I heard both Richard Todd and Wallis son speak at an event in 2008, and they both admitted that Redgrave was good, but spoke much faster than the real Wallis, as if he hadn’t, the film would have been much longer! Wallis always spoke in a steady, measured way.

Redgrave followed him about for a few days in 1954 (literally in his footsteps at times) to learn his mannerisms.

The Australian radio programme is excellent and follows the Squadron through to the end of the war … but even for the die-hard listener, it’s a LONG 13 hours!

Regards,

Iain.

I remember reading a 2 part article in either Flypast or the ‘other’ publication about the filming of the original Dam Busters and it mentions a meeting between Michael Redgrave and Barnes Wallis. Redgrave had said that didn’t want to imitate Wallis, to which Wallis had replied “No you must not do that dear boy, you must try to create me”

I really enjoyed the radio series in Dave’s link when I listened to it when it was first posted. I would love to see it dramatized on screen as a mini series in a similar way that the story of ‘Easy Company’ was told in Band of Brothers. Would that be possible, I wonder? Certainly with the quality of CGI these days and PJs Plastic Lancs I think it could be.

Martin

Also I have a great fondness for the 1954 film but it makes me laugh at these people who’re so damned precious about it being remade. I mean, it’s a real event! That are not re-doing the film, they are refilming the real event. There have been dozens of books about the dams raid, no-one seems to get up in arms that they are all a sacrilige to Paul Brickhill’s work.

I agree, although I admit to being a little skeptical at first. Now I am actually looking forward to it. Like you say Dave it is a retelling of the story rather than a remake. It will have new information available that was still on the secret list in 1954 when the original was made and a producer who is passionate about the subject. Much the same way in which James Cameron was when he filmed ‘Titanic’. While putting hours of research in, he actually went see and film the RMS Titanic herself and used some of that footage in the finished film.

Documentaries and books aside the have been at least 12 feature films made, retelling the story of Titanics demise and no one has really batted a eyelid about it. To date, again documentaries and books aside, only one feature film has been made about the Dambusters and that is now getting on for 60 years old! I think it is about time a new film is made of what is arguably one of the most famous stories of WWII.

Martin

I agree with Oxcart. I watched it too and Fry definately said he was going to NZ for talks with PJ. For those that can get it its now on the BBC iPlayer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bw5bj/The_One_Show_09_02_2012/ Scroll to 15:15.

There is also an item on the Kent Sound Mirrors on just before it too.

Martin

I don’t think M*A*S*H has dated that much really. It has a certain quality, much the same way that ‘Dads Army’ has, in that as it was set in the past rather than in the time it was filmed, it wont really date that much. Like you Arthur I watched it recently and found the laughter track completely ruined it for me. I seem to recall that when it was first shown on BBC2 there was no laughter track and that for me added a certain ‘grittiness’ to it. The repeats on the comedy channels have now ruined it with the canned laughter that has now been added in.

Martin

Thanks Daz, I will pass the info on

Martin

Hi Guys!

I was asked a question by one of my cadets about P9374, and googling for the answer brings up conflicting information.
For many years the BBMFs MkIIa Spitfire P7350 has been ‘marketed’ (for want of a better phrase) as the worlds oldest flying Spitfire. However, after a most excellent restoration/rebuild, we now have a Mk1 in P9374 back in the air.

I know there is Mk1 AR213 but that was never the oldest flyer being a later Mk1. So, as both P7350 and P9374 are BoB veterans. Which is now the eldest of the two?

The serial numbers suggests ‘P7’ is the elder but I’m guessing thats not the case.

Martin

Checked in our cadet directory and there is no record of a 1255 Sqn. Sorry about that

Martin

From http://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/findasquadron/ 571 (Cupar) Squadron, TA Centre, Yeomanry House, Castlebank Road, Cupar, Fife

Martin