'The First of the Few' relates the story of the development of the Supermarine Spitfire by R.J.Mitchell, although as almost anyone who knows anything about the 'Battle of Britain' will tell you, around 70% of the Royal Air Force's front line fighters were Hawker Hurricanes. Slower, but a more stable and resilient gun platform than the Spitfire. In the Battle of Britain (fought in the summer of 1940) the Royal Air Force deployed the Hurricanes against bombers, while the more agile Spitfires engaged their fighter escorts. The Hurricane was designed by Sydney Camm (1893-1966) who designed many post-war jet aircraft including the Hawker Hunter - maybe someone should make a film of his life. An uncle of mine was an ace with 6 kills to his credit, flying a Hurricane from Malta. His aircraft was short down by British anti-aircraft fire on 29-12-1941. No, there's nothing new about friendly fire. William Walton's music also makes a great contribution to the film, and is now rightly (popular as the 'Spitfire Prelude and Fugue')in the concert hall.

One of my biggest loves in this world is the Spitfire fighter aeroplane. A wonder of aviation and an engineering masterpiece, its speed and versatility, (not to mention the brave boys who flew them) were the sole reason why Britain remained in the fight and fought of the foul invasion force throughout the dark days of 1940.

Although now old and obsolete, no other aeroplane has as much right or privilege to fly over our green and pleasant land.

Here the Spitfire is given top billing in a biopic of it's creator R.J. Mitchell.

The great Leslie Howard plays the genius designer, in what was to be his last 'appearance' before the camera. Mitchell was an aircraft designer of noted repute having invented several of the Supermarine seaplanes which secured the Schneider Trophy for Britain throughout the 1920's and 1930's.

He was one of the few people in Britain to have heard the snarls and threats of Nazi Germany and was an open campaigner for rearmament, a policy not at all popular with the British Government of the time. Yet despite opposition he fought against not only the bureaucrats but a serious and life-threatening illness to design and build, what has been regarded since as the greatest fighter aircraft of all time, in preparation for a war he knew was coming and a crisis the rest of Britain chose to ignore.

David Niven plays Geoffrey Crisp, Mitchells friend and test pilot, who's affable and likable performance is hampered slightly from the fact that his character is completely fictional. Geoffrey Crisp, whoever he was, was never a Schneider trophy winner for Britain.

The true facts for anyone interested are that H.C.Biard won the title for us in 1922, followed by S.N.Webster, H.R.D.Waghorn and J.N.Boothman in 1927, 1929 and 1931 respectively, the last three flying Mitchell's Spitfire forerunners the Supermarine S5, S6 and S6B.

Also Geoffrey Crisp was not the test pilot of the very first Spitfire. That high honour goes to Joseph 'Mutt' Summers, who took off from Eastliegh airport on 5th March 1936. Summers became the chief test pilot for Vickers and was also the man who dropped the very first life size prototype of the bouncing bomb over Chesil Beach, Weymouth in 1943.

This is a great movie, and one which makes all Englishmen grateful and proud, but with all historic based movie stories, there is always something that has been changed, omitted or hushed up, especially in a film made during the war at the height of it's 'keep mum' propaganda battle.

Enjoy it like I did, but if there are any R.A.F or aviation buffs out there and would like to know more about the Spitfire and it's history, the glory of the air racing days of the 20's and 30's or just more factual information about the great man himself, then I suggest you visit www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk

A large part of me knew before seeing 'The First of the Few' that it would be a good film. With such an interesting subject, William Walton as composer and Leslie Howard in his sadly final film role starring and directing along with David Niven and Rosamund John in the cast, it would have been very hard to mess up. Was a little worried though admittedly as there have been films with just as big potential that do make a mess of it.

Luckily 'The First of the Few' did not mess up. It is the sort of film that will move, and has moved, a great many, while there will be, has been, others that may note the budget limitations and time constraints, feel that there is not enough about the spitfire and may find what it tries to say handled on the didactic side. My opinion lies with the former while actually understanding any issues some may have. Found 'The First of the Few' to be a good film with great emotional impact and good intentions.

'The First of the Few' has more good than not so good and the good things will be started first. Howard, as director and lead actor, is a major asset as to why the film works. He provides sympathetic but also appropriately forceful direction, while also giving a performance that is assertive and moving. Regarding calling his performance moving, much of it is to do with the performance itself but some of it is also to do with remembering that this was his final film role before his tragic death too young. Niven also gives an authoritative account of himself and Rosamund John brings charm and pathos to a role that could have been more fleshed out.

William Walton's score is another strong component, it is very rousing yet stirs the emotions in distinctive Walton style (one of those compositional styles that can be recognisable from anywhere). The Spitfire Prelude and Fugue is a justifiably popular concert piece, an example of an individual piece from a film that is more famous than the film itself. The script made me think and cry, also being literate while flowing well and not waffling. The story is compelling on the most part, and really admired its sincerity and good intentions, especially when the advances in aviation are documented which was fascinating. Didn't think it was too exaggerated. By the end of the film, found myself genuinely moved and admiring the courage shown during the war. The involvement of the RAF pilots as extras in hard-hitting and lump in the throat-inducing scenes was a genius touch and everything with the development of the spitfire intrigued (would have liked more though) and inspired.

However, watching 'The First of the Few's' production values there was a rushed look to it and it is one of those films that is serious need of a restoration. Appreciated and admired the more educational/instructional aspects of the film, but some of it could have been handled more subtly.

Do think too that some of the more biographical parts could have gone into more depth.

In conclusion though, very well done. 7/10