The First Of The Few [DVD] [2013]

Pleasure

Very good actors indeed, recommendable!!!!

This film is probably the best of its kind, and made during WW2! Its the story of the development of the Spitfire, which became a decisive weapon for defeating Germany's tyranny, and saving Great Britain from Nazi rule. David Niven was born for this part and eptomises the RAF.......get some popcorn and a Kia Ora drink and don't miss it.

Picture quality fantastic sound still has a buzz. Marvellous film anyway.

A great old British black & white film, good to view on a Sunday afternoon, about the development of the Spitfire. Well worth a viewing if that sort of film doesn't just put you to sleep!

What a beautiful and gripping story about the lead designer of the Spitfire - Reginald Joseph Mitchell. It is a propaganda movie from 1942, a very troubled time for England, when England was in great need for heros and Mitchell fits the bill, an eccentric, calm, pipe smoking, public school and very amiable sort of fellow.The story is captivating and very believable, a one mans struggle to make the perfect areoplane, then the perfect fighter. It is so good you want to believe everything is true - and even if it is riddled with historical inaccuracies - you have to remember that it is just the film that was needed at the time.The leading actors are most loveable, David Niven is at his best and has some rather convincing drunken scenes but it is Leslie Howard of Gone with the Wind fame as Mitchell that captures the audience. This was Howards last film as an actor since he was later in a plane shot down with the Germans. David Niven continued to contribute to the war effort both in films and as a commando in the Normandy landings.The transfer to DVD is not that great, the film is a bit worn with time but there is no serious damage, also it is in a 4:3 aspect so no wide screen expectations. But it is a nice lovable film, very well acted with plenty of human interest and more so when it was released to a nation at war with very few happy prospects and in dept to the few.

I love the old black and white films good Sunday afternoon film 🎥

This movie, 'The First of the Few', is an honest attempt to tell the story of a man who, without doubt, was largely responsible for the successful outcome of the 'so called' Battle of Britain. Reginald Joseph MITCHELL, deserves his place in history.As the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire his part, in this battle, was great. However, it was his work prior to the designing of the Spitfire, that was to prove decisive. He was the man who showed the world that the bi-plane design was not necessary and that a single winged plane had distinct advantages. His work designing sea-planes to race in International Air-races proved highly advantageous and, from this, the Spitfire evolved.Such an important - modest - man deserved better than this very low-key motion picture. Not that the makers didn't show the greatest respect for the man AND give him credit. However, the very (at one time admirable)'Britishness', left the viewers unsure as to what exactly they had witnessed. Less 'reserved' film-makers would have trumpeted Mitchell's brilliance and qualities far louder - and would not have been faulted!.Which method is best, for this subject, is hard to determine and must be an individual taste.As a quite and restrained telling of the story of a great man, this movie is above first rate. It is superb! As an exciting piece of cinematography, it lacks 'pizazz'!