DVD First Light - BBC

This is a very good mini BBC drama depicting the WW2 RAF operation life of Geofrey Wellum Flying Spitfires with 92 Squadron Biggin Hill 1940 at the height of the battle of Britain, right from his first day on base to his last., I can also recommend the book First Light that gives much more information than can be squashed into an hour long program, i could not put the book down and watch the BBC Drama very often.

A VERY GOOD AND INTENSE FILM WELL MADE & AS A PLUS A TRUE STORY WITH INTERVIEWS & COMMENTS BY THE MAN HIMSELF, GEOFFREY WELLUM. WE HAVE ALL HEARD I`M SURE OF THE VERY YOUNG MEN OF FIGHTER COMMAND, MANY ONLY 19 & 20 YEARS OLD WHO WANTED TO KICK JERRY WHERE IT HURTS THE MOST. THIS IS NOT A GUNG-HO FILM OF HOW JOHN WAYNE WON THE WAR ON HIS OWN SO TO SPEAK, IT IS ABOUT THE FEAR, DANGER, PALS KILLED IN ACTION, BEER IN THE MESS OR DOWN AT THE LOCAL PUB AND THE SHEAR GUTS THAT THESE "VERY" YOUNG MEN HAD IN OUR HOUR OF NEED, GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND LET US "NEVER FORGET" THE VERY HEAVY PRICE PAID FOR OUR FREEDOM !!!!!

This is a 'top shelf' movie DVD: I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially anyone who does not really know or understand why "so much is owed to so few" (Winston Churchill). The movie is very informative; I was a little hesitant that the movie would lean too much on the documentary aspect, however the minimal 'docco' insertions lead a lot of credibility to this film and balances it perfectly. To see Geoffery Wellum in his twilight years interviewed as to his recolections, this helps the viewer to step inside Geoff's ("call me Geoff")head and experience flying a Spitfire in ariel battles. What struick me the most with this film was how many of the questions that dogged Geoff as he flew and fought in 1940 are the same questions he still strives for answers today! I took flying lessons, flew solo and then some; to see and hear Geoff's reactions to his first solo in a Spitfire bought back to me the intense emotions when I first flew solo. His comments reminded me of what I shared with my wife upon landing "flying is like playing tag with the angels" and i felt a great kinship with Geoff (though I never experienced the terror of being shot at) and therefore this movie became quite emotional for me and I stand in absolute awe and appreciation at men like Geoff who fought for my freedom and the freedom of the world. Watch this movie and enjoy, I dare you to walk away from it underwhelmed, it won't happen!

This dramatisation of Geoffrey Wellum's life as a WW2 Spitfire pilot is a mixture of acting, as one would expect, as well as actual recount by Wellum himself. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama, especially the amazing aerial acrobatics which had me mesmerized in my chair. The sequence in the rain was unbelievably realistic. I could feel the rain lashing down and also brought home to me how 'flimsy' Spitfires were and how braver were the men who flew them. Sam Heughan's performance as the young Wellum was excellent; changing quickly and believably from the young, naive but self-possessed rookie to the nonchalant, devil-take-me experienced pilot who lived on his nerves. It was a superb portrayal by Heughan. The rest of the camaraderie, love interest etc... in the film reflected the intensity of the job these young pilots did but, for me, the guts of the story was essentially centred in the main role, as was intended. Other noteworthy actors? Gary Lewis and Ben Aldridge. I would certainly recommend First Light.

I found this movie intensely moving. I know a lot about the Battle of Britain, but this story really brought home to me the youth of the pilots involved. How does an 18-year-old cope with being thrust into such an extreme situation as World War Two's battle in the air? I just don't know how they did it. The film is very well done, no macho heroics, just ordinary young men dealing the best way they can with facing death not just every day, but several times a day. Geoffrey Wellum, DFC, on whose personal experience and best-selling book the film is based, provides a thoughtful commentary and is open and honest about how the war affected him and how, as he puts it, he "still struggles". Sam Heughan is excellent in the title role, mixing just the right of amount of youthful naivety with dogged bravery and the impact of stress on one so young. The flying scenes are outstanding also.

