Customer Reviews

633 Squadron [VHS]

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

World War II adventure film about a Royal Air Force fighter-bomber squadron assigned to destroy a Nazi nuclear weapons research facility in Norway. Cliff Robertson headlines the movie as a former Eagle Squadron pilot in command of 633 Squadron with a colorful assembly of international pilots. They embark on the hazardous assignment with the target located inside a Norwegian fjord, guarded by an immense array of anti-aircraft artillery. Worth noting is the story was probably inspired by the real-life exploits of RAF Mosquito squadrons that conducted such dangerous missions, hunting down Nazi ship convoys along Norway's rugged coastline.

The real attraction of this film is abundant footage of authentic World War II-era De Havilland Mosquito bombers used for the movie production. The scenes of these rare aircraft in flight are a delight, especially since there the are no airworthy examples left in the entire world today (the last one was lost with its crew in a tragic crash in 1996). The model airplane special effects are too obvious, especially when compared to the quality of "The Bridges of Toko Ri" starring William Holden. Nonetheless, it's still pretty exciting and viewers can't help but compare the squadron's climatic attack in the treacherous fjord with "Star War's" Jedi attack on the Empire's Death Star.

The script and several scenes could have been better, but the authentic aircraft are worth watching. Overall a decent adventure, dated, but enjoyable if you're a fan of the famous De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber built of wood, and flown by pilots in daring missions that helped win World War II.

For those interested, there's a nice De Havilland aircraft museum north of London, England, on the actual grounds where these impressive aircraft were built. The original prototype Mosquito airplane, and another production model used in the later movie "Mosquito," are on display.

This film seems to have attracted a number of interesting, positive reviews--there is little for me to add except to say that is is a fine World War II thriller, featuring Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris and a solid British cast in support.

Of course, the real "stars" of the movie are the Mosquitos--seeing them fly is a feast for aviation fans. Some scenes really seem to put you in the cockpit with our heroes as they train for their "mission impossible". There is also a fair bit of model work involved, and this is perhaps the only area of the movie that is dated. Special effects have made huge strides since the sixties--when these planes crash or blow up, it is not done in a convincing way for modern audiences.

Cliff Robertson is fine in the lead--later in the decade, he was to win an Oscar for "Charly", yet he has always been under-rated. His career certainly had it's "ups and downs"--in the seventies, he blew the whistle on a Hollywood executive who was embezzling money, and good movie roles seemed to "elude" him for a while. Clearly, he is a man of great integrity. It was nice to see him, after so many years, have an important role in the monster hit, "Spiderman".

George Chakiris aquits himself well as a Norwegian resistance leader. British character actors, Harry Andrews and Donald Houston, provide the mandatory "stiff upper lips" ! When the movie is over though, it is those fabulous planes that you remember most.

The DVD is widescreen, with decent colour for its age--the sound is mono ( imagine those Mosquitos in surround ? ! ). The packaging is very rudimentary, but I suppose this is in keeping with the low price ?

If you like war films with the accent on aviation, this one is for you. Try it !

Footnote dated 16 July, 2011--well--the price was "low" when I bought it !

A very sad footnote, dated 10 September 2011--Mr. Cliff Robertson has passed away at the grand age of 88--another fine actor has left us.

I love this film from my childhood - yes some of the special effects look a bit ropey now, but that's more than made up for by the genuine footage of the real Mosquitos in action and Ron Goodwin's fantastic theme tune - easily one of the best movie themes ever.
( By the way, anyone unconvinced that George Lucas in fact got the idea for the Death Star scene fom this fine film might like to know the following: When Lucas originally devised Star Wars and was showing a rough cut print to the movie studio bigwigs, he hadn't had enough budget left for the SFX to show them the Death star finale. So instead, he intercut aerial dogfight footage from British WW2 movies including the Dambusters, the Battle Of Britain, and .....633 Squadron. Case closed!!

633 Squadron has great flying sequences involving the very unique WW-II British plane called the "Mosquito". The Mosquito was a twin engine "fighter bomber" made of WOOD that the Royal Air Force used for "unconventional" type flying missions portrayed in 633 Squadron. The Mosquito was a fast, light, multi-role aircraft that carried a crew of two seated side by side.

It was long suspected that the Nazi's had an Atomic Bomb development program and 633 Squadron's final mission is to fly through a heavily defended Fiord in Nazi occupied Norway and destroy a German plant that is suspected to be involved in Atomic research.

