A british airman loses his legs but vows to fly again. Reach for the sky is a 1956 english film stars kenneth more, daniel m. Lewis gilbert masterfully makes the drama as compelling as the action sequences, and kenneth more gives the performance of his career playing douglas. But this is the story of a remarkable man whose stubbornness, passion and positivity led to some remarkable feats and ultimately played a key part in the war.
Kenneth more, at the time of filming, was 42 and looks considerably older than the young man he was supposed to be. Reach for the sky is a 1956 film starring kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook. Eventhough his lost both of his legs in a flying accident. At the time of his crash and double amputation in 1931, douglas bader was 21 years of age. Angel, lewis gilbert, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, michael warre, michael ripper, michael gough, basil appleby, philip stainton, eddie byrne, beverley brooks, beverley brooks, derek blomfield, avice landone, eric pohlmann, harry locke, sam kydd, ernest clark.
Eric pohlmann in reach for the sky 1956 kenneth more in reach for the. Photograph of kenneth more from reach for the sky in various sizes, also as poster, canvas or artprint. Victor beaumont and kenneth more in reach for the sky 1956 eric. A film screening at the kenneth more theatre in ilford will honour the history of the man behind the name. It is a great movie to watch when you are feeling lousy, and life has got you down. Kenneth gilbert more, cbe 20 september 1914 12 july 1982 was an english film and stage actor initially achieving fame in the comedy genevieve 1953, he later appeared in many roles as a carefree, happygolucky gent. Reach for the sky war drama 1956 kenneth more, muriel. The film is middleclass in emphasis, with no reflection of the periods social changes, and no sense of the. The film stars kenneth more and was directed by lewis gilbert. Raf pilot douglas bader kenneth more, hospitalized after a reckless crash and having lost the use of both legs, sneaks from his bed, found by nurse brace dorothy alison, who hears his griping then lays down some law, in the 1956 biopic reach for the sky. Reach for the sky 2015 stream and watch online moviefone. It won the bafta award for best british film of 1956. Biography, drama, war 2 h 3 min kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, lee patterson director. Muriel pavlow, actress best known for her roles in reach for the sky opposite kenneth more and the doctor films opposite dirk bogarde obituary.
A classic role for kenneth more and a difficult role to play. Reach for the sky 1956 movie clip helpless cripple. An affable british leading man of stage and screen, more made his film debut in 1935 and established himself as a popular star in the 1950s in both light comedies doctor in the house 1954 and jingoistic wartime melodramas reach for the sky 1956. Muriel pavlow, actress best known for her roles in reach. Reach for the sky the true story of airman douglas bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident to become a successful fighter pilot and wing leader during world war ii. He is a young and ambitious pilot who, after a plane crash, is badly injured. In fact kenneth more was born in 1914, only four years after bader. Reach for the sky 1957 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Reach for the sky film starring kenneth more to be screened at. Still, it seems just as often a workaday film, sturdy rather than exhilarating. But when bader found out that muriel pavlow had been cast he was overjoyed and gave his full approval. Kenneth more full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Kenneth more reach for the sky remarkable true story. Reach for the sky was a boxoffice hit in 1956 and rightly remains a fondly regarded classic of british cinema.
Flier douglas bader kenneth more loses his legs in a 1931 crash and rejoins the raf as a world war ii wing commander. Reach for the sky is about an raf pilot and it does partly take place during wwii. Reach for the sky 1956 the true story of airman douglas bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident to become a successful fighter pilot and wing leader during world war ii. Flier douglas bader kenneth more loses his legs in a 1931 crash and. The actor kenneth more in the film reach for the sky. Definition of reach for the sky in the idioms dictionary.
Read the reach for the sky movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. Full length movie, over twenty minutes longer than tcm version. At the height of his fame in the 1950s he was britains most popular film star and had appeared in a string of box office hits including genevieve 1953, doctor in the house 1954, reach for the sky 1956 and a night to remember 1958. Reach for the sky is also superb in that baders injury is part of his character, but not the only reason for the movie. Reach for the sky 1957 cast and crew flier douglas bader kenneth more loses his legs in a 1931 crash and rejoins the raf as a world war ii wing commander. This is the remarkable true story of douglas bader, a pilot in the raf who overcomes every obstacle to prove his worth. Kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, lee patterson, alexander knox, dorothy alison, michael warre, sydney tafler, howard. Affable, bright and breezy kenneth more epitomised the traditional english virtues of fortitude and fun.
The facts of douglas baders life were accurately portrayed in this excellent movie. Kenneth mores performance is at the heart of it all, a biggerthanlife realization that is hard to resist. Miscellaneous notes and facts about reach for the sky, 1956, directed by lewis gilbert, with kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, reach for the sky 1956 misc notes. Reach for the skies, 1956 about the life of douglas bader from his start in the raf to the final days of world war 2, a film by the rank. David angel later said he favourite part of the film as when bader is trying to learn.
His biggest hits from this period include raising a riot 1955, reach for the sky 1956, the admirable crichton 1957 and a night to remember 1958. Based on paul brickhills biography of douglas bader, reach for the sky d. Reach for the sky 1956 john wayne message board jwmb. Also he became great friends with kenneth more who portrayed douglas in the film, in fact the two had become so close he was deeply saddened and affected by mores death which occurred just a few weeks before his own. Overall, reach for the sky is often a stirring account of one mans struggle to do his best and prove his worth under the most trying circumstances. Overview of reach for the sky, 1956, directed by lewis gilbert, with kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, at turner classic movies. The true story of pianist wladyslaw szpilmans experiences in warsaw during the nazi occupation. Douglas bader loses both legs in a 1931 air crash, learns to walk. Please download an advert blocker when watching you tube videos, it will make ones viewing a lot easier, so screw. Find out where to watch, buy, and rent reach for the sky online on moviefone. Kenneth mores performance is at the heart of it all, a biggerthanlife.
Reach for the sky is a 1956 british biographical film about aviator douglas bader, based on the 1954 biography of the same name by paul brickhill. If you like hurricanes and spitfires then this is the film to watch, many of the action scenes are taken from real film shot in action. Kenneth more is ideally cast as douglas bader, the gifted pilot who loses both legs in a prewar air crash, only to play a major role in the battle of britain, rise to the rank of group captain and become a war hero. Kenneth more is excellent, everybodys idea of the british hero and potraying this character must hve.
Biopic of raf group captain douglas bader who, after having lost both legs, flew a british fighter plane during ww2. Kenneth more collection 5dvd box set genevieve a night to remember chance of a lifetime north west frontier reach for the sky ti nonusa format, pal, reg. With kenneth more, muriel pavlow, lyndon brook, lee patterson. Douglas bader had an amazing spirit, and lived life to the fullest. Reach for the skies, 1956 about the life of douglas bader from his start in the raf to the final days of world war 2, a film by the rank organisation and daniel m. The films composer john addison was baders brotherinlaw. Id put this alongside 12 oclock high, the dam busters and other excellent wwii movies. Reach for the sky 1956 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
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