633 Squadron (1964)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The first must-see film of the year.

The acting in this movie is really good.

633 Squadron actually part inspired the Death Star battle sequence in Star Wars and although you might have never seen this film before, you would have heard of its stirring theme music.It is 1944 and the Royal Air Force commanders have been informed of a factory producing fuel for the German V2 rockets in the Norwegian fjords. The factory is protected by an overhanging cliff which if it collapses could destroy the factory beneath it. A squadron of De Havilland Mosquitoes are assigned the task for this dangerous mission.Cliff Robertson plays the stoic American flying ace (who joined the RAF) and he is joined by Oscar winner George Chakiris who plays the Norwegian resistance fighter Erik Bergman who is there to provide the sex appeal and has a sister who Robertson can romance.The British actors are also rans but who can miss Crossroads legend Shughie McFee and the film makes a nod to soldiers from all parts of the commonwealth.Despite the stirring finale the film has an hackneyed plot, cheesy lines such as 'You can't kill a squadron' and some hammy acting. The special effects are average at best but let's not ignore the stirring music and its influence on George Lucas.

***May contain spoilers*** Wow. The De Havilland Mosquito is certainly the star of this film. What a beautiful, amazing aircraft.Clichéd plot and tired special effects aside, this is an aviation classic with some beautiful shots of the Mosquito and some thrilling, scenic action sequences. The very dated effects in places slightly detract from the enjoyment of the film, but that said it is very easy to watch and perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon when you have 91 free minutes.If the plot and characters manage to draw you in, then be warned that there are some truly depressing moments, revealing some of the sacrifices made by service people during WW2. The deaths and horrific injuries come thick and fast, but fortunately the film is very sanitised (it is a PG) so the audience is spared witnessing graphic splatter and scorched flesh. The film does help to drive home the pointlessness and idiocy of war.Definitely worth seeing.

When you see this movie one thought crosses your mind. Is this A made for TV movie released in theatres? The budget for this film appears to be miniscule. Cliff Robertson the protagonist was card board like throughout the movie. He retained the same expression through various scenes in the whole movie, reminding you of a soap opera actor. The build up to the climax was OK. The final R.A.F. assault scene was so pathetic that it was almost laughable. You could clearly see that the action sequence took place on a board room table. The bombs that were supposed to invoke an earthquake looked nothing more than a child's firecracker. All in all a disappointing ending. There have been many classic war movies made during the 60's, this wouldn't be one of them by a long shot.

A WW2 squadron of Mosquito bombers are training for a perilous mission to bomb a cliff face in Norway; with the aim to bring the cliff tumbling down on the German arms factory below it.633 Squadron may not be a film for the War enthusiast purists? But the work done here to make this film a winner should never be understated. In this day and age it's often forgotten how these type of film's relied on good aerial photography, deft model work, and a stirring score. All of which this picture contains, thus making 633 Squadron more than a wet day crowd pleaser. Sure the intermittent scenes between the training sequences and the actual mission are mere filler, and the subplots obviously halt the flow of the movie (hello romance, hello sacrifice clichés); but what they do do is give a sort of added feel to the proceedings come the mission at the end. We do after all have to have some sort of affinity with the characters putting their lives at risk, and we get that here courtesy of a well written first half. Also boasting (in my opinion naturally) one of the greatest scores used in a War movie, courtesy of Ron Goodwin, the film triumphs because the ending is all that you hope for. In truth it's never in doubt given the build up we are given (and being the normality for many genre pieces), but with little dashes of poignancy and slivers of adrenalin rushes, the impact is akin to a jingoistic chest thudding.Besides which, if you can't get a tingle on your neck watching the Mosquitoes fly over the Norwegian fjord? Well you got no blood in your body say I. 7/10