The conclusion of the movie. I would normally say, "WARNING: SPOILERS" but uh...I think we all know how the Battle of Britain ended in real life... From the movie "The Battle of Britain"
I'm overcome with pride and gratitude whenever I watch the closing scene with Olivier looking out over gardens and sky. Dowding was a great man, and it's fitting that he lived just long enough to see this tribute. No dialogue necessary; in this moment we fully appreciate that he and his extraordinary air force have saved our country. It's still our country. Wonderful, wonderful scene.
Thanks, I didn't know it was filmed at the actual HQ. Reading your comment reminded me that I've never visited Bentley Priory Museum and I'm going to rectify that very soon.
When I was in college and I first saw this film, I was always awed by the fact that guys my age were doing most of the flying, fighting, and dying. It's a very humbling experience.
I went to Bentley Priory today, looked out at the garden and immediately remembered the end of the film. The water fountain is still there! Very moving and beautiful music too.
I wish everyone on this Earth could see this film especially the British ourselves so that we can all truly appreciate how much we will always be indebted to those who fought and died in this glorious battle. We stopped the Germans, we did it.
+colin creighton yep it was a collective effort. Did you know that the highest scoring pilot on the Allied side was a Czech Hurricane pilot. Sgt.Josef Frantisek. And he died in quite mysterious circumstances.
colin creighton whooa how'd i miss this. the fuck!?! yeah the poles definitely helped us but mate. we fucking saved them. how can u say they saved us, like wtf seriously
Thank you...G-D bless America and G-D save the Queen... I find it appropriate that the Mustang and the Spitfire shared the same engine...the wonderful Rolls Royce Merlin...though the P-51 engine was built by Packard under license...
There's so much in the tone of this film they got right, but the simple inclusion of the figures is indeed humbling and makes the point of the cost of war in human terms, for both sides, with great respect.
8 Irish pilots took part in the Battle of Britain and zero were killed in action and one of them was the legendary Brendan " paddy" finucane. Shot down over 30 Jerry aircraft so he did!
yeah...the Irish were good pilots...I've also heard an Irish pilot joined the Japanese kamikaze squadrons.....he achieved 74 successful missions...after the war, he settled in county Clare, raising sheep....lol
Just to qualify - his kills were throughout the war. The top scoring Battle of Britain Allied ace was Josef Frantisek from 303 Polish Squadron. He was a Czech who had fought with the Poles since 1939.
Was watching this ending when coincidentally I just heard the sounds of the iconic Merlin engine above my house . I then realised it was Captain Tom,s birthday. Talk about a ray of hope in these dark times
@@DannyBoy777777 Good point. However the RN were reluctant to take to the channel en mass as they could have sustained enormous losses from German dive bombers. Just saying. We cannot underestimate the RAF and their achievement.
I see the 'repeat please' clip of the Battle of Britain has been disabled. How sad. The British won the Battle of Britain...with very welcome help from the brave pilots of other countries. Of those the country that stands out is Poland. As a boy we used to pass the Polish War Memorial near Northolt. My parents told me of the bravery of the Poles. I certainly wont forget what they did - and so far from home.
As I have often said, they were fighting a different war to us. We were fighting to keep the Nazis out of our country, they were fighting to KICK the Nazis out of theirs. Truly courageous comrades in arms.
One of the things I like about this filmis the ending with the list of crews and their countries which took part. To including the numbers of those killed - on both sides - is very poignant. Sadly any film made now would gloss over this and change the history in it to make it more 'interesting' to the general public. Great film.
Proud Canadian here.6 men from my family went over to fight.5 came back,2 of them never got over it...19 years old my Nana's brother was when he died at Ortona..God Bless all that served....Such sacrifice is incredible...But they knew they were doing the right thing.
russfromdodge massive respect to your relatives, and to Canada. My grandad was in the RAF throughout the war, based in Kent during the Battle of Britain. He always said the Canadians and New Zealanders were impressive - both quietly went about their business with no bravado or bragging. Thanks to them and all who helped defend Britain and freedom.
There is a sense in which that part was the best part that Olivier ever played, because he played it so well and because it was so true to a matter at the heart of British consciousness.
I do remember seeing one glowing report (in the weekly TV guide) a few years back; the movie is played at midday every September 15th here, or at least it has been for the last several years. It was described as an absolute must-see. Having watched it countless times myself, I agree. I love it.
It's easy to forget that we were absolutely alone in Europe against an enemy that was virtually unstoppable, and the odds were incalculably against us. And we still bloody well won!
Not really, things aren’t so simple as the myths created after the battle that persist. British position had a lot more cause for optimism and some decent advantages than the traditional story. The “plucky” David vs Goliath myth sold better as wartime propaganda. In reality UK had strong economic reserves & industry already mobilised for war production; a Navy that would have stomped all over any laughable German attempt at an amphibious landing (compare D-Day to German plans for dinky dinky towed wooden barges lol) and in 1940 the most formidable air defence network in the world. Then add Hitler being a bit ‘meh’ over the whole thing (‘verdammt, I wanna invade Russia already! okay let’s invade Britain. Maybe. Oh I dunno. Let’s neutralise them. Somehow. Could invade. Or not. Hmm”), the Kriegsmarine already convinced the war was a doomed cause so long as the Royal Navy was their foe, an army that didn’t know how amphibious maritime landings work (“large scale river crossing” derp derp GENUINE QUOTE) and a Luftwaffe designed for tactical air support and not strategic warfare (“Er, do we just bomb some stuff and then win? How does this ‘air superiority’ thing work without a simultaneous ground invasion, a decent plan to cripple defences, or when we can only get as far as London?”). Reality is much more interesting.
This is why Ron Goodwin is such a highly-underappreciated movie score composer. His music scores for this movie and _633 Squadron_ are some of the best I've ever heard.
Good call. Park is played here as English. Pisses me off a bit as one of my best friends is a New Zealander. Per head of population, New Zealand made a MASSIVE contribution. But that's numbers. Every single person who climbed into a Spitfire or Hurricane at any point during this battle, irrespective of nationality, is a f***ing hero - and can honestly say that they helped save the world. I'll never be able to understand or feel the bottle it took, for pilots on both sides.
