Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

l_rawjalaurence On the face of it THE FIRST OF THE FEW is a patriotic flag-waver dramatizing the life of R. J. Mitchell (Leslie Howard), the designer of the Spitfire that proved so influential in helping Great Britain to assume control of the skies in 1940. The film contains its fair share of anti-German propaganda; at the beginning there are a series of speeches given by Hitler, Göring and Goebbels translated into English; and in the middle of the film Mitchell and his daring pilot Geoffrey Crisp (David Niven) are entertained at a dinner in Berlin, where their German hosts led by Messerschmitt (Erik Freund) announce their plans to re-arm and take revenge for the indignities heaped upon them during World War One. At heart, however, Leslie Howard's film is a story of courage and perseverance, of Mitchell's determination to create the ultimate flying machine, despite opposition from various bureaucrats, including Commander Bride (Roland Culver) and Sir Robert McLean (J. H. Roberts). In the pre-war era it seems that Mitchell is something of an eccentric in his desire to spend money with little or no apparent result, but there are those, including eccentric millionaire Lady Houston (Toni Edgar-Bruce) who are prepared to support him both financially and morally. The message is clear: Mitchell wouldn't have achieved his success without the help of many other people, even though he drives himself to death through overwork. Howard gives an understated performance in the central role; he seldom loses his sang-froid, but there is an inner steel to his character that drives him on. Niven offers admirable support, proving beyond doubt what a fine film actor he was; a small gesture, such as the thumbs-up sign towards the end, as he leaves Mitchell for the last time, is worth a thousand words. THE FIRST OF THE FEW contains some memorable montage sequences, emphasizing the interconnectedness of many important events, both private and personal: Mitchell's face is juxtaposed with an image of the rolling British countryside, and a close-up of the Spitfire, emphasizing the link between national identity, the designer and the plane. The sentiments might appear dated now - especially the emphasis on British stiff-upper-lip stoicism in the face of adversity - but Howard's film has a sincerity of purpose that still provokes a frisson in viewers' minds.

Qanqor I enjoyed this movie reasonably well while watching it. It was afterward that my disappointment rose.In some sense, I suppose the movie was a victim of its own success: by successfully sparking in me an interest in its protagonist, R. J. Mitchell, it drove me to do a little reading up on the real-life story of Mr. Mitchell, and unfortunately, the gap between the movie Mitchell and the real Mitchell is rather too wide for my taste. In particular, some of the most compelling parts of the movie story just never happened.So, in actuality, Mitchell never went to Germany, never met Messerschmitt, never encountered strutting Nazi bluster that galvanized him to devote his life to developing a superior fighter plane for the British with which they could meet the Nazi threat. Actually, he was working on fighter aircraft design back in 1931, two years before the Nazi's assumed power in Germany.What's more, the real Mitchell did *not* work himself to death on the Spitfire. The unspoken affliction which ultimately consumed him was actually cancer-- which no amount of rest was going to cure. So he did *not* deliberately choose to sacrifice his life for the cause. Yes, he did keep working during his illness, which is certainly heroic and praiseworthy. But it's a *far* cry from what the movie depicts.It's a pity, because I think the real Mitchell's story was interesting enough all by itself to make a good movie out of, without manufacturing lies. Still, it was an entertaining movie, and most of the broad outlines of the history seem to be reasonably accurate. The print I saw was creaky and antique, with poor picture quality and sound (I *still* don't know what the offensive sign on the yacht said, since I could neither read it nor make out the dialog around it), but I won't take off points for that. I could've given the film seven or eight stars had it been accurate, but all the lies take it down to a six.

DKosty123 It is ironic that Leslie Howards last film would be about the fate he would suffer soon after. Howard shot this film before flying into the war and his death mere months later.This biography of RJ Mitchell who created the famous British fighter is documented in this movie. In support is David Niven in one of his better more serious film roles. The film made in 1942 is definitely war propaganda. Still it tells an important story.Mitchell knew he was ill, but was a man on a mission to get the Spit Fighter complete before he died. While the movie is not real clear on Mitchell's illness, the fact is that he did die within a year of his getting the first Spitfires built.A good cast puts together a good film which elevates Mitchell (Howard) into a key historic position. The real Mitchell died of Cancer within a year of the plane design completion and the first major orders by the British Government.

fkba15989 This film could be unique in that the aircrew "extras" in the film who "Scrambled" during the Battle of Britain scenes were all pilots who had actually flown in the Battle of Britain.I know this because at the end of 1941 I was stationed at 61 (Spitfire) Operational Training Unit at Heston (now part of Heathrow airport) and was billeted in Meadow Way Heston. My roommate was a Flight Sergeant I Hutchinson who was on "rest" from operational flying as the Maintenance Wing test pilot and was one of the "extras" in the film.My recollection is that he had to be up at crack of dawn and was seldom free before about 2200 hours. On the other hand, his base was the Savoy Hotel!To be a Flight Sergeant in 1941 meant you had been an airman pilot for quite some time and consequently had a lot of experience. I see from the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour that, thankfully, F Sgt Hutchinson survived the war.He gave me my one and only flight in a single engined monoplane - a Miles Master - and I still recall that experience with great pleasure.FAG KAY 33 Marchmont Rd Richmond Surrey TW10 6HQ