Battle of Britain (film)

Battle of Britain is a 1969 war film portraying the historic Battle of Britain, when in the summer and autumn of 1940 the British RAF inflicted a strategic defeat on the Luftwaffe, forestalling Hitler's plan to invade Britain.

Directed by Guy Hamilton. Written by James Kennaway and Wilfred Greatorex.

Memorable quotes

• Boys spotting approaching German raiders:

Boy 1:"Messerschmitts!"

Boy 2:"'Einkels!"

Boy 1:"Messerschmitts!"

Boy 2:"No they ain't, they're 'Einkels!"

• The British Ambassador's response to a German ultimatum:

"We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel — the last little corporal to try it came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall! ...and even then we won't listen!"

• The Ambassador's coda (to his wife): "It's unforgivable. I lost my temper."

• When troubled English pilot, "Simon," returns to land, he is forced to do a "go-around" because he had failed to put down his landing gear. Two of the more experienced pilots launch into an evidently familiar routine:

Sergeant Pilot Andy : "You can teach..."

Pilot Officer Archie joins in: "...monkeys to fly better than that!"

• A group of German prisoners have been brought to a bombed airfield:

Squadron Leader Skipper: "Where are you taking those vultures?"

RAF NCO: "Officers to the mess, NCOs to the guard room, Sir."

Squadron Leader Skipper: "Like hell you are. They're responsible for all that (turning and gesturing to the ruined field), get 'em to clear it up!"

NCO: "But, what about the officers, Sir?"

Squadron Leader Skipper: "Give them a bloody shovel!"

• Leigh-Mallory and Park, in Dowding's office:

Leigh-Mallory: "It's better to shoot down fifty bombers after they hit their targets than ten before."

Park: "Remember that the targets are my airfields, Leigh-Mallory, and you're not getting fifty, you're not even getting ten!"

• Sergeant Pilot Andy, having been shot down in combat, appears in the doorway of the hangar.

Squadron Leader Skipper: "Where the 'ell have you been?"

Sergeant Pilot Andy: "Learning to swim."

Squadron Leader Skipper: "Did you get him?"

Sergeant Pilot Andy: "All I got was a bellyful of English Channel."

• Summoned to Berlin to be disciplined for accidentally bombing London, Major Brandt and his navigator drive through the brightly lit city. (Dialogue is in German, text given is that of the English subtitles.)

Navigator: "Haven't they heard of a blackout?"

Brandt: "You heard what Göring said — 'If one enemy bomb falls on Berlin, you can call me Meier'".

Street lights suddenly go out, air-raid sirens sound and there is panic in the streets. Searchlights sweep the sky as anti-aircraft guns begin firing. Brandt and his navigator get out of their car and look up at the sky.

Navigator: "You may call me Meier..."

• Göring, gazing with pride at a huge fleet of German aircraft heading for England:

"If we lose the war now, they'll tear our arses asunder!." (Dialogue is in German, text given is that of the English subtitles; a literal translation would end '...they'll tear our arses out!').

• After the airfield bombing raid, Warrant Officer Warwick, a typically aggressive senior non-commissioned officer but junior in rank to Section Officer Harvey, shouts an order to her from a distance:

Warwick: "Put that cigarette out! The mains have gone, Can't you smell gas?"

Harvey (pausing two beats), screams back: "Don't you yell at me, Mr. Warwick!"

References

• Mosley, Leonard. Battle of Britain: The Story of a Film. London: Pan Books, 1969. ISBN 0-330-02357-8.
• Schnepf, Ed, ed. "The Few: Making the Battle of Britain." Air Classics Vol. 6, No. 4, April 1970.