TheLittleSongbird While perhaps too long, but just a tad, Reach for the Sky is a very compelling, moving and inspiring movie, that treats its subject matter with dignity. The story is always compelling and paced very nicely, the music is stirring, the dialogue is thoughtful with a bit of humour, the film is wonderfully made with beautiful cinematography, costumes, sets and scenery and Bader at the end despite any faults character-wise he has is one to take inspiration from. Gilbert's direction is masterful, seamlessly making the drama equally as good as the action sequences, and I think Bader is Kenneth More's best ever performance, he is just marvellous. All in all, compelling, beautifully shot and just not a movie to miss really. 9/10 Bethany Cox

writers_reign A cynic would argue that the producers made it difficult to say anything negative about a film that recounts a seventeen year period in the life of a man lauded as a hero and who was still very much alive when it was made. Although he'd been a jobbing actor for several years Kenneth More finally achieved stardom in the theatre in the role of Freddy Page, an ex-Battle of Britain pilot who finds it hard to adjust to civilian life. The play, which opened in 1952, was Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea and More went on to recreate his role in the film version albeit opposite Vivien Leigh rather than Peggy Ashcroft. It was, then, something of type-casting to give him the role of Douglas Bader, a pilot who lost both legs in 1931 yet went on to lead five squadrons in The Battle Of Britain. It is, inevitably, a feelgood movie and Lewis Gilbert surrounds More with a cast of rock-solid dependables of the British film industry and on the whole turns out a decent enough film.

Andy Howlett 'The channels are blocked? Then we'll ruddy well UNblock 'em!' This is the point in the film where I feel like cheering, as it perfectly sums up Bader's 'can do, will do' approach. It's the true story of Douglas Bader, a young flying enthusiast who went on to be a fearless WW2 Spitfire pilot, losing both legs in the process. His struggle to walk again, his courting of a pretty girl and his later formation of 'the big wing' in the fight against the Nazi invasion are laid out here with gusto, verve and a little humour. Kenneth More is excellent as Bader, using his natural, relaxed acting technique to give the part a free-wheeling energy. The very pretty Muriel Pavlow plays his wife who grows increasingly concerned at his derring-do, and there is a solid cast of British regulars of the time. The music is stirring, the direction brisk and the story itself is straight out of a Boys' Own comic. What more could you ask for? A perfect Sunday afternoon film.

Gordy Wright This may rate as one of the classic war films.A (fairly) true to life film, about Douglas Bader, who it is reported was a fairly arrogant person, though highly driven.Kenneth More in the lead role, delivers his usual top notch performance, and they rest of the cast just seem to fit together the way they should.The film covers Baders life, and the loss of his legs in a flying accident that was in truth of his own making, and then how he puts his life back together afterwards.It shows an amazing spirit and determination, to the extent that he got back into the RAF and became a successful pilot and air tactition.This film should be watched by other people who have had the misfortune of an amputation, and i don't mean that in a condescending manner, Bader showed what you can do if you put your mind to it, he wouldn't let his disability beat him.A really good movie, easily watched more than once, and good for more than one reason.