Reach for the Sky – 2014 version

RFTS Telemovie

And approximately fifteen years too old for the early 1940s part of the movie

Moggy

True, but if you shot it this year, he would only be 2 years older than Kenneth Moore was and I reckon he looks younger.
With the Harry Potter films finished what about Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint or Tom Felton, they’re all pretty good and would fit the age.

Was there an interview with the director of RFTS in Flypast some time ago? (one of the monthlies anyway)
He said something along the lines of Kenneth More brought charm to the role-this was totally unlike Douglas Bader!

John Simm (Life on Mars) is about the right stature.

And approximately fifteen years too old for the early 1940s part of the movie

Moggy

Just been an interesting programme on BBC4 examining the enduring appeal of the British 1950’s black and white war film – plresumbly still available on the BBC iPlayer.

The presenter of which (at least) believes “Angels one five” to be a great film (as do I).

His view was that most of these films (for some) cannot be bettered because, the films themselves are history.

Getting back to RFTS, it could be made as a telemovie, purchase footage from BofB, Dark Blue World, etc . Re shoot training scenes and “Paintbox” the original Hurricane aerobatics (because nobody would throw one about like that anymore).
There are plenty of good actors out there, John Simm (Life on Mars) is about the right stature.

Just been an interesting programme on BBC4 examining the enduring appeal of the British 1950’s black and white war film – plresumbly still available on the BBC iPlayer.

I liked Black Hawk Down. That one worked on a couple of levels IMHO.

Not a fan of Saving Private Ryan, either, although I do have it on DVD. What war movie collection would be complete without?

Now you are talking! Of its genre, yet to be surpassed.

If we are now drifting into made for television films and post war productions at that you just cannot better “Das Boot.” I don’t even like things naval but for me it stands head and shoulders above any other war film.

Well that I would agree with as well. Perhaps I was too dismissive but I don’t think you can compare a 10 episode miniseries with a 2 hour feature film – current or past. They are very different animals.

If you´d said Private Ryan, I´d agree. I thought that was awful.

Spielberg pap – not one of my favourite films. Sorry but blinkers well and truly removed.

not only were some of the old films better but the acting was as well.

Nonsense. Take those blinkers off and go and watch Band of Brothers.

I think it has more to with whether or not there is demand for remakes. Any WW2 movie is going to cost a packet and the investors will want to be sure of a decent return. I need to be convinced that there is a big enough audience to guarantee that.

Thats why the newer versions get ruined — they have to appeal to all and sundry.

Here’s a newsflash for some of you – not all old films are good and not all new ones are bad.

I was watching Sink the Bismarck the other day and thinking what a great film that could be nowadays. Rather than having 80% of it take place in an office in London….

Absolutely – there were some stinkers back then as now. That said, I really rather like Sink the Bismark’s take on things, driven no doubt by the cost and realism of trying to do a film about war on the high sea back then but films of gritty front line action are ten a penny, its rather refreshing to see the backroom war, which is after all where most people were. I’m not sure of the ratio in the navy but in the army I believe the tail of non-combatant staff to front line troops was something like 9:1.

Reach for the Sky isn’t a great film, IMHO. Its full of plucky stiff upperlippedness but overall rather unconvincing. I much prefer Angels One Five (despite its very dodgy “aerial” scenes) and Appointment in London as two of the best of the classic B/W British war films.

Even sadder that no-one chose to preserve any Flower Class Corvette in this country

The Cruel Sea is the best of the lot in my opinion. Sad that ‘Compass Rose’ was already being processed into razor blades before the film opened.

Moggy

James D – that’s true but not only were some of the old films better but the acting was as well.

I think it has more to with whether or not there is demand for remakes. Any WW2 movie is going to cost a packet and the investors will want to be sure of a decent return. I need to be convinced that there is a big enough audience to guarantee that.

There’s always Pistorius if he gets off.

Moggy

I think he recently told someone to “reach for the sky” 😀