Park was from NZ, but like many officers in the upper echelons spoke with a close to British accent. Many upper class people in the USA from old money also speak like that, perhaps exemplified by Frasier Crane the TV character
This movie finale is unic and unparalleled . It is a true tribute and spiritual monument for the sacrifice Great Britain and the British people payed during those dark days when standing alone she was the only bastion of light against the evil reincarnated which was mascarading under the civilization overcoat. If we are still here today as we are The World must be eternally thankful and as long as Human kind would record historical events we must say - "This was their finest hour ! "
I do not think I have ever heard such poignant and inspiring music and is such a fitting tribute to both the British and Allies and also to the brave men of the German Air force who were also so loyal and patriotic as ours were. Absolutely magnificent and something so hated by the degenerate" progressive liberal left".
Yeah, the “degenerate left” certainly wouldn’t heap praise on an Air Force that was the offensive arm of a genocidal expansionist dictatorship that believed themselves to be a master race. Give your head a wobble before coming out with garbage Clean Wehrmacht nonsense. The “patriotic” Luftwaffe has its hands soaked in blood and Nazi slave labour, read some recent research before spouting such playschool idiocy.
@@HydroSnips It is always curious when somebody cannot make a point without being offensive, notwithstanding the poor comnand of the language. I do not think I need to take lectures from someone who merely follows the conventional accounts of the war, distorted as they are. Britain's declaration of war on Germany was unnecessary as a result of invading Poland. Germany's interest's rightly or wrongly were in the East and the ill treatment of the German populaton was a factor in the invasion. Furthermore Poland had been prvocative, violating German terrtory with frequent border incursions. Germany also sought to retake land it had lost as a result of WW1, lands situated to the East. Hence Britain was not threatened and need not have declared war and neither did France. Perhaps you should re-exanine some of your own presumptions.
Yeah I laughed when I saw that too. Made me think of that scene in "Pearl Harbor" (man what a bad movie) where they make it seem like the Americans played a huge role in the Battle of Britain. I may be American, but I'm also modest.
You can see the sound track probably influenced George Lucases first Star Wars A New Hope along with the air combat footage . He mentions this in his interviews.
To the person who wished for a re-make of the film. It would be impossible. Many of the people involved in the making of the original had been through the war, many fighter pilots were still living to give technical assistance (take a look at the opening credits), and, of course, as much of the film was made in Spain, the makers had access to bucketloads of Heinkel 111s that the Spanish Air Force was still using (a legacy of Franco). To even think about a re-make would be sacrilege; and no doubt the politically correct brigade would poke their noses in too.
I am American and a student of history. I must say this video is a classic and it depicts the Battle of Britain well. The British showed overwhelming determination in the face of overwhelming odds. I raise my glass to the British pilots who gave their lives to defend their homeland.
I saw this in 1969 at the movie theater when I was 10. The parts that stuck in my mind the most was the pilot who got shot in the face, and the look of sadness on the doggie’s face when his master was killed.
0:50 was the most best theme of the RAF and it made me cry of all those pilots who fought for the Queen, Winston Churchill in England 1940. God bless the RAF!
Hitlers first real defeat that had far reaching consequences. One of them being a very hostile enemy on the doorstep meant Hitler had to station large forces of troops in the West when he really needed them for invading Russia in the east.. Who knows what would have happened if ALL of germanys might was directed at Russia during its invasion? I'm English and thank god for my brave countrymen back then. Something like thias inspires our armed forces to fight just that bit harder than a lot of other countrys armed forces so any enemy always has a problem.
+zenoist2 It wasn't just the English pilots. We had a lot of help from our Allies. Thanks everyone, good show, now home for tea, you've deserved it. (Best line in the movie!)
+Ben Winkie Yes we had commonwealth australia NZ and south africa as well as a few french , other countries and quite few Polish who had somehow made it across to england. The poles deserve special mention because it must have been realy difficult for them to get across the huge distance and be qualified as pilots too. I've always liked poles after reading about them in ww2. Their historic tragedy is to be caught between 2 superpowers, Germany and Russia and be one or the other countries conquests but they have never given up their fight for independence and now they are free. I really admire them for that.
I saw a atlernative history channel that suggested that even if Hitler did invade England, it would have failed eventually as we would have simple tried setting a boarder and launching our superior navy & rest of the airforce from up North and it would have cut the supply to German forces in England. Unsure if that would have happened, but I think the RAF & allies did well holding off the Luftwaffe that summer. This is also one of the best films ever made!
The Czechs and Poles were some of the most effective pilots Fighter Command had during the battle, as they all had combat experience which many RAF pilots lacked. The RAF's top-scoring pilot of the battle was Josef Frantisek, a Czech flying with 303 (Polish) Squadron.
Dafydd Flower remember that Poland only lasted a couple of weeks before surrendering to the Germans,so the idea that there airforce had lots of experience isn’t true,poles were very effective but they had a lot to fight for,there experience was know more than the RAF had as we fought in france
As a consequence of Germany loosing the air war against Britian. Hitler turned his attention to Russia and that sealed his fate. Gotta love those Brits.
I just love the sense that people of every nationality stood together and did what had to be done. There were many turning or forwarding points in WW2. El Alemein, Stalingrad, Midway, Normandy, Iwojima, Scicily are just some of them. But if we had lost The Battle of Britain it was Game Over. When Churchill describes the debt to the 'few', it is from every person alive (including us lot who were born later) that is free, to each and every one of those men in that roll of honour at the end.
One of the things I like most about this film is that it ends on a factual account of those who served and lost their lives defending this country. It some how wouldn't be the same if you just saw the credits with a load of actors names. The end of the Dambusters is similar, with the comment between Gibson and Wallis about those who never came back. Thank god someone had the good taste to do these and not end it in some crass Hollywood way.
This action should never be forgotten, the bravery of our own pilots, under huge odds, but the Luftwaffe aircrew also, they all did their leaders bidding, god bless all of them. There are no nations in heaven.
This film was made a year before I was born. I am impressed with the stirring heart on sleeve music and how a nation stood resolutely against the Third Reich and won. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
To the Americans say they saved our asses in WW2 you will note. You had 7 men in arms 1 of which died. The UK also paid for every bullet, aircraft, ship or gun we had as well non were GIFTED. Something cost us the empire.
