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Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain

War · History · Action · 1969

In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing an attempted Nazi invasion.

Movie details

Battle of Britain

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.”

1969 War · History · Action 2h 12m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing an attempted Nazi invasion.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Battle of Britain?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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A British Corporal in France finds himself responsible for the lives of his men when their officer is killed. He has to get them back to Britain somehow. Meanwhile, British civilians are being dragged into the war with Operation Dynamo, the scheme to get the French and British forces back from the Dunkirk beaches. Some come forward to help, others were less willing.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Guy Hamilton

Written by

James Kennaway · Wilfred Greatorex

Harry Andrews

Harry Andrews

Senior Civil Servant

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Squadron Leader Canfield

Trevor Howard

Trevor Howard

Air Vice Marshal Keith Park

Curd Jürgens

Curd Jürgens

Baron von Richter

Ian McShane

Ian McShane

Sgt. Pilot Andy

Kenneth More

Kenneth More

Group Capt. Baker

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding

Court is in session

Put Battle of Britain on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.