Good concept, poorly executed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Reach for the Sky is one of many flag waving war films to come out of the UK in the 50's and 60's which include 'The Cruel Sea' - 'The Colditz Story' - 'Sink the Bismark' - 'The Malta Story' and many others. All thankfully free of the obligatory American who could never have been there anyway (didn 't often stop them crowbarring one in somewhere to enable a sale to the USA). I am a big fan of these films, the British were much better at that time of making war films, we didn't need John Wayne or anyone like him.The war was still very foremost in the minds of the British public and these films were often sugar coated. That included the character of Douglas Bader who was known to be arrogant at the very least and difficult to be with, not the wonderful chappie portrayed in this biopic. Granted Bader was still alive when this was made so it was probably politic to show him as mister nice guy despite being difficult on set. Having said that I can't take away his courage if not for Bader and others like him we would be speaking German now.So I wish there would be a remake with a more accurate portrayal of the subject, bad language and all. This time get someone closer in age to Bader than Moore (that's no criticism of his performance which, as ever, was excellent) he was far to old to play someone in their 20's. There are many young actors who could fill these boots, check out Matthew Winters, he has the right stuff.

REACH FOR THE SKY, a British biopic of wartime fighter pilot Douglas Bader, has something of the epic feel to it. It's a lengthy black and white production that stars Kenneth More as Bader himself, a cocky young sportsman who overcomes extreme adversity to become one of Britain's top pilots of WW2. Featuring above average direction from future Bond director Lewis Gilbert (of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME fame) and an ensemble cast of familiar faces, REACH FOR THE SKY is classic entertainment.More always had a kind of easy-going English charm and it's well utilised for his role in this production. The story avoids being overtly sentimental and puts forth the classic British upper lip style of overcoming adversity which works nicely. To list the supporting faces would take too long but it's great to see players such as Michael Ripper, Michael Balfour, and Sam Kydd making all of their respective performances. Add in authentic combat scenes and you have a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story.

It's sad that folks on my side of the Atlantic pond don't know about Douglas Bader and the inspirational figure that he is. Talk about overcoming handicaps, the challenge he met would have defeated most any other person.Kenneth More was at his career height in the British cinema when he played Bader in the biographical picture Reach For The Sky. We meet Bader first as a brash young recruit in the Royal Air Force who thinks he's going to teach the pros about flying. A nasty crackup by a reckless Bader leaves him with both legs amputated.But that's not going to keep Bader from a career in the Royal Air Force. The crash took place in the middle 30s giving him just enough time to mend and train to become a squadron commander in the RAF with more than his kills in the sky of the Luftwaffe before he was shot down over occupied France and made a prisoner for four years.Wikipedia paints a slightly different of a far more earthy Bader, one that would be known for his salty language which the British cinema even without the Hollywood Code would be loath to show. Probably if Reach For The Sky was made today with someone like Russell Crowe in the lead we'd get Bader warts and all.Even laundered Reach For The Sky is a fine tribute to one who would be a hero in any country. The United Kingdom was lucky to have Douglas Bader answer his country's call in their finest hour.

From director Lewis Gilbert (Alife, You Only Live Twice, Educating Rita), I had seen bits and pieces of this British war film from clips shown on two countdown shows, so I was certainly interested. Based on the true story, it is 1928, where the young and hyperactive Douglas Bader (BAFTA nominated Kenneth More) is joining as a cadet for the Royal Air Force of Cranwell, where despite not caring for rules he succeeds in training and is posted to No. 23 squadron at Kenley. Next he starts learning how to fly a plane, and has a very promising few turns, but then in 1931 he makes a wrong move and ends up accidentally crashing his plane and is in a near-death state, and unfortunately he has both his legs amputated. During recovery Douglas starts learning how to use a new pair of artificial legs, first wooden and straight, and then ones that can bend, and during this he meets and often goes out with Thelma Edwards (Muriel Pavlow), who he later marries. He is frustrated that he cannot find a job back in the RAF as a pilot, he would be forced to work behind the desk, so while he tries to get back into the sky he works for Shell Oil. World War II begins and Douglas does manage to talk himself back into being a pilot for the RAF again, taking part in the Battle of Britain, being made commander for a squadron of mostly Canadian men. Then his plane is shot down, but he managed to parachute to safety, only to be taken as a POW (prisoner of war), and after managing to escape a few times he ends up in Colditz Castle, and the Nazis threaten to take his legs away if he keeps trying. In the end, Douglas, after being released, succeeds in taking down many enemy planes, and the film ends in 1945 when he leads a team of pilots for a celebratory flyover. Also starring Lyndon Brook as Johnny Sanderson, Lee Patterson as Stan Turner, Alexander Knox as Mr. Joyce, BAFTA nominated Dorothy Alison as Nurse Sally Brace, Michael Warre as Harry Day, Sydney Tafler as Robert Desoutter, Howard Marion-Crawford as 'Woody' Woodhall, Jack Watling as Peel, Nigel Green as Streatfield, Anne Leon as Sister Thornhill and Batman's Michael Gough as Flying Instructor Pearson. More creates a very amicable character, the most interesting scenes are him learning to walk, but the flying scenes and occasional battles are good viewing too, it is a film that makes you proud to be British, a most watchable Second World War biographical drama. It won the BAFTA for Best British Film, and it was nominated for Best British Screenplay and Best Film from any Source. It was number 78 on The Ultimate Film, and it was number 59 on The 100 Greatest War Films. Very good!