CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 12/02/05

Stiff Upper Lip

by scott castle

Battle of Britain (Collector's Edition)

James Kennaway and Wilfred Greatorex

As the British retreat at Dunkirk, General Charles De Gaulle's Battle of France concludes, making way for the Battle of Britain. Concisely establishing the logistics of a Nazi invasion of the British Isles, the screenplay provides a large array of RAF and Nazi personnel to provide personal anchors to what would otherwise feel like a documentary. Through the experiences of these characters, the epic account of the British repulsion of superior German forces is played out with the high stakes -- the free world -- clearly underlining every action. While the spectacular air battles are presented with astonishing clarity, the characterizations are perhaps too staid. The "stiff upper lip" persona pervading the RAF creates an emotional barrier distancing the audience from their British protagonists; this forces ideological sympathies to do the heavy lifting in terms of story investment. An informative commentary, supplemented by several featurettes, presents a comprehensive picture of the film's development, with attention lavished on the battle sequences. A vintage documentary, Battle for the Battle of Britain, does an excellent job of putting the true historical events in perspective for the audience.

Battle of Britain (Collector's Edition)
MGM Home Video
Rated PG; 133 min.
$24.96

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Scott Castle is one thesis shy of a master's degree in film. He's written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.

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