The First of the Few poster

1942·118 min·Released

The First of the Few

“The thrilling human story behind the plane that licked the Luftwaffe!”

War
Drama

This 1942 fictionalized biopic chronicles the true story of how two of the most remarkable men in aviation history - visionary Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell and his test pilot Geoffrey Crisp - designed a streamlined monoplane that led to the development of the Spitfire.

6.7(41 votes)

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The First Of The Few 1942 Trailer | David Niven

Cast & Crew

Leslie Howard

Leslie Howard

R.J. Mitchell

David Niven

David Niven

Geoffrey Crisp

Rosamund John

Rosamund John

Diana Mitchell

Roland Culver

Roland Culver

Commander Bride

Anne Firth

Anne Firth

Miss Harper

David Horne

David Horne

Mr. Higgins

J.H. Roberts

J.H. Roberts

Sir Robert McLean

Derrick De Marney

Derrick De Marney

Squadron Leader Jefferson

Rosalyn Boulter

Rosalyn Boulter

Mabel Lovesay

Herbert Cameron

Herbert Cameron

MacPherson

Toni Edgar-Bruce

Toni Edgar-Bruce

Lady Houston

Gordon McLeod

Gordon McLeod

Major Buchan

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CinemaSerf

Written on 6/3/2024

Leslie Howard had a hand in just about everything here, and has delivered quite a poignant story of a dedicated and visionary man who might just have a legitimate claim to really have helped stave off the Nazis. He portrays R.J. Mitchell, a man whose vision was as an aircraft designer. We were still using bi-planes at the time and though the engineering of flight was now well established, he was determined to push the boundaries. His bosses at British firm SuperMarine were nervous about the investments - especially when he came up with a plan for the aircraft equivalent of a onesie. He sticks to his guns though, and next thing he, with the help of his accomplished pilot "Geoffrey Crisp" (David Niven), is winning the Schneider Trophy and pushing speed records from 200+ mph to 400+ mph. All of this development is coming at a time when the Germans are ignoring the Versailles treaty and rearming. There are plenty of Britons pushing for a similar programme, especially the vocal Lady Lucy Houston (Toni Edgar-Bruce) who donates the not inconsiderable sum of £100,000 so he can work with Rolls-Royce to take it's embryonic "Merlin" engine and fit it to a nimble fighter aircraft - the "Spitfire". Though it is Howard who takes centre stage, I think it's actually Niven who works the best here as the enthusiastic pilot who manages to motivate his friend whilst helping to manage his increasingly obsessive behaviour alongside wife Diana (Rosamund John). There's a sense of excitement as their peacetime racing enterprises illustrate the pre-eminence of this British team and then a sense of accruing menace as they realise those across the channel were playing nice whilst looking to Hermann Goering to fund an expansive programme of military Messerschmidt production. It does run a little to sentiment towards the end, but there is ample action, a bit of mischief and a lively score from William Walton make for a slightly rose-tinted but entertaining and sometimes quite informative watch.

Media

The First Of The Few 1942 Trailer | David Niven

The First Of The Few 1942 Trailer | David Niven