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The First of the Few (US title Spitfire) is a 1942 British black-and-white biographical film produced and directed by Leslie Howard, who stars as R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. David Niven co-stars as a Royal Air Force officer and test pilot, a composite character that represents the pilots who flew Mitchell's seaplanes and tested the Spitfire. The film depicts Mitchell's strong work ethic in designing the Spitfire and his death. The film's title alludes to Winston Churchill's speech describing Battle of Britain aircrew, subsequently known as the Few: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few".
Leslie Howard's portrayal of Mitchell has a special significance since Howard was killed when the Lisbon-to-London civilian airliner in which he was travelling was shot down by the Luftwaffe on 1 June 1943. His death occurred only days before The First of the Few was released in the United States, under the title Spitfire.
Original Release
09/14/1942
US Release
06/12/1943
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
David Niven | Geoffrey Crisp |
Rosamund John | Diana Mitchell |
Roland Culver | Commander Bride / Cmdr. Bride |
Anne Firth | Miss Harper |
David Horne | Mr. Higgins |
J.H. Roberts | Sir Robert McLean |
Derrick de Marney | Squadron Leader Jefferson |
Rosalyn Boulter | Mabel Lovesay |
Herbert Cameron | MacPherson |
Toni Edgar-Bruce | Lady Houston |
Directors
Writers
Miles Malleson, Henry C. James, Katherine Strueby, Anatole de Grunwald
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
David Niven | Geoffrey Crisp |
Rosamund John | Diana Mitchell |
Roland Culver | Commander Bride / Cmdr. Bride |
Anne Firth | Miss Harper |
David Horne | Mr. Higgins |
J.H. Roberts | Sir Robert McLean |
Derrick de Marney | Squadron Leader Jefferson |
Rosalyn Boulter | Mabel Lovesay |
Herbert Cameron | MacPherson |
Toni Edgar-Bruce | Lady Houston |
Gordon McLeod | Major Buchan / Maj. Buchan |
George Skillan | Mr. Royce |
Erik Freund | Messerschmitt |
Fritz Wendhausen | Von Straben |
John Chandos | Krantz |
Victor Beaumont | Von Crantz |
Suzanne Clair | Madeleine |
Filippo Del Giudice | Bertorelli |
Brefni O'Rorke | The Specialist |
Gerry Wilmot | Radio Announcer |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Leslie Howard | Producer |
George King | Producer |
John Stafford | Producer |