Reach for the Sky

Year:

1956

Duration:

135 min | USA:123 min | West Germany:104 min | USA:105 min (TCM Print)

Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

IMDB rate:

7.2

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations

Details

Country: UK

Release Date: 1956-07-27

Filming Locations: The Shovel Pub, Iver Lane, Cowley, Middx

Earnings

Cast

Actor

Character

Anton Diffring

Kenneth More

Douglas Bader

Muriel Pavlow

Thelma Bader

Lyndon Brook

Johnny Sanderson

Lee Patterson

Turner

Alexander Knox

Mr. Joyce

Dorothy Alison

Nurse Brace

Michael Warre

Harry Day

Sydney Tafler

Robert Desoutter

Howard Marion-Crawford

'Woody' Woodhall (as Howard Marion Crawford)

Jack Watling

Peel

Nigel Green

Streatfield

Anne Leon

Sister Thornhill

Charles Carson

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding

Ronald Adam

Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory

Walter Hudd

Air Vice-Marshal Halahan

Basil Appleby

Crowley-Milling

Philip Stainton

Police Constable

Eddie Byrne

Flight Sergeant Mills

Beverley Brooks

Sally (as Beverly Brooks)

Michael Ripper

Warrant Officer West

Derek Blomfield

Civilian Pilot

Avice Landone

Douglas Bader's Mother

Eric Pohlmann

Adjutant of Prison Camp

Michael Gough

Flying Instructor Pearson

Harry Locke

Bates

Sam Kydd

Warrant Officer Blake

Ernest Clark

Wing Commander Beiseigel

Frank Atkinson

Tullin (uncredited)

Balbina

Lucille (uncredited)

Michael Balfour

Orderly (uncredited)

Trevor Bannister

Man Listening to Radio (uncredited)

Victor Beaumont

German Doctor (uncredited)

Roland Brand

Canadian Pilot / Coltishall II (uncredited)

John Breslin

Cadet Mason (uncredited)

Peter Burton

Peter / Coltishall Officer (uncredited)

Peter Byrne

Civilian Pilot Witnessing Bader's Crash (uncredited)

Paul Carpenter

Hall (uncredited)

Hugh David

Cadet Taylor (uncredited)

Stringer Davis

Cyril Borge (uncredited)

Guy De Monceau

Gilbert Petit (uncredited)

Basil Dignam

Air Ministry Doctor (uncredited)

Patricia Fox

Nurse (uncredited)

Raymond Francis

Wing Commander Hargreaves (uncredited)

Alice Gachet

Madame Hiecque (uncredited)

Philip Gilbert

Canadian Pilto / Coltishall II (uncredited)

Fred Griffiths

Lorry Driver (uncredited)

Alexander Harris

Don Richardson (uncredited)

Frank Hawkins

Drill Sergeant (uncredited)

Charles Lamb

Walker / Desoutters Aide (uncredited)

Jack Lambert

Adrian Stoop (uncredited)

Barry Letts

Tommy (uncredited)

Philip Levene

Sgt Williams, Tangmere (uncredited)

Jeremy Longhurst

Jones (uncredited)

Richard Marner

German Officer in Staff Car (uncredited)

Roger Maxwell

Pantiles (uncredited)

Julia Nelson

Bit Role (uncredited)

Ronan O'Casey

Canadian Pilot / Coltishall II (uncredited)

Rene Poirier

Monsieur Hiecque (uncredited)

Clive Revill

RAF Batman Helping Bader with His New Legs (uncredited)

George Rose

Squadron Leader Edwards (uncredited)

Grace Denbigh Russell

Bit Role (uncredited)

Delene Scott

Bit Role (uncredited)

Barry Steele

Wounded Sergeant / St. Omer Pilot (uncredited)

John Stone

Limping Officer (uncredited)

Derek Sydney

Mechanic / Uxbridge (uncredited)

Jack Taylor

British Pilot / Coltishall (uncredited)

Pamela Thomas

Hilda (uncredited)

Russell Waters

Pearson (uncredited)

Patrick Westwood

RAF Corporal / Diver (uncredited)

Ian Whittaker

Batman at Duxford (uncredited)

Gareth Wigan

Woodhall's Assistant (uncredited)

Howard Williams

Cadet, Ticket Match (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

This film's opening prologue states: "Douglas Bader has become a legend in his own life time. His courage was not only an example to those in War but is now a source of inspiration to many in Peace. For dramatic purposes it has been necessary in this film to transpose in time certain events in Douglas Bader's life and also to re-shape some of the characters involved in this story. The Producers apologise to those who may have been affected by any changes or omissions."

Share this

The nursing cap and badge worn by Anne Leon was loaned by the real life Matron Thornhill from Brompton Hospital. As portrayed in the film, the then Sister Thornhill nursed Bader in the critical weeks following his accident. Miss Thornhill visited the set during the filming of the hospital scenes, casting a critical eye over the hospital procedures.

Share this

Kenneth More had his legs cased in Aluminium in order to accurately convey Bader's style of walking with his metal legs.

Share this

Goofs

In the opening scene, raw recruits at Cranwell carry out a short but very complicated drill maneuver in civilian dress. In reality they would have known nothing on that first day. In fact the "raw recruits" all seem to be ex-Public School boys where they would have been drilled as cadets in school as part of the curriculum, as was common practice until relatively recently.

Share this

The scenes set in the days leading up to the onset of the Second World War feature late model Mark XVI Spitfires with 'teardrop' canopies, four-bladed propellers and cannon in the wings. In addition, the serial number on one aircraft (VT151) was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Meteor F Mk 4's. (The serial can't be V7151 either, as this was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Hawker Hurricanes - Gloster being part of the Hawker group).

Share this

During the meeting in Dowding's office there is a RAF plaque on his desk with a Queen's crown on it, which was correct for when the film was made, but when as the film is set in 1940 it should have been a King's crown.

Share this

Quotes

Equipment Officer: I'm sorry, the book says I must wait three months before I can initiate the procedure for hastening new issue. Bader: Fine! We'll send Goring a telegram, and ask him not to come over for *three months*!