THE FIRST OF THE FEW [Main Title]

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  • Title: THE FIRST OF THE FEW [Main Title]
  • Film Number: RMY 57
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Tribute to R J Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, the plane that saved Britain in her darkest hour.
  • Description: During an alert in the Battle of Britain, RAF pilot Geoffrey Crisp recalls the life of dedication and the genius of Mitchell, from the day in 1922 when Mitchell, watching a gannet flying, decided to design a plane like a bird right up to his death when he knew that the RAF had ordered large numbers of his Spitfire fighter. The film covers this period in terms of individual effort: Mitchell the revolutionary designer struggling against his conservative employers, Diana his loving wife who stands beside him and Crisp his friend and fearless test pilot. Successes in the Schneider Trophy (studio scenes with very obvious models) foreshadow the triumphant climax of his career, the design of the Spitfire, Mitchell realising Britain's need for such a fighter after a holiday in Germany. After a struggle to alert the Government to the Nazi threat, the Air Ministry eventually shows interest in his plans and "Mitch" dies a happy man.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: RMY 57
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: NON-IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: British Aviation Pictures (Production company) Howard, Leslie (Production individual) Howard, Leslie (Production individual) James, Henry C (Production individual) Strueby, Kay (Production individual) Malleson, William Miles (Production individual) Grunwald, Anatole de (Production individual) Perinal, Georges (Production individual) Sherriff, Paul (Production individual) Day, W Percy (Production individual) Brunel, Adrian (Production individual) Cole, Sidney (Production individual) Myers, Douglas (Production individual) Hildyard, Jack (Production individual) Pollock, George (Production individual) Samuel, Phil C (Production individual) Walton, William (Production individual) Mathieson, Muir (Production individual) Dennis, John (Production individual) Miller, Harry (Production individual) Howard, Leslie (Production cast) Niven, David (Production cast) John, Rosamund (Production cast) Culver, Roland (Production cast) Firth, Anne1918-08-011967British actress. (Production cast) Horne, David (Production cast) Roberts, J H (Production cast) Marney, Derrick de (Production cast) Boulter, Rosalyn (Production cast) Cameron, Herbert (Production cast) Bruce, Toni Edgar (Production cast) McLeod, Gordon (Production cast) Skillan, George (Production cast) Freund, Erik (Production cast) Wendhausen, F R (Production cast) Chandos, John (Production cast) Beaumont, Victor (Production cast) Clair, Suzanne (Production cast) Giudice, Filippo del (Production cast) O'Rorke, Brefni (Production cast) Wilmot, Gerry (Production cast) Peach, Jack (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Mitchell, Reginald Joseph (person) Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire (object name) GB, England (geography) propaganda (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 12 Footage: 8700 ft; Running time: 106 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    RMY 57

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