Battle of Britain was won by a small margin only. It is hard to the tell what would be the outcome, if not 145 Poles fighting against Luftwaffe, who were among the best scoring pilots. As a 'reward' they were banned from taking part in the victory parade after the war and preferred to be sent back to Poland, where they could face persecution and imprisonment. So much for helping the British.
Sorry Stan but that is complete bollocks. I'm sure many Polish vets DID feel angry at their fate at the end of WW2. Much like my own father did.... conscripted at 20, at the age of 22 he clung to wreckage in the middle of the Indian ocean for 33 hours after his ship was sunk by japanese dive bombers in 1942, he was deafened and wounded by a nazi glider bomb that hit his ship in the Mediterranean in 1943, in Oct 1945 he was given a "demob suit" and told to "f*ck off". He had to wait until 1988 until the UK government saw fit to issue him a pittance of a pension for his permanently damaged hearing, and he was born and lived in the UK. The history is that Britain & France guaranteed Poland's borders in August 1939, and when subsequently the nazis overstepped that final "line in the sand", true to their word they declared war on Germany. Britain with her small army and world's No1 navy did all that was possible, from her initial state of being militarily non-mobilised, in the 6 weeks it took for 2 evil empires to destroy Poland. Indeed there is FAR more reason to direct shame on France, who historically had FAR greater diplomatic, domestic, economic and military ties with Poland that Britain has EVER had. The same France whose army of over 160 divisions on the French mainland (compared to the UK's 13 divisions of the BEF) did virtually nothing to assist the Poles during 1939/40. Britain sacrificed 450000 of her citizens in a war started to aid Poland which, due to her quick conquest, evolved into a meatgrinder of a war to topple her oppressors. At war's end it was the treachery of Britain's "enemy's enemy" (Josef Stalin) that strangled any possibility of a postwar democratic Poland. The western allies were reluctant to start WW3 in a central Europe already bled white by 6 years of murderous tyranny and warfare, a WW3 entailing probably millions more deaths that would have been necessary to remove the 12.4 million strong red army from the countries of Eastern Europe. The tragedy of Poland is that she was (and still is) sandwiched between 2 opposing power blocs. It is NOT the British or Americans who held responsibility for her plight, but nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union. Indeed when it was obvious that Poland would not become a democracy post WW2, the Labour government of Clement Attlee railroaded through the UK parliament the 1947 Polish resettlement act, that gave full UK citizenship and residency rights to all of the >200000 Polish ex-service personnel (and their families) who had fought alongside the western allies during WW2, thereby providing the courageous Poles with a safe national home after the land of their forebears had been stolen by communism. All the best.
That was kind of my fault :) When I rendered the scene I left the subtitles in by accident. There are English subtitles for where the Germans speak, however I had the closed captioning subtitles on. Mistake on my part. Sorry if it's confusing.
Future Prime Minister As A liberal democracy , we embrace the Poles and all brothers as our our kin .... we were all in this together ! Our patriotism is a love of all our European Allies and a belief in a solidarity of Poles , English , French etc We give thanks to the Polish Plots and we express our love and brotherhood to Poland ..... and the miracle that preserved we English as free people and comrades to the free world
The Luftwaffe never really recovered from the Battle of Britain. It would have needed at least a year to train replacement crews and pilots. But Adolf Hitler’s timetable would not allow that. A diversion into the Balkans and Greece in the spring of 1941 and then Operation Barbarossa in June of 1941. This led to even more losses that simply could never be made good.
Knew a Wing Co who was in the midst of all this, poor fellow had most of his guts missing from around 1940 onwards, but he survived into his 70's. A fine Yorkshireman. Remember he used to carve little wooden statues & gave me one of them when I was lad, he smoked like a chimney & said "doings" in almost every sentence, his hair was as white as driven snow.
one of the greatest scores from a decade of greatest scores, this film was able to capture both the mood and an apisode in history effectively. it never received the critical respect it desrves, but it does have staying power, which is a hallmark of great films
At Weston Park in Staffordshire they used to do a summer proms featuring a Spitfire display. One year the orchestra started with this piece, you could here the Spit in the distance as the music builds then as the music hits the opening chord the Spirfire bursts overhead. Unbelievable timing and an absolutely awesome, spellbinding moment I'll never forget.
They should be taught about the human sacrifice laid down by these men and how bloody greatful they should be for it, since without it we wouldn't be here today!
There was a moral reason to resist the tyranny of Fascism and Britain helped save the world order and usher in Democracy. There is not a moral reason for Britain to shy into itself and leave the EU, instead it should be bold and lionhearted, and have an ever stronger voice and presence and leadership there.
Judging from the losses sustained in this one, it looks like it turned out to be a total mistake for Germany and the German Luftwaffe to engage in this battle.
The losses were trivial for the Germans, the problem they had was that none of their factories were geared up for wartime production yet. These losses wouldn't even amount to a months aircraft production later in the war. But the loss of experienced pilots was a blow, the training schools were also not geared up to replace wartime losses yet.
@@mrblack888 Nonsense at “trivial”, it ripped the heart out of the Luftwaffe. Numbers of machines count for nothing when bedrock of experience gets gutted and pilot replacement can’t keep up. Sure, it had successes in the East but never regained its formidable reputation while the Allied air forces went from strength to strength.
Arthur J Dale. Hoops !!!! I new his time, he was really a Great Lyon. But during this time, even Elizabeth had b......., if I may. It seems french pilots were not so bad.
I think this film like so many war movies portrays the cost of human life to all nations but one thing we humans still have not learnt the lesson from ww1 and ww2
The ones who do the fighting and dying should certainly learn the lesson, but the global financiers at the top who pull the geo-political strings must have their fun.... and population control.....It's all going on as we speak still.
But at what cost? Fighting a war that in the end resulted in the voluntary suicide of Europe. I don't think they would've fought each other if they could see the state Europe is in now after the betrayal.
What are you talking about? Make your comment more clear and elaborate, explain by what you mean with ' voluntary suicide of Europe', ' the state Europe' and 'betrayal'.
It’s ironic that films like these are often celebrated by Brexiteers , however , the pilot listing at the end show how many international pilots helped us out and gave their lives alongside our pilots to defend the free world. Many polish pilots too , and now many U.K. people want many of the Poles to “go back home” and leave. Even in our most celebrated moment we needed foreigners.
