Spitfire or The First of the Few, war movie about Spitfire designer R. J. Mitchell

The First of the Few (US title Spitfire) is a 1942 British black-and-white biographical film produced and directed by Leslie Howard, who stars as R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.
David Niven co-stars as a Royal Air Force officer and test pilot, a composite character that represents the pilots who flew Mitchell's seaplanes and tested the Spitfire. The film depicts Mitchell's strong work ethic in designing the Spitfire and his death. The film's title alludes to Winston Churchill's speech describing Battle of Britain aircrew, subsequently known as the Few: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few".
The film premiered at the Leicester Square Theatre in London at 6.30pm on Thurs 30 August 1942, as a charity performance in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Leslie Howard's portrayal of Mitchell has a special significance since Howard was killed when the Lisbon-to-London civilian airliner in which he was travelling was shot down by the Luftwaffe on 1 June 1943. His death occurred only days before The First of the Few was released in the United States on 12 June 1943, under the alternative title of Spitfire.
The First of the Few is a British film produced and directed by Leslie Howard, with Howard taking the starring role of aviation engineer and designer R. J. Mitchell. Leslie Howard bore little resemblance to R. J. Mitchell, however, as Mitchell was a large and athletic man. Howard portrayed Mitchell as upper class and mild-mannered. Mitchell - "the Guv'nor" - was in fact working class and had an explosive temper; apprentices were told to watch the colour of his neck and to run if it turned red. Howard himself was well aware of these deliberate artistic discrepancies, and dealt delicately with the family and Mitchell's colleagues; Mrs. Mitchell and her son Gordon were on the set during much of the production. When told that the "authorities" had come up with the name "Spitfire", Mitchell is reported to have said "Just the sort of bloody silly name they would think of".
The film's score was composed by William Walton, who later incorporated major cues into a concert work known as Spitfire Prelude and Fugue.
Because The First of the Few was made during the Second World War and dealt with subjects related to the conflict, it was, in effect, propaganda. Because of its value as propaganda, the RAF contributed Spitfire fighters for the production. U.S. producer Samuel Goldwyn allowed Niven to appear in exchange for U.S. rights to the film, which was distributed by RKO Pictures. After seeing the prints, Goldwyn was furious that Niven was cast in a secondary role and personally edited out 40 minutes before reissuing the film as Spitfire.
Wing Commander Bunny Currant ("Hunter Leader") Squadron Leader Tony Bartley, Squadron Leader Brian Kingcome, Flying Officer David Fulford, Flight Lieutenant 'Jock' Gillan, Squadron Leader P. J. Howard-Williams and Flight Lieutenant J. C. 'Robbie' Robson are among the pilots and RAF Fighter Command personnel who make uncredited appearances. Some pilots seen in the early sequences did not survive to see the completed film. Jeffrey Quill is the test pilot who flies the Spitfire prototype in the scene demonstrating its ability to climb to 10,000 feet and dive at more than 500 miles per hour.
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[@0ldb1ll]

It is incredible to believe that the RAF took a delivery of 'new design' bi-planes (and there were only 6 Spitfires in existence) in 1938. This was one of the reasons that Neville Chamberlain was forced to sign the Munich Agreement. Even so, the majority of the fighters that took part in the Battle of Britain were Hawker Hurricanes, and the reason that the RAF won was due to the self-sacrifice of the few pilots, who knew that they'd only have an average battle life of 6 WEEKS before being killed. They did not have enough flying hours. They flew up to as many as 12 missions a day and were on duty for up to 16 hours. Some did not even have time to unpack their kit from training before they were killed.

[@johnnowakowski4062]

He was a genius. Died at age 42. So much we own this man for so much he packed into his short life..

[@motoristube]

What did you think of this movie?

[@stephenhannell1370]

Well it is about the designer of the spitfire,unfortunately he never got to she her fly,and the euphoria the spitfire actually acclaimed,and the first to have the new design of wings.and for a fighter to under go 24 different mks,and enigne design and armourment from 6 303 to 4 2 mm cannon.and to reach speeds of over 400 mph.what a plane.

[@adrianmedforth3033]

Great historical true movie

[@None-zc5vg]

It was a highly-fictionalised account of Mitchell and his career: that was probably unavoidable if it all had to be condensed into a screenplay.

[@InverJaze]

Spits look slow by today's standards.