But in the cause of airing all opinions I would like to see what somebody who doesn’t rate the Wellum programme thinks is superior. Then, if I have seen that I can judge, if not I can make haste to see it.
Just two words – “The Book”.
I have to say, and I run the risk of being hunted down and shot at dawn, that I was a little dissapointed with the program. It didn’t have the depth that the book has. When you read it you really feel that you are in the Spitfire with him. And there were parts of the book that I was hoping was going to be in it.
Then there was the arrival of the new gate guards at Biggin earlier this year and the Spitfire representing his Spitfire, K9998, and 92 Sqdn, QJ. Geoffrey Wellum actually came and has his picture taken in front of it, but there was no mention of these details.
Having said that, and after what we’ve heard here about the low budget, I think it was well done. Perhaps I had raised my hopes too high. I read the book last year and I had it in my mind what I was going to see on the screen. But I guess they couldn’t get it all in, or the bits weren’t relevant to the overall feel of the film. The BBC has a good track record with costume dramas. It wasn’t long ago that all hell broke out when a contrail was spotted in the sky of a scene from ‘Larkrise to Candleford’.
Anyway, I dug out my copy of the book today and read a few sections in my lunch break and immediately I was there in the cockpit with him, flying the Spitfire for the first time and trying, 3 times, to land it in the dark, un-succesfully. I just didn’t get that same feeling whilst watching it.
To all that watched it last night, but have not read the book, go down to your book shop tomorrow and buy a copy. You won’t be dissapointed. I, for one, am going to read it again.
Tony.
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