Reach for the Sky
Year:
1956
Production Country:
Great Britain
True life story of Group Captain Douglas Bader, who lost his legs in a plane crash but went on to serve as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
Cast & credits
Cast
- Douglas Bader Kenneth More
- Thelma Edwards Bader Muriel Pavlow
- Johnny Sanderson Lyndon Brook
- Stan Turner Lee Patterson
- Mr Joyce Alexander Knox
- Nurse Brace Dorothy Alison
- Flight Lieutenant Harry Day Michael Warre
- Robert Desoutter Sydney Tafler
- 'Woody' Woodhall Howard Marion-crawford
- Peel Jack Watling
- Air Vice-Marshal Halahan Walter Hudd
- Wing Commander Beiseigel Ernest Clark
- Vic Streatfeild Nigel Green
- Sister Thornhill Anne Leon
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding Charles Carson
- Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory Ronald Adam
- Crowley-Milling Basil Appleby
- police constable Philip Stainton
- Flight Sergeant Mills Eddie Byrne
- Sally Beverly Brooks
- Warrant Officer West Michael Ripper
- civilian pilot Derek Blomfield
- Douglas Bader's mother Avice Landone
- adjutant of prison camp Eric Pohlmann
- Flying Instructor Pearson Michael Gough
- Bates Harry Locke
- Warrant Officer Blake Sam Kydd
- [Don Richardson] Alexander Harris
- [Cadet Mason] John Breslin
- [Cadet Taylor] Hugh David
- [cadet, ticket match] Howard Williams
- [Cyril Borge] Stringer Davis
- [RAF corporal/driver] Patrick Westwood
- [lorry driver] Fred Griffiths
- [Walker, Desoutter's aide] Charles Lamb
- [Tullin, Desoutter's aide] Frank Atkinson
- [orderly, Uxbridge] Clive Revill
- [limping officer] John Stone
- [mechanic, Uxbridge] Derek Sydney
- [man waiting for his tea, Pantiles] Roger Maxwell
- [Wing Commander Hargreaves] Raymond Francis
- [Adrian Stoop] Jack Lambert
- [Air Ministry doctor] Basil Dignam
- [batman, Duxford] Ian Whittaker
- [Peter, Coltishall intelligence officer] Peter Burton
- [Canadian pilot, Coltishall] Ronan O'casey
- [Canadian pilot, Coltishall] Roland Brand
- [Canadian pilot, Coltishall] Philip Gilbert
- [Canadian pilot, Coltishall] Robert Wilder
- [Pearson] Russell Waters
- [Squadron Leader Edwards] George Rose
- [British pilot, Coltishall] Jack Taylor
- [Jones] Jeremy Longhurst
- [Nicholson] Timothy Ellison
- [Woodhall's assistant] Gareth Wigan
- [Sgt Williams, Tangmere] Philip Levene
- [Lucille] Balbina
- [Hall] Paul Carpenter
- [Hilda] Pamela Thomas
- [wounded sergeant/pilot, St. Omer] Barry Steele
- [orderly] Michael Balfour
- [Gilbert Petit] Guy de Monceau
- [Madame Hiecque] Alice Gachet
- [Tommy] Barry Letts
- [Monsieur Hiecque] René Poirier
- [German Stabsfeldwebel] Anton Diffring
- cast member Grace Denbeigh-russell
- cast member Julia Nelson
- nurse Patricia Fox
- cast member Delene Scott
Credits
Direction
- Directed by Lewis Gilbert
- 2nd Unit Director James Hill
- Assistant Director Basil Keys
- 2nd Unit Assistant Director Patrick Marsden
- 2nd Unit 2nd Assistant Director Geoffrey Helman
- 2nd Assistant Director Kip Gowans
- 3rd Assistant Director Gino Marotta
- Continuity Shirley Barnes
- Assistant Continuity Doreen Francis
Subject
- [Subject of Film] Douglas Bader
Rights
Production
- Presents The Rank Organisation
- closing logo British and Dominions Film Corporation
- Produced by Daniel M. Angel
- Associate Producer Anthony Nelson Keys
- Production Manager Hugh Attwooll
- Production Controller for Pinewood Studios Arthur Alcott
- Production Secretary Teresa Bolland
- Made at Pinewood Studios
Writing
- Screenplay by Lewis Gilbert
- Additional Scenes by Vernon Harris
- Based on the book by Paul Brickhill 'The Story of Douglas Bader' Paul Brickhill
Photography
- Director of Photography Jack Asher
- 2nd Unit Photographer H.A.R. Thomson
- Camera Operator Harry Gillam
- 2nd Unit Camera Operator David Harcourt
- Focus Puller John Morgan
- 2nd Unit Focus Puller James Devis
- Clapper/Loader Mervyn Wilson
- 2nd Unit Clapper Loader J. Levy
Stills
- Stills Photography Charles Trigg
Special Effects
- Special Effects Bill Warrington
- Special Effects Bert Marshall
- Special Effects Bryan Langley
- Models Bill Warrington
- Models Syd Pearson
- Models Frank George
- Models Ben Marshall
- Models James Bawden
- Models Bernard Ford
- Models Charles Smith
- Model Aircraft John Stears
Editing
- Film Editor John Shirley
- Assembly Editor Peter Flack
- Assistant Editor Pam Hilleard
- Assistant Editor Michael John Edmonds
Design
- Art Director Bernard Robinson
- Assistant Art Director Vernon Dixon
- Draughtsperson Charles Bishop
- Draughtsperson Roy Dorman
Costumes
- Dress Designer Julie Harris
Make-up
- Make-up Artist Bob Lawrence
- Hairdressing Pearl Orton
Music
- Music Composed by John Addison
- Music Played by Sinfonia of London
- [Music] Under the direction of Muir Mathieson
Sound
- 2nd Unit Sound Recording Terence Cotter
- Sound Recordist John W. Mitchell
- Sound Recordist Gordon K. McCallum
- Boom Operator Danny Daniel
- Boom Operator Basil Rootes
- Boom Assistant Roy Charman
- Sound Camera Operator Ron Butcher
- Sound Camera Operator F.J. Hales
- Sound Editor Arthur Ridout
- 2nd Unit Sound Editor Archie Ludski
- Dubbing Assistant Graham Harris
- Dubbing Assistant Christopher Lancaster
- Sound System Westrex Sound Recording
Consultant
- Technical Adviser H.M.A. Day
Publicity
- Publicity Gerry Lewis
Miscellaneous
- The producers wish to express their thanks to The Air Ministry
- The producers wish to express their thanks to Royal Air Force
- The producers wish to express their thanks to The Shuttleworth Collection
- The producers wish to express their thanks to Science Museum