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Reach For The Sky [1956] | ![Reach For The Sky [1956]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y6DF0DN1L._SL75_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Lewis Gilbert (ii)
Actors: Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook, Lee Patterson, Alexander Knox
Studio: ITV DVD
Category: Video
List Price: £5.99
Buy Used: £0.75
You Save: £5.24 (87%)
New (3) Used (15) Collectible (2) from £0.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 4601
Format: Black & White, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 130
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
EAN: 5014861305025
ASIN: B00004CJUA
Theatrical Release Date: September 27, 1957
Release Date: January 26, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: AIM TO PLEASE MY CUSTOMERS. ITEM SENT SAME OR NEXT DAY. CHEERS JOHN.
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Reach for the Sky was a box-office hit in 1956 and rightly remains a fondly regarded classic of British cinema. Kenneth More is ideally cast as Douglas Bader, the gifted pilot who loses both legs in a pre-war air crash, only to play a major role in the Battle of Britain, rise to the rank of Group Captain and become a war hero. Based on Paul Brickhill's biography, this is an "official" history maybe, but Lewis Gilbert's screenplay and direction are historically accurate and informed by that very British humour, of which More was a natural. The film is graced by a decent supporting cast and a typically "widescreen" score from John Addison. On the DVD: Reach for the Sky is vividly reproduced in 16:9 anamorphic format and decent mono. There are subtitles for the hard of hearing and detailed biographies of More, Gilbert and Barder. The original theatrical trailer is included, but it would also have made sense to include an interview or documentary footage of Bader himself. --Richard Whitehouse
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Douglas Bader - What a legend April 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am going to assume most of you interested in this DVD know the story of Douglas Bader the legendary WWII fighter pilot who lost his legs, nearly died and still flew fighter planes, learnt to walk and drive again a man who simply didn't understand how to fail. An inspiration this film depicts the story of Bader and his life until the end of the war. This is a great film and one I thoroughly enjoy everytime I watch it.
Great Movie July 24, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of the best war movies ever made.
Technically, a few little faux pas (bubble canopies on 1940 Spitfire) but most people wouldn't notice that.
It's the story of a great and heroic Brit who overcame imense disabilties to become a Battle of Britain fighter ace and after being captured, a real pain in the neck for the Germans.
One thing that is not generally known is that Bader's ability to dog-fight was actually enhanced by his lack of legs.
In making tight turns in fighters, the "G" force pushes the blood from the brain into the legs and can cause black outs. Because Bader had no legs, he could thrown Spits and Hurricanes around the sky with little chance of blacking out. These days, fighter pilots wear "G" suits!
I understand that Douglas Bader was not quite as nice as portrayed by Kenny Moore, but that does not detract from his bravery or ones enjoyment of a great film.
Buy and enjoy
 Thrilling inspirational courage June 16, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The story of Wing Commander Douglas Bader. After joining the RAF in the late 1920s, Bader badly injured himself in an air crash, losing both legs. He left the air force and seemed condemned to a life of boring 'civviedom' trapped in an office. The outbreak of World War 2 however gave him another opportunity to fly and he rejoined the RAF as a fighter pilot. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain before eventually being shotdown during the 'Rhubarb' flights over occupied France. Even in captivity he continued to campaign against the Germans, attempting to escape numerous times before being transferred to the infamous Colditz prison camp for serial escapers.
This film, like all war films of the immediate post war period, gains greatly by being able to use actual footage from the war interspersed with the actors. A stunning film portraying a true British hero.
An Inspirational Classic April 29, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
The story of Douglas Bader is a well known one. He crashed a Bristol Bulldog doing low level aerobatics and lost both legs. He overcame this disability and flew for the RAF in the battle of britain - with great success.
This classic film tells Bader's tale. Kenneth More portrays Bader as a really nice guy, which is not really what the real Bader was like, but some artistic licence is forgivable in film. His relationship with Thelma is well depicted, as are the aerial combat scenes. One of the advantages of Black and White films is the ability to use actual WW11 combat footage. It certainly looks better than when special effects are used. All the flying scenes are great, except that the spitfires used are late marks, with the 'bubble' canopy. This is an annoying thing for air buffs like myself, but in this case we can forgive it, since the all round quality of the picture makes up for it.
I consider Bader's tale one of the most inspiring in history, and it is a story that will live on thanks to this film.
Good adaption of book May 16, 2005
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
A very faithful adaption of the book by Paul Brickhill conveying Douglas Bader's spirit and determination in the face of adversity. In an era when anti-biotics and modern intensive care treatment simply didn't exist - the loss of both legs after a flying accident mean't once the surgeon had done his best - it was up to you - with the help of some supportive nursing - to survive - or not. Bader nearly did not.The later part of the movie includes some "good for the period" special effects of the Battle of Britian using a mix of real footage, model shots and actual combat footage. If you want to see Nicholson VC's actual footage of the wingless and tailess Dornier crashing onto Victoria Station after he rammed it in 1940 - it is included. Purists will spot the odd Spitfire being shot down by another Spitfire. Made with the co-operation of the RAF the Hurricanes were presumably dug out of mothballs as they had not flown in over 10 years when the movie was made. The Spitfires are post-war marks - presumably as they were easily available and jar the eye when flown in "1940". However if you don't care about this sort of nit-pick - it certainly doesn't detract from the movie. The film also perpetuates and explains Bader's "Big Wing" tactic and his selling of it to Leigh-Mallory - commander of 12 Group. Post war analysis showed that the tactic was deeply flawed and led to overclaims and made the wings themselves subject to succesful attacks by the German defending forces through 1941. Indeed Bader is shot down during one of his own sweeps over France in 1941 - and his plane's end follows the view of the witnesses rather than his own rememberance of the event. In the genre of 1950's war movies - this one stands above the crowd for its portrayal of Bader and is worth a look.
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