SummaryIn 1940, the British Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle to prevent the Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority over the English Channel as a prelude to a possible Axis invasion of the U.K.
Directed By:Guy Hamilton
Written By:James Kennaway, Wilfred Greatorex, Derek Dempster, Derek Wood
Battle of Britain
Metascore
Mixed or Average
44
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
44
33% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
33% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
80
It's a long way from Top Gun, but it's still stirring stuff.
75
This stirring if slightly overlong saga of England's WWII defense of its homeland features a staggering, star-studded cast, who abet the film's docudrama style with excellent portrayals down the line, despite the restrictions of their roles.
60
It's pretty standard fare, but it's always uplifting to watch Spitfires stick it to the Stukas. [25 May 2019, p.32]
50
These sequences—the dogfights over Dover, the disintegration of planes in mid-air, the graceful tactics of evasion—are more than just technically stunning. They also are beautiful, in the completely impersonal way that the spectacle of machines—working well and seemingly with wills of their own—can be beautiful. Unfortunately, something less than one-third of the film takes place in the air.
30
It is depressing to see $20 million poured down the drain in praise of a stiff upper lip which keeps mankind on the rack from Lagos to Mai Ly. [18 Dec 1969, p.63]
25
The writers never solved the problem of incorporating the top-heavy special effects into their thin little plot.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
80% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
20% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Sep 7, 2024
5
Watchable WW2 tale. As control of the English Channel skies is waged, as told from British and German sides, Top caliber cast seems bored, The air battles are confusingly edited, Except for one, The final one, It contains hardly any dialogue or sound fx, Just a stirring, exciting orchestral score playing, The music makes the scene work, Other major demerits, movie's overlength , And the unnecessary subplot of a love affair between Christopher Plummer and Susannah Yor