Based on Geoffrey Wellum's book "First Light," First Light (Penguin World War II Collection) this film was released in time for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. At the age of just 18, Geoffrey Wellum was one of the youngest Spitfire pilots to go into combat during the Battle of Britain. A boy, barely out of school, he exhibits the wide range of emotions as a combat pilot in this film. The film, as a document drama, perfectly mirrors the book's story, and perfectly captures the mood of the period. If you want some sense of what it was to experience combat in the air, this is the film to see. I have only admiration for Geoffrey and all the chaps who flew with the RAF during the war, and especially during the Battle of Britain. We must never forget their courage and sacrifice.

This biographical account was very realistic, dealing with the issues of the fliers of the Battle of Britain and the subsequent traumas that impacted their lives. It was brave of Geoffrey Wellam to tell his story - warts and all.

die Geschichte ist eigentlich kurz erklärt. Es geht um einen Piloten, der während der Luftschlacht un England zu seiner Staffel stößt und dort die erste Begegnung mit dem Krieg und die Tücken der Fliegerei hat. Es werden immer wieder Einspielungen, in denen der Autor seine Eindrücke des damaligen Zeitraums darlegt. Es wird der erste Flug auf einer Spitfire gezeigt und das Etappenleben auf einem Fliegerhorst der damaligen Zeit. Das Bangen und hoffen, wenn auf überfällige Kameraden gewartet wird, die Angst wärend der Luftkämpfe werden sehr authentisch wieder gegeben. Ein wenig Herzschmerz ist auch noch dabei, aber das gehört bei Filmen dieses Genres ja wohl dazu. Gut, die Flugaufnahmen stammen größtenteils aus dem bekannten Film "Die Luftschlacht um England". Sie sind zwar auch schon ziemlich ausgelutscht, aber trotzdem immer noch gut. Wer sich für diese Art Fliegerfilm interessiert, der ist hier gut bedient, vorrausgestzt er ist der englischen Sprache mächtig, denn leider gibt es diesen wirklich guten Film noch nicht in der deutschen Fassung.

If a person is really looking for a DVD relating to how it really was during the Battle of Britain this film is it. I have been a Spitfire addict since my early childhood growing up around A/C & have been fortunate enough to talk with a few RAF & RCAF pilots who flew Hurricanes & Spitfires during WW2. Actually the Hurricane had a higher kill ratio than the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain but that's another story. For those of you who are pilots , remember your first solo when your instructor told you to stop on the taxi-way, got out turning you loose on your own. That part in the movie as Geoff arrived at the base with the original Spitfire Pilot's notes on his lap to me was a story on it's own , you didn't have the opportunity to have an instructor along for the ride in a single seat fighter to offer advice,help,etc. Progressing through your training you're now deemed fit to fly a fighter A/C . You have no combat experience but you may or may not have anytime flying Spitfires. Can you imagine the pressure on you ? Is it any wonder your memory turns to mush while being briefed by your ground crew on engine starting procedures & the rest is up to you. A new kid on the block & only eighteen years old in control of the latest fighter A/C of it's time, scarey ? But that's the way it was. I find in this day & age a lot of people just can't visualize that these pilots just didn't go up against the enemy who vastly outnumbered them but the weather they often flew in was often to prove fatal to their existence. And remember these young pilots were not seasoned veterans, it was a learning curve of you lived or died , veteran or rookie. I myself completely enjoyed the film,especially the bit parts of the real Geoffrey Wellum speaking of his experiences. Vastly outnumbered & fighting against seasoned German fighter pilots in their latest fighter A/C I think a person has to recognize what a disadvantage Britain was up against. For the true Spitfire lover & history buff you will see a few inaccuracies such as late model Spitfires that never flew in the Battle of Britain with their 4-blade props,dual under wing cooling scoops , late model exhaust stubs & rectangular gun sights BUT we're 70+ years into the future from the projected time period, original Spitfires of the early " Marks & Models " are very scarce so I find such an inaccuracy excusable. As a lover of these A/C & times the movie held my full attention. As a pilot I just loved all the cockpit shots , procedures, etc and as a history buff of this time period in history the movie captured my full attention & most of all this movie wasn't based on a Hollywood script but actually portrays the Battle of Britain from the youngest pilot to fly & fight in the Battle of Britain telling it like it was. " FIVE STARS " !

Sam Heughan non delude mai Una parola sola: bravo

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