The European pilots were here flying in the RAF because their own countries were overrun by the Nazi's, they were not helping us, they were carrying on the fight with our help. The battle of Britain has nothing to do with brexit. I assume you are a remoaner.
That was how one distributor changed it for VHS and some DVD editions. They also changed the end music, taking it from the original score. The version in this video was how the film was originally released, which was left in for the special edition DVD.
@damiann097 That is why the the Battle of Wizna is known as the "Polish Thermopyllae." They lasted for 4 days and, from their fortress, inflicted in excess of 24,000 casualties upon the Germans including the loss of more than 300 tanks. Another battle this vicious and unequal was the Battle of Westerplatte, which lasted a week.
I have always wondered about that. The battle is pre- Israel, but the film is post Israel. At the time (of the battle), the pilot would have been the nationality of whatever country he was born in if he was a jew. Or whatever country owned the part of Palestine he was born in if was an arab. Or again - possibly a jew who was an Israeli citizen by the time the film was made in the sixties. According to the roll of honour he survived. But whoever he is, like all of them, he's a hero.
@CarlyrachelCollins There were about 450 Australian pilots in the RAF at the time of the Battle of Britain but for various reasons most were flying in Bomber Command and Coastal Command. The number flying in Fighter Command may be more than shown here as many Australians joined RAF before the war (because of financial cutbacks in RAAF training in Australia) and were not acknowledged as 'Austrailian' Still, wherever they came from - they are all 'our blokes'.
When you see this great movie & the heroism displayed, it makes you wonder what has happened to this once great country over the years since that time.
You know something? I noticed in this video that they showed the German casualties whereas it was not shown towards the end of the movie originally. Very interesting. A great piece of music to go along with it!
I'm overcome with pride and gratitude whenever I watch the closing scene with Olivier looking out over gardens and sky. Dowding was a great man, and it's fitting that he lived just long enough to see this tribute. No dialogue necessary; in this moment we fully appreciate that he and his extraordinary air force have saved our country. It's still our country. Wonderful, wonderful scene.
Dowding and "his chicks" gave Hitler his first of many defeats. The world took note and soon took heart. We must remember the few and love them.
This was actually filmed at Stanmnore HQ. Bentley Priory.
Thanks, I didn't know it was filmed at the actual HQ. Reading your comment reminded me that I've never visited Bentley Priory Museum and I'm going to rectify that very soon.
David Jones b
David Jones What would he think today?
When I was in college and I first saw this film, I was always awed by the fact that guys my age were doing most of the flying, fighting, and dying. It's a very humbling experience.
I went to Bentley Priory today, looked out at the garden and immediately remembered the end of the film. The water fountain is still there! Very moving and beautiful music too.
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what a fantastic soundtrack this film has
I think you could say that the score of this film, laid the foundation for all the Epic movie scores John Williams would go on to make! JMO
@@davidcarr7436 Give me Ron Goodwin over John Williams any day
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One of the most powerful and spine-chilling endings for a film ever, they don't make them like this anymore!
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@@Frankie-O This was before they put you're prior comments at the top.
@@TheGroundedAviator *your*
@@DannyBoy777777 ?
@@TheGroundedAviator This film was a huge flop.
I wish everyone on this Earth could see this film especially the British ourselves so that we can all truly appreciate how much we will always be indebted to those who fought and died in this glorious battle. We stopped the Germans, we did it.
Hans Gruber and the poles French Czech and the Europeans who saved us .
+colin creighton yep it was a collective effort. Did you know that the highest scoring pilot on the Allied side was a Czech Hurricane pilot. Sgt.Josef Frantisek. And he died in quite mysterious circumstances.
colin creighton whooa how'd i miss this. the fuck!?! yeah the poles definitely helped us but mate. we fucking saved them. how can u say they saved us, like wtf seriously
Your original comment above and this comment are as if from two different people. One intelligent and studious, the other a yob.
i might've been drunk
I always shiver with pride for our nation (Czech) when seeing these credits.
🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🤝🤝🤝🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 love the Czechs and poles forever we will be allies
Brothers in arms
@@ringomydingo7915 🇵🇱🤝🇬🇧🤝🇨🇿
Indeed. So you should.
As a kiwi I always feel proud to see our name amongst our brothers in arms! 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
Seeing the tally at the end of this great movie always makes me feel very humble. Much respect to the RAF from former USAF.
Thank you...G-D bless America and G-D save the Queen... I find it appropriate that the Mustang and the Spitfire shared the same engine...the wonderful Rolls Royce Merlin...though the P-51 engine was built by Packard under license...
There's so much in the tone of this film they got right, but the simple inclusion of the figures is indeed humbling and makes the point of the cost of war in human terms, for both sides, with great respect.
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ONE OF THE BEST SOUNDTRACKS I HAVE HEARD & MY FAVORITE WAR MOVIE
Avoid the DVD version! The Sir Ron Goodwin ending score has been replaced with another composition!
oldrocker74 It might be a Pirated DVD.
Much better movie than Memphis Belle.
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8 Irish pilots took part in the Battle of Britain and zero were killed in action and one of them was the legendary Brendan " paddy" finucane. Shot down over 30 Jerry aircraft so he did!
yeah...the Irish were good pilots...I've also heard an Irish pilot joined the Japanese kamikaze squadrons.....he achieved 74 successful missions...after the war, he settled in county Clare, raising sheep....lol
Spec 3456 Good pilots...when loyal ones.
@@umbertotoni3021 Loyal to the Republic.
I knew his brother Kevin, a lovely man.
Just to qualify - his kills were throughout the war. The top scoring Battle of Britain Allied ace was Josef Frantisek from 303 Polish Squadron. He was a Czech who had fought with the Poles since 1939.
'This was their finest hour'
Happy 90th Birthday R.A.F!!
April Fools Day 1918
Was watching this ending when coincidentally I just heard the sounds of the iconic Merlin engine above my house . I then realised it was Captain Tom,s birthday. Talk about a ray of hope in these dark times
Erich Marcks had a birthday on D-Day.
One of the greatest movies of all time...if not the greatest!
Dunkirk is another greatest.
God bless the brave pilots of the RAF in 1940 - we will always remember them.
1939- 😉
Screw god. Thankfully the sheer size and power of the Royal Navy made the Battle of Britain irrelevant.
