. The Spanish Air Force were still using their He111s and had only recently stopped flying their Me109s, which had been retrofitted with Merlins! The Spanish government offered their He111s on loan.
Many of the 'real' aircraft were OK to taxi but not airworthy; others were pure wood and fibreglass mock-ups.
I remember the film being made as a boy - seeing the B25 Mitchell camera aircraft often doing fly-bys over Swanton Morley near Norwich on its way somewhewre more interseting - and saw it for the first time at RAF Coltishall at the air display there in 1969.
It was a joy to read Stuffy's famous letter when I first visited the library in College Hall at Cranwell. Every line. It was still on display there about 3 years ago.
And as my children often quote from the film, our favourite line: "Don't you shout at me Mr Warwick!". Do they mean me?
Last edited by GlosMikeP; 18th Aug 2006 at 12:27.
Actually Kiera in 'period' webbing might be a possibility in the near future (with any luck
) as I've just seen that next week they are filming on Redcar beach with a 1000 extras recreating the Dunkirk evacuation for a new film called Atonement......starring Kiera Knightly.
) as I've just seen that next week they are filming on Redcar beach with a 1000 extras recreating the Dunkirk evacuation for a new film called Atonement......starring Kiera Knightly.
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Hamish Mahaddie was patron of the ATC squadron to which I belonged, and he organised it so that we were billeted at RAF Henlow where they were building the Spits & Hurricanes to be used in "BoB" ground shots. They let us loose with screwdrivers and ally panels for a very nice PR blue spitfire which by the end of the week actually resembled an aeroplane. While we were there they had a "Photo Opportunity" with the assembled A/C. I remember Bob Stanford-Tuck in a shiny suit and Hush-Puppies, made him look a bit of a spiv, I thought at the time. To me, a WW2 hero should have looked like he knew how to remove nylons, not sell them.
Hmm, shot of Jude Law (with pencil moustache) unclipping Kiera's tackle...
Hmm, shot of Jude Law (with pencil moustache) unclipping Kiera's tackle...
Insert from the DVD (£7.99 at Virgin) says that the 100+ aircraft bought for the film made the producer the 35th ranking air power..
also that more ammunition was expended making the film than in the actual battle - sounds a bit dubious to me..
Can't see a remake being better than the original...and all the planes would be CGI..
also that more ammunition was expended making the film than in the actual battle - sounds a bit dubious to me..
Can't see a remake being better than the original...and all the planes would be CGI..
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...next week they are filming on Redcar beach.....recreating the Dunkirk evacuation
I don't recall any dock at Redcar. So much of the Dunkirk action took place at the dockside where the large ships picked up the greater number of evacuees. Are we in for another rewrite of history where no destroyers or steamers were involved?
What I particularly liked about the BoB film is the accuracy with which it was portrayed. I doubt if that could be repeated. Our culture has changed so much in the intervening years that the period language and mannersims wouldn't make much sense to anyone under forty-something. Spitfire and Hurricane pilots were quite a languid lot outside the pub - not gung -ho top-gun types at all.
"OK Chaps, a quick tonky-tonk first burst and away" - the real Sailor Malan leading 92 Sqn into action
Although from reading their memoirs, 24 hours from bottle to throttle didn't mean much to them...
FX Guru
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I remember talking to an old boy at the Bull Inn in Brasted, Kent (just down the hill from Biggin Hill) who recalled talking to the pilots during the BoB.
He couldn't believe the amount of piss they stuck down their necks.
In the old days (IE I've seen the thing) there used to be a glass-framed blackboard with the signatures of some the pilots.
The place has probably been 'Berni Inned' now, but the blackboard may still be there. The pub is on the A25 and there used to be a sign saying, 'Pull in at the Bull Inn' which always tickled me, but it, too, has no doubt gone.
He couldn't believe the amount of piss they stuck down their necks.
In the old days (IE I've seen the thing) there used to be a glass-framed blackboard with the signatures of some the pilots.
The place has probably been 'Berni Inned' now, but the blackboard may still be there. The pub is on the A25 and there used to be a sign saying, 'Pull in at the Bull Inn' which always tickled me, but it, too, has no doubt gone.
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Angels, the autographed blackboard was in the White Hart, just along from the Bull (which is an excellent little pub!) in Brasted. The White Hart, as you say, is a plastic "Pubco" place now, but a replica of the blackboard is still there. The real thing is in a museum - it should be at Hendon, but I don't think it is.
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He couldn't believe the amount of piss they stuck down their necks.
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Originally Posted by Green Meat
Keira is a little waif like for the shapely Ms York, how about the rather delightful Kate Winslet?
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Originally Posted by brickhistory
Well, in the interests of accuracy and being true to the spirit of the original film......................great idea!