Moustroll
Good movie but grossly overrated
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Jackson Booth-Millard
From director Lewis Gilbert (Alife, You Only Live Twice, Educating Rita), I had seen bits and pieces of this British war film from clips shown on two countdown shows, so I was certainly interested. Based on the true story, it is 1928, where the young and hyperactive Douglas Bader (BAFTA nominated Kenneth More) is joining as a cadet for the Royal Air Force of Cranwell, where despite not caring for rules he succeeds in training and is posted to No. 23 squadron at Kenley. Next he starts learning how to fly a plane, and has a very promising few turns, but then in 1931 he makes a wrong move and ends up accidentally crashing his plane and is in a near-death state, and unfortunately he has both his legs amputated. During recovery Douglas starts learning how to use a new pair of artificial legs, first wooden and straight, and then ones that can bend, and during this he meets and often goes out with Thelma Edwards (Muriel Pavlow), who he later marries. He is frustrated that he cannot find a job back in the RAF as a pilot, he would be forced to work behind the desk, so while he tries to get back into the sky he works for Shell Oil. World War II begins and Douglas does manage to talk himself back into being a pilot for the RAF again, taking part in the Battle of Britain, being made commander for a squadron of mostly Canadian men. Then his plane is shot down, but he managed to parachute to safety, only to be taken as a POW (prisoner of war), and after managing to escape a few times he ends up in Colditz Castle, and the Nazis threaten to take his legs away if he keeps trying. In the end, Douglas, after being released, succeeds in taking down many enemy planes, and the film ends in 1945 when he leads a team of pilots for a celebratory flyover. Also starring Lyndon Brook as Johnny Sanderson, Lee Patterson as Stan Turner, Alexander Knox as Mr. Joyce, BAFTA nominated Dorothy Alison as Nurse Sally Brace, Michael Warre as Harry Day, Sydney Tafler as Robert Desoutter, Howard Marion-Crawford as 'Woody' Woodhall, Jack Watling as Peel, Nigel Green as Streatfield, Anne Leon as Sister Thornhill and Batman's Michael Gough as Flying Instructor Pearson. More creates a very amicable character, the most interesting scenes are him learning to walk, but the flying scenes and occasional battles are good viewing too, it is a film that makes you proud to be British, a most watchable Second World War biographical drama. It won the BAFTA for Best British Film, and it was nominated for Best British Screenplay and Best Film from any Source. It was number 78 on The Ultimate Film, and it was number 59 on The 100 Greatest War Films. Very good!
Spikeopath
After losing both his legs in a flying accident, Douglas Bader not only mastered the use of his artificial legs, he also astounded everybody by flying for the RAF again-leading the assault in the Battle Of Britain in the process.Reach For The Sky opens up with a disclaimer of sorts, the usual yadda yadda about certain events in Bader's life being altered in the name of entertainment. To which it should be mentioned that for a honest look at the man and his life, those interested should either read the biography that this is adapted from {written by Paul Brickhill), or source from many other available means. That said, Lewis Gilbert's film is in essence a true story. Yes it is true that some of Bader's known character traits are not fully formed, and yes the makers here were very clever in casting the hugely popular Kenneth More as Bader to ensure the film stayed away from Bader negativity. But it stands up as an uplifting film regardless of its supposed glorification of combat.Kenneth More gives it the whole kitchen sink, so much so that pretty much everyone else in the picture barely gets a look in. But to do down More for that would be grossly unfair, asked to carry the narrative entirely, he not only achieves that, but he also makes Bader an inspiration for many, and that has to be a good thing. It caught me personally at the right time, a time when I was feeling rather sorry for myself, so with that in mind the film definitely achieved its aims. Thematically strong and technically sound, Reach For The Sky is a recommended picture, but not, if you aren't prepared for some artistic license as regards the "hero" of the piece. 7/10
writers_reign
A cynic would argue that the producers made it difficult to say anything negative about a film that recounts a seventeen year period in the life of a man lauded as a hero and who was still very much alive when it was made. Although he'd been a jobbing actor for several years Kenneth More finally achieved stardom in the theatre in the role of Freddy Page, an ex-Battle of Britain pilot who finds it hard to adjust to civilian life. The play, which opened in 1952, was Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea and More went on to recreate his role in the film version albeit opposite Vivien Leigh rather than Peggy Ashcroft. It was, then, something of type-casting to give him the role of Douglas Bader, a pilot who lost both legs in 1931 yet went on to lead five squadrons in The Battle Of Britain. It is, inevitably, a feelgood movie and Lewis Gilbert surrounds More with a cast of rock-solid dependables of the British film industry and on the whole turns out a decent enough film.
donnyrussell
The facts of Douglas Bader's life were accurately portrayed in this excellent movie. It is a great movie to watch when you are feeling lousy, and life has got you down. Douglas Bader had an amazing spirit, and lived life to the fullest. Eventhough his lost both of his legs in a flying accident. That did not stop him from becoming a war hero. Who contributed a lot to destroy Nazism, and to preserve our free way of life. I salute Douglas Bader, and this excellent movie about his life.