@@DannyBoy777777 Good point. However the RN were reluctant to take to the channel en mass as they could have sustained enormous losses from German dive bombers.
Just saying.
We cannot underestimate the RAF and their achievement.
Remember all of them
@@tombo1984 No, the battle of Britain lasted from the summer till autumn 1940.
I see the 'repeat please' clip of the Battle of Britain has been disabled. How sad. The British won the Battle of Britain...with very welcome help from the brave pilots of other countries. Of those the country that stands out is Poland. As a boy we used to pass the Polish War Memorial near Northolt. My parents told me of the bravery of the Poles. I certainly wont forget what they did - and so far from home.
Yes ... amazing people ... we will remember them forever !
The perfect end to that scene would have been after the officer read the message, one of the poles had said
“Repeat please”
As I have often said, they were fighting a different war to us. We were fighting to keep the Nazis out of our country, they were fighting to KICK the Nazis out of theirs. Truly courageous comrades in arms.
2! 3! 0!
One of the things I like about this filmis the ending with the list of crews and their countries which took part. To including the numbers of those killed - on both sides - is very poignant.
Sadly any film made now would gloss over this and change the history in it to make it more 'interesting' to the general public. Great film.
Ron Goodwin's score is very underrrated. Finale brilliantly written.
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Proud Canadian here.6 men from my family went over to fight.5 came back,2 of them never got over it...19 years old my Nana's brother was when he died at Ortona..God Bless all that served....Such sacrifice is incredible...But they knew they were doing the right thing.
russfromdodge massive respect to your relatives, and to Canada.
My grandad was in the RAF throughout the war, based in Kent during the Battle of Britain. He always said the Canadians and New Zealanders were impressive - both quietly went about their business with no bravado or bragging. Thanks to them and all who helped defend Britain and freedom.
Thank you Canada for the use of one of the three flying Hurricanes used in this Film (made in Canada too)
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As Dowding walks out onto the balcony and the music rises to a crescendo....One of the most stirring moments in a movie anywhere ever.
Never failed to make me cry as a kid.
He knew he achieved the impossible!!!
I love the heart on sleeve music. Dowding died just four months before I was born!
There is a sense in which that part was the best part that Olivier ever played, because he played it so well and because it was so true to a matter at the heart of British consciousness.
I do remember seeing one glowing report (in the weekly TV guide) a few years back; the movie is played at midday every September 15th here, or at least it has been for the last several years. It was described as an absolute must-see. Having watched it countless times myself, I agree. I love it.
September 15, 1946 - when director Oliver Stone and actor Tommy Lee Jones were born.
The soundtrack really gets me going. It sends a tingle down the spine.
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It's easy to forget that we were absolutely alone in Europe against an enemy that was virtually unstoppable, and the odds were incalculably against us. And we still bloody well won!
Not really, things aren’t so simple as the myths created after the battle that persist. British position had a lot more cause for optimism and some decent advantages than the traditional story. The “plucky” David vs Goliath myth sold better as wartime propaganda. In reality UK had strong economic reserves & industry already mobilised for war production; a Navy that would have stomped all over any laughable German attempt at an amphibious landing (compare D-Day to German plans for dinky dinky towed wooden barges lol) and in 1940 the most formidable air defence network in the world.
Then add Hitler being a bit ‘meh’ over the whole thing (‘verdammt, I wanna invade Russia already! okay let’s invade Britain. Maybe. Oh I dunno. Let’s neutralise them. Somehow. Could invade. Or not. Hmm”), the Kriegsmarine already convinced the war was a doomed cause so long as the Royal Navy was their foe, an army that didn’t know how amphibious maritime landings work (“large scale river crossing” derp derp GENUINE QUOTE) and a Luftwaffe designed for tactical air support and not strategic warfare (“Er, do we just bomb some stuff and then win? How does this ‘air superiority’ thing work without a simultaneous ground invasion, a decent plan to cripple defences, or when we can only get as far as London?”).
Reality is much more interesting.
Superb. As they say, 'there'll always be an England'. And that's coming from an Ulsterman. Great film.
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There were a lot of Brave Luftwaffe pilots too, and it is only right that they get a mention.
Soundtracks in this film as well as The Dambusters and 633 Sqaudron always get me going.
Operation Chastise was a complete failure and a war crime.
@@MarkHarrison733 Feel that "dambusters" love too Mark !!! LOVE IT !!!
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Operation Chastise was a complete failure that achieved nothing, as both Speer and Harris confirmed.
This is why Ron Goodwin is such a highly-underappreciated movie score composer. His music scores for this movie and _633 Squadron_ are some of the best I've ever heard.
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A brilliant film.
Yeah that's why it flopped all over the world.
It's a racist film.
@@MarkHarrison733 Hahahaha, still enjoying the taste of your own piss I see James?
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 So glad Ike bankrupted sterling.
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0:36 Goering actually said "You have not only failed me! You have BETRAYED me!".
"You have let me down!"
Typical of Goering to blame everybody else except himself.
I don't feel sorry for Goering.
I love the music at the ending it's a beautiful Music!!! a great Move!!
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The best music to ever come out of cinema. No other movie can beat this film. One of the best films ever made.
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From someone who has Lived under you Sacrifice and Bravery.. THANK YOU ALL!XXXX🇬🇧❤️
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Good call. Park is played here as English. Pisses me off a bit as one of my best friends is a New Zealander. Per head of population, New Zealand made a MASSIVE contribution. But that's numbers. Every single person who climbed into a Spitfire or Hurricane at any point during this battle, irrespective of nationality, is a f***ing hero - and can honestly say that they helped save the world. I'll never be able to understand or feel the bottle it took, for pilots on both sides.
Park was from NZ, but like many officers in the upper echelons spoke with a close to British accent. Many upper class people in the USA from old money also speak like that, perhaps exemplified by Frasier Crane the TV character
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This movie finale is unic and unparalleled . It is a true tribute and spiritual monument for the sacrifice Great Britain and the British people payed during those dark days when standing alone she was the only bastion of light against the evil reincarnated which was mascarading under the civilization overcoat. If we are still here today as we are The World must be eternally thankful and as long as Human kind would record historical events we must say - "This was their finest hour ! "
I do not think I have ever heard such poignant and inspiring music and is such a fitting tribute to both the British and Allies and also to the brave men of the German Air force who were also so loyal and patriotic as ours were. Absolutely magnificent and something so hated by the degenerate" progressive liberal left".
