Spitfire Reviews

Leslie Howard directs, produces and stars as R. J. Mitchell, the inventor of the most influencial piece of engineering, during World War II - the Spitfire! David Niven co-stars as test pilot, Geoffrey Crisp, who undertakes a series of races against German, Italian and American planes, competing for the Schneider Trophy. As the Nazi forces become a larger threat, Mitchell, Crisp and Henry Royce (played by the wonderful George Skillan), work together to design the ultimate fighter plane. Niven is as naturally brilliant as ever, but it's Howard's film through and through.
An often wonderful film overall, with some exciting sequences - I think I may even prefer this to The Dam Busters. It's also notable that Leslie Howard was shot down for real, just after the film was made, during what may have been a top secret mission. A true hero on and off screen, it seems.

4/5