Despite all violence
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Despite all violence |
| Original title | Reach for the sky |
| Country of production | Great Britain |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1956 |
| length | 104 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Lewis Gilbert |
| script | Lewis Gilbert Vernon Harris |
| production | Daniel M. Angel |
| music | John Addison |
| camera | Jack Asher |
| cut | John Shirley |
| occupation | |
| |
Against all odds is a British biopic from 1956 . Director Lewis Gilbert tells the life story of British RAF pilot Douglas Bader (1910–1982), who became a flying legend during the Second World War despite the amputation of both legs. The script was based on Paul Brickhill's biography The Story of Douglas Bader , published in 1954.
action
In 1928 Douglas Bader became a cadet in the Royal Air Force . Although he does not always adhere to the discipline and the rules, and is admonished by Marshal Halahan, Bader successfully completed his training. He is being transferred to Kenley Base for the 23rd season. After two pilots have crashed and killed during aerobatic maneuvers, the commander forbids further maneuvers of this kind. Bader is provoked by a civilian pilot and, despite the ban, performs a few aerobatic maneuvers. A crash occurs, which Bader survives.
Bader sustained serious injuries to his legs in the fall. To save his life, Dr. Joyce amputate both of his legs. During his convalescence, Bader is encouraged by the nurse Brace. After he leaves the hospital, he has prostheses made. He meets the waitress Thelma Edwards, with whom he has a date, when he has learned to walk with the prostheses. Since there are no regulations at the RAF for such cases, Bader is not granted a flight permit. Instead, he is offered a position at the staff. Bader leaves the RAF and takes an office job. Thelma and he get married.
When the Second World War broke out, Bader rejoined the RAF. He is given command of a squadron whose airmen are mostly Canadians who fought in France. These pilots have become discouraged by their experiences and defeats. Bader raises the pilots' morale again. He obtains urgently needed material in a roundabout way. This will make the squadron ready to fight again. Bader's squadron flies successful missions in the Battle of Britain .
Bader, who now also flies missions himself, is given command of five squadrons at the Tangmere base. In 1941 he had to leave his machine via France. He is captured, escapes, but is caught again. Bader annoys the guards so much that he is transferred from one POW camp to the next. In the end, he was arrested in Colditz Castle in Saxony .
Four years later, Bader was released from captivity. The end of the war prevents him from making one last flight in the Far East. On September 15, 1945 he was allowed to fly over London with eleven other survivors in a parade , in which a total of over 300 machines took part.
criticism
The Lexicon of International Films described the film as “a heroic epic with plenty of enthusiasm for war; for an authentic biography. "
The British film portal britmovie described the film as superbly assembled, with exciting dogfights. He is a bit tough at times, but still remarkably good, which is due to Gilbert's subtle direction and the convincing performance of the actors.
Awards
In 1957, the film won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film . There were further nominations in the categories of Best British Actor (Kenneth More), Best British Actress (Dorothy Alison), Best Screenplay (Lewis Gilbert) and Best Picture .
background
The film premiered on July 5, 1956 in London . In Germany it appeared in cinemas on September 27, 1957.
Web links
- Despite all odds in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Despite all violence. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Review of britmovie ( Memento from July 22, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) ( English )