Yeah, the “degenerate left” certainly wouldn’t heap praise on an Air Force that was the offensive arm of a genocidal expansionist dictatorship that believed themselves to be a master race. Give your head a wobble before coming out with garbage Clean Wehrmacht nonsense. The “patriotic” Luftwaffe has its hands soaked in blood and Nazi slave labour, read some recent research before spouting such playschool idiocy.
@@HydroSnips It is always curious when somebody cannot make a point without being offensive, notwithstanding the poor comnand of the language. I do not think I need to take lectures from someone who merely follows the conventional accounts of the war, distorted as they are. Britain's declaration of war on Germany was unnecessary as a result of invading Poland. Germany's interest's rightly or wrongly were in the East and the ill treatment of the German populaton was a factor in the invasion. Furthermore Poland had been prvocative, violating German terrtory with frequent border incursions. Germany also sought to retake land it had lost as a result of WW1, lands situated to the East. Hence Britain was not threatened and need not have declared war and neither did France. Perhaps you should re-exanine some of your own presumptions.
We don’t hate it. We hate the wing idiots like you that start these wars in the first place so good people have to die to sort the mess.
Yeah I laughed when I saw that too. Made me think of that scene in "Pearl Harbor" (man what a bad movie) where they make it seem like the Americans played a huge role in the Battle of Britain. I may be American, but I'm also modest.
a comparatively rare quality
Like everything else America ! Does ! Hey !
Pearl Harbor was more of a romantic war movie.
"Where Napoleon failed, I shall succeed, I shall land on the shores of Britain."
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You can see the sound track probably influenced George Lucases first Star Wars A New Hope along with the air combat footage . He mentions this in his interviews.
A Bridge Too Far came out and was released the same year as Star Wars: A New Hope; 1977.
This truly was a turning point in world history
The end of Europe and the British Empire.
@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Pisses you off SO much to see everyone applauding the UK... suck it up Mark.
@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 See why Ike bankrupted the UK.
To the person who wished for a re-make of the film. It would be impossible. Many of the people involved in the making of the original had been through the war, many fighter pilots were still living to give technical assistance (take a look at the opening credits), and, of course, as much of the film was made in Spain, the makers had access to bucketloads of Heinkel 111s that the Spanish Air Force was still using (a legacy of Franco). To even think about a re-make would be sacrilege; and no doubt the politically correct brigade would poke their noses in too.
There is no need to remake this magnificent film. They got it right the first time. If anything just remaster this film in HD
Re release film next summer in UK,US,France, Spain,Poland and Germany. 75 years right?
@Rasputin watch 633 squadron then.
Frankly, most remakes stink to high Heaven.
It would be CGI crap. If in doubt, buy yourself one of the many PS4 games that let you see how it would look
Must be the greatest victory of any time.
Greatest war film of all time with the greatest tribute of all time.
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I am American and a student of history. I must say this video is a classic and it depicts the Battle of Britain well. The British showed overwhelming determination in the face of overwhelming odds. I raise my glass to the British pilots who gave their lives to defend their homeland.
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I saw this in 1969 at the movie theater when I was 10.
The parts that stuck in my mind the most was the pilot who got shot in the face, and the look of sadness on the doggie’s face when his master was killed.
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This is how you win a battle: The enemy quits showing up.
And as P.O.W s ! Too !
One my favourite endings to any film. Very inspirational music too :)
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0:50 was the most best theme of the RAF and it made me cry of all those pilots who fought for the Queen, Winston Churchill in England 1940. God bless the RAF!
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The monarch at the time was George VI, not his daughter, Elizabeth.
God that ending never gets old...
And that scary start
Hitlers first real defeat that had far reaching consequences.
One of them being a very hostile enemy on the doorstep meant Hitler had to station large forces of troops in the West when he really needed them for invading Russia in the east.. Who knows what would have happened if ALL of germanys might was directed at Russia during its invasion?
I'm English and thank god for my brave countrymen back then.
Something like thias inspires our armed forces to fight just that bit harder than a lot of other countrys armed forces so any enemy always has a problem.
+zenoist2 It wasn't just the English pilots. We had a lot of help from our Allies. Thanks everyone, good show, now home for tea, you've deserved it. (Best line in the movie!)
+Ben Winkie
Yes we had commonwealth australia NZ and south africa as well as a few french , other countries and quite few Polish who had somehow made it across to england.
The poles deserve special mention because it must have been realy difficult for them to get across the huge distance and be qualified as pilots too.
I've always liked poles after reading about them in ww2. Their historic tragedy is to be caught between 2 superpowers, Germany and Russia and be one or the other countries conquests but they have never given up their fight for independence and now they are free.
I really admire them for that.
I saw a atlernative history channel that suggested that even if Hitler did invade England, it would have failed eventually as we would have simple tried setting a boarder and launching our superior navy & rest of the airforce from up North and it would have cut the supply to German forces in England. Unsure if that would have happened, but I think the RAF & allies did well holding off the Luftwaffe that summer. This is also one of the best films ever made!
Hitler should have LEFT ! ENGLAND ! WELL ALONE !!
The Czechs and Poles were some of the most effective pilots Fighter Command had during the battle, as they all had combat experience which many RAF pilots lacked. The RAF's top-scoring pilot of the battle was Josef Frantisek, a Czech flying with 303 (Polish) Squadron.
Dafydd Flower remember that Poland only lasted a couple of weeks before surrendering to the Germans,so the idea that there airforce had lots of experience isn’t true,poles were very effective but they had a lot to fight for,there experience was know more than the RAF had as we fought in france
They gave their lives for England... and for the freedom of Europe, may they rest in peace.
NOT ! SLAVA ! U.K !
hello America.... you didn't save us in WW2, we saved ourselves...
And Western Civilization...let's not leave that out....
The US violated its neutrality in September 1940 with the Destroyers for Bases Agreement.
Which saved what? You pro Nazi.
As a consequence of Germany loosing the air war against Britian. Hitler turned his attention to Russia and that sealed his fate. Gotta love those Brits.
