horsegal25
I would heartily recommend Reach for the Sky to anyone in need of inspiring, or anything of that sort- there is an old saying that goes; "What one man has done, another can do!" I think that very much applies to RFTS!The acting in this was superb, Kenneth More, and the gorgeous Muriel Pavlow looking surprisingly similar to the real Douglas & Thelma Bader- and Lyndon Brook giving an excellent performance as Johnny Sanderson.Reach for the Sky is an awesome film, and full of action, and anticipation- to tell the truth, I was shaking with anticipation the first time I saw it- I think- or maybe it was the 2nd or 3rd time- can't remember, but Lyndon Brook, my favourite actor was causing me a bit of heart throb to!!
Do see it!
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.
Gordy Wright
This may rate as one of the classic war films.A (fairly) true to life film, about Douglas Bader, who it is reported was a fairly arrogant person, though highly driven.Kenneth More in the lead role, delivers his usual top notch performance, and they rest of the cast just seem to fit together the way they should.The film covers Baders life, and the loss of his legs in a flying accident that was in truth of his own making, and then how he puts his life back together afterwards.It shows an amazing spirit and determination, to the extent that he got back into the RAF and became a successful pilot and air tactition.This film should be watched by other people who have had the misfortune of an amputation, and i don't mean that in a condescending manner, Bader showed what you can do if you put your mind to it, he wouldn't let his disability beat him.A really good movie, easily watched more than once, and good for more than one reason.
alembic
The credits advise that some events and depictions of people/events have been altered for story telling purposes , so this film is not a strictly accurate history of Douglas Bader. Also played down somewhat is Baders arrogance and foolhardiness which lead to his disability in the first place. Still as a inspiration for disabled people and as an almost factual account of Baders life and as film entertainment , it's pretty good. Made reasonably close to the war years it is able to capture the feeling of those years quite well. It is a trifle 'stiff upper lip - what ?' but Kenneth More as usual turns in a good performance. Focusing mainly on Baders attempts, and resulting achievements in war time flying, after a crash means both lower legs have to be amputated. Quite gritty and not too sentimental this offering from director Lewis Gilbert stacks up well against similar films of the time.
AD