I just love the sense that people of every nationality stood together and did what had to be done. There were many turning or forwarding points in WW2. El Alemein, Stalingrad, Midway, Normandy, Iwojima, Scicily are just some of them. But if we had lost The Battle of Britain it was Game Over. When Churchill describes the debt to the 'few', it is from every person alive (including us lot who were born later) that is free, to each and every one of those men in that roll of honour at the end.
Exactly.
One of the things I like most about this film is that it ends on a factual account of those who served and lost their lives defending this country. It some how wouldn't be the same if you just saw the credits with a load of actors names.
The end of the Dambusters is similar, with the comment between Gibson and Wallis about those who never came back. Thank god someone had the good taste to do these and not end it in some crass Hollywood way.
Great end theme tune.
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This action should never be forgotten, the bravery of our own pilots, under huge odds, but the Luftwaffe aircrew also, they all did their leaders bidding, god bless all of them. There are no nations in heaven.
Ron Goodwin's theme is remarkable, much more suited to the movie than Walton's music, which although magnificent was more suited to the concert hall.
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This film was made a year before I was born. I am impressed with the stirring heart on sleeve music and how a nation stood resolutely against the Third Reich and won. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
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Bloody shameful how Dowding was treated after this battle.
Goering was betrayed.
The German officer who asked for Spitfires was none other than the famous ace Adolf Galland, and he really did make that comment! :-)
Foehn? Falke.
Alot of WW II aircraft in museums (both real and replica) were used in this film
To the Americans say they saved our asses in WW2 you will note. You had 7 men in arms 1 of which died. The UK also paid for every bullet, aircraft, ship or gun we had as well non were GIFTED. Something cost us the empire.
We’re grateful to the seven, though. And the support of the American people consequently.
Battle of Britain was won by a small margin only. It is hard to the tell
what would be the outcome, if not 145 Poles fighting against Luftwaffe,
who were among the best scoring pilots. As a 'reward' they were banned
from taking part in the victory parade after the war and preferred to be
sent back to Poland, where they could face persecution and
imprisonment. So much for helping the British.
Sorry Stan but that is complete bollocks.
I'm sure many Polish vets DID feel angry at their fate at the end of WW2. Much like my own father did.... conscripted at 20, at the age of 22 he clung to wreckage in the middle of the Indian ocean for 33 hours after his ship was sunk by japanese dive bombers in 1942, he was deafened and wounded by a nazi glider bomb that hit his ship in the Mediterranean in 1943, in Oct 1945 he was given a "demob suit" and told to "f*ck off". He had to wait until 1988 until the UK government saw fit to issue him a pittance of a pension for his permanently damaged hearing, and he was born and lived in the UK.
The history is that Britain & France guaranteed Poland's borders in August 1939, and when subsequently the nazis overstepped that final "line in the sand", true to their word they declared war on Germany. Britain with her small army and world's No1 navy did all that was possible, from her initial state of being militarily non-mobilised, in the 6 weeks it took for 2 evil empires to destroy Poland. Indeed there is FAR more reason to direct shame on France, who historically had FAR greater diplomatic, domestic, economic and military ties with Poland that Britain has EVER had. The same France whose army of over 160 divisions on the French mainland (compared to the UK's 13 divisions of the BEF) did virtually nothing to assist the Poles during 1939/40.
Britain sacrificed 450000 of her citizens in a war started to aid Poland which, due to her quick conquest, evolved into a meatgrinder of a war to topple her oppressors. At war's end it was the treachery of Britain's "enemy's enemy" (Josef Stalin) that strangled any possibility of a postwar democratic Poland. The western allies were reluctant to start WW3 in a central Europe already bled white by 6 years of murderous tyranny and warfare, a WW3 entailing probably millions more deaths that would have been necessary to remove the 12.4 million strong red army from the countries of Eastern Europe.
The tragedy of Poland is that she was (and still is) sandwiched between 2 opposing power blocs. It is NOT the British or Americans who held responsibility for her plight, but nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union. Indeed when it was obvious that Poland would not become a democracy post WW2, the Labour government of Clement Attlee railroaded through the UK parliament the 1947 Polish resettlement act, that gave full UK citizenship and residency rights to all of the >200000 Polish ex-service personnel (and their families) who had fought alongside the western allies during WW2, thereby providing the courageous Poles with a safe national home after the land of their forebears had been stolen by communism.
All the best.
The Luftwaffe got their arses kicked out and asunder by England's Royal Air Force! I don't feel Goering's pain.
That music gets me every time.
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Let's not forget the ground people who supported the air personal to keep aircraft in the air working.
The Ground Forces was who they were.
thank you so much for the upload. love the climax when both sides gave in everything they have and the massive dogfights.
I think there also should've been RAF dogfights on The History Channel.
That was kind of my fault :) When I rendered the scene I left the subtitles in by accident.
There are English subtitles for where the Germans speak, however I had the closed captioning subtitles on. Mistake on my part. Sorry if it's confusing.
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Lest we let history repeat! GB 2019 WSC greatest Englishman. Never forget.
Never Forget Lord Dowding. Highly spiritual and very kind.
Britain stands alone. But Britain stands defiant.
Future Prime Minister As A liberal democracy , we embrace the Poles and all brothers as our our kin .... we were all in this together ! Our patriotism is a love of all our European Allies and a belief in a solidarity of Poles , English , French etc We give thanks to the Polish Plots and we express our love and brotherhood to Poland ..... and the miracle that preserved we English as free people and comrades to the free world
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what would you do ? take to the sky and defend homeland yes ! God Bless Them in Heaven RIP .
when i first started work i knew someone who had been in the army , he said the polish were really friendly guys and superb chess players.
1 farmer confused a Polish and thought he was German, then he took him prisoner.
The Luftwaffe never really recovered from the Battle of Britain. It would have needed at least a year to train replacement crews and pilots. But Adolf Hitler’s timetable would not allow that. A diversion into the Balkans and Greece in the spring of 1941 and then Operation Barbarossa in June of 1941. This led to even more losses that simply could never be made good.
But then Round the clock Bombing Raids ! Doesn't Help ! Either !
Ever stop to think some people out there might be curious and want to know what the enemy's losses are besides the victor's?
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0:37 Me rage quitting because my teamates play poorly in War Thunder
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Knew a Wing Co who was in the midst of all this, poor fellow had most of his guts missing from around 1940 onwards, but he survived into his 70's. A fine Yorkshireman. Remember he used to carve little wooden statues & gave me one of them when I was lad, he smoked like a chimney & said "doings" in almost every sentence, his hair was as white as driven snow.
one of the greatest scores from a decade of greatest scores, this film was able to capture both the mood and an apisode in history effectively. it never received the critical respect it desrves, but it does have staying power, which is a hallmark of great films
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At Weston Park in Staffordshire they used to do a summer proms featuring a Spitfire display. One year the orchestra started with this piece, you could here the Spit in the distance as the music builds then as the music hits the opening chord the Spirfire bursts overhead. Unbelievable timing and an absolutely awesome, spellbinding moment I'll never forget.
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They should be taught about the human sacrifice laid down by these men and how bloody greatful they should be for it, since without it we wouldn't be here today!
They just don't end films like this anymore.
73 New Zealanders took part, and one of my uncles missed out on being one of them.
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There was a moral reason to resist the tyranny of Fascism and Britain helped save the world order and usher in Democracy. There is not a moral reason for Britain to shy into itself and leave the EU, instead it should be bold and lionhearted, and have an ever stronger voice and presence and leadership there.
Judging from the losses sustained in this one, it looks like it turned out to be a total mistake for Germany and the German Luftwaffe to engage in this battle.
The losses were trivial for the Germans, the problem they had was that none of their factories were geared up for wartime production yet. These losses wouldn't even amount to a months aircraft production later in the war. But the loss of experienced pilots was a blow, the training schools were also not geared up to replace wartime losses yet.
@@mrblack888 Nonsense at “trivial”, it ripped the heart out of the Luftwaffe. Numbers of machines count for nothing when bedrock of experience gets gutted and pilot replacement can’t keep up. Sure, it had successes in the East but never regained its formidable reputation while the Allied air forces went from strength to strength.
During the last week of the Battle of Britain the losses were nearly identical
The great Winston Churchill was a fine Prime Minister. David Cameron is not fit to stand in Winstons shadow...
Only when he was sober.
Even when not.
Arthur J Dale. Hoops !!!! I new his time, he was really a Great Lyon. But during this time, even Elizabeth had b......., if I may. It seems french pilots were not so bad.
shotleylad. You mean never ?
Cameron can spy on his own shadow and descant on his own deformity compared to Churchill, or something like that.
I think this film like so many war movies portrays the cost of human life to all nations but one thing we humans still have not learnt the lesson from ww1 and ww2
The ones who do the fighting and dying should certainly learn the lesson, but the global financiers at the top who pull the geo-political strings must have their fun.... and population control.....It's all going on as we speak still.
But at what cost?
Fighting a war that in the end resulted in the voluntary suicide of Europe.
I don't think they would've fought each other if they could see the state Europe is in now after the betrayal.
What are you talking about?
Make your comment more clear and elaborate, explain by what you mean with ' voluntary suicide of Europe', ' the state Europe' and 'betrayal'.
You would rather have the Nazis ruling over Europe alongside the USSR?
Stupid white supremacist.
@@SantomPh We should have allowed a referendum on Danzig, rather than back the Soviet invasion of fascist Poland in 1939.
@@markharrison2544 whos the we? Little trolls like you ??
@@user1234798 The UK and France, the two countries that were enslaving half the world in 1939.
It’s ironic that films like these are often celebrated by Brexiteers , however , the pilot listing at the end show how many international pilots helped us out and gave their lives alongside our pilots to defend the free world. Many polish pilots too , and now many U.K. people want many of the Poles to “go back home” and leave. Even in our most celebrated moment we needed foreigners.
The European pilots were here flying in the RAF because their own countries were overrun by the Nazi's, they were not helping us, they were carrying on the fight with our help. The battle of Britain has nothing to do with brexit. I assume you are a remoaner.
I was training an intern at the TV station where I work. I told him to make a graphic about the Battle of Britain. He just stared at me.
makes you wonder what kids do get taught in school these days
That was how one distributor changed it for VHS and some DVD editions. They also changed the end music, taking it from the original score. The version in this video was how the film was originally released, which was left in for the special edition DVD.
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@damiann097 That is why the the Battle of Wizna is known as the "Polish Thermopyllae." They lasted for 4 days and, from their fortress, inflicted in excess of 24,000 casualties upon the Germans including the loss of more than 300 tanks. Another battle this vicious and unequal was the Battle of Westerplatte, which lasted a week.
One of the most powerful war drama endings ever!
One of the most intense war action ending ever!
@@Frankie-O Itis. This film was as raw as possible for the time. Not just the action, but the brutality. Today they'd even take it up a few notches.
I have always wondered about that. The battle is pre- Israel, but the film is post Israel. At the time (of the battle), the pilot would have been the nationality of whatever country he was born in if he was a jew. Or whatever country owned the part of Palestine he was born in if was an arab. Or again - possibly a jew who was an Israeli citizen by the time the film was made in the sixties. According to the roll of honour he survived. But whoever he is, like all of them, he's a hero.
The citizenship count included post 1948 countries.
@CarlyrachelCollins There were about 450 Australian pilots in the RAF at the time of the Battle of Britain but for various reasons most were flying in Bomber Command and Coastal Command. The number flying in Fighter Command may be more than shown here as many Australians joined RAF before the war (because of financial cutbacks in RAAF training in Australia) and were not acknowledged as 'Austrailian'
Still, wherever they came from - they are all 'our blokes'.
Even the isrealian ! Too !
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@legoeasycompany Indeed. I miss the days when the first part of the film's credits was for thanking the military :(
Out of 21 Aussies 14 dead. But she'll be right mate, it was worth it.
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the British fought bloody hard those days.. even though the odds were heavily against them
rousing ending...
thx for posting this...
--Mike
When you see this great movie & the heroism displayed, it makes you wonder what has happened to this once great country over the years since that time.
That music is so rousing thank god for the R.A.F. good old Stuffy and Keith Park saved the world.
Austin Powers saved the world in every trilogy.
You know something? I noticed in this video that they showed the German casualties whereas it was not shown towards the end of the movie originally. Very interesting. A great piece of music to go along with it!
They were not defeated in 1945, as in 1918, The Treaty of Versailles.