Cliff Robertson plays a "Yank" in the RAF I'm sure he was cast for US audience appeal (Robertson, an accomplished pilot, at one time owned a WW-II British Spitfire fighter) and George Chakiris (West Side Story) has a good role as a member of the Norwegian Underground.

The movie has all the usual flying cliches -- and a romantic interest as well. The flying sequences are first rate -- however, when the planes are flying through the Fiord a very crude attempt at simulating anti-aircraft fire from the gunners perspective is made and that detracts from an other wise exciting sequence given the technology available in 1964.

Well I am an American, but I love the British planes and movies. This cast I think is mostly British and do a splendid job of acting. A group of international pilots in the RAF band together to bomb a factory that the silly Germans stuck under a large rock overhang just aching to be avalanched. Even though that would not have happened they at least have plenty of Anti-Aircraft guns and thats factual. Perhaps a slightly exaggerated story premise, but very entertaining and it certainly gives an idea of the heroism of the RAF pilots during WWII. Anyway this is a fine film especially for anyone that enjoys movies like "The Battle of Britain" or "Memphis Belle". As pointed out one benefit is the opportunity to see the magnificent "Mosquito" planes and the beautiful scenery they fly over. Did I mention that the sound of a Merlin engine not only arouses WWII pilots. With the great musical theme of the movie and the acting of cliff Robertson you have a winner. Good point about the models used in the bombing sequences. After all we are talking 40 year old F/X. Star Wars is almost 30 years old and we can certainly see how those special effects are now dated. George Lucas even went back and changed the Death Star explosion to improve it for the re-release. It might be nice to see an updated version of the models in this movie but then we couldn't poke a little fun at them and our age since most of us saw this as kids. Great movie and I have pre-ordered my DVD copy. For you fans of WWII movies, "Sink the Bismack" will also be out on DVD this month. Another great Brit movie.

Somewhat loosely adapted from the first of a series of novels by Frederick Smith, this is the story of a fictitious Mosquito squadron's mission to bomb a "rocket fuel factory" (no, not an atomic bomb plant or heavy-water refinery) located at the end of the portentiously-named "Black Fjord". And yes, indeed, George Lucas must cringe whenever anyone sees this movie, because it is SO VERY OBVIOUSLY the source of practically every shot from the now-famous "Death Star Assault" sequence at the end of the original "Star Wars", albeit with unfortunately very unconvincing AA fire effects. The characters are the most amazing assembly of stock types one could ask for (the reckless, the Aussie, the Sikh, the French, the Cockney, the Yank (hopelessly mis-written for the American audience), the world's only black-haired Norwegian and his knock-out ash-blond sister - you get the picture.....) but who the heck cares? All you want to see in this is the one and only chance to catch three Mosquitos starting their engines, taxiing, and flying. Flying through canyons, buzzing the field, zipping through clouds - that's the reason to watch this film. NO, it isn't based on any single "real life story", but it takes the spirit of the "Dambusters" (which is a far superior film) and transplants it to a vastly more impressive aircraft. The score grated on MY nerves after a while - it's main theme is abused in repetition - but I guess some folks go for that. (I much preferred Goldsmith's score for "The Blue Max", but you can't have everything.) Action on the ground IS soapy, almost becoming self-consciously so. But again - that's just something to pass the time between all those great shots of Mossies doing their thing. If you're the kind of person who has to run outside when you hear multiple piston engines roaring overhead, you really will love this movie. If airplanes make you change the channel - take a pass.

The stars of this film are those wonderful De Havilland
Mosquitoes. What a plane! Made of wood, used both
as a fighter and a bomber. Josef Goebbels cursed them
when they were used by RAF Bomber Command's Light Night
Striking Force when the bombed Berlin every night for
weeks on end towards the end of the war...they flew so
fast and high they had very light casualties and prevented
the Berliners from getting any sleep, sometimes carrying out
two raids per night. This film shows them in their role
as maneuverable light bombers in their daring raid.
In my opinion, the story is a little thin, but watching
the Mossies in action makes up for it. We see the stereotypical
"ice-water-in-his-veins" senior RAF Officer played by Harry
Andrews, Cliff Robertson plays an American volunteer for the
RAF who doesn't want to get too emotionally involved in the war, but who eventually gets consumed by it, and we see a Sikh pilot and another pilot with a hook instead of a hand. In spite of their differences, the film shows the true-life dedication of these men in carrying out the mission, even when it endangers their lives.
As a little side-note, there is a scene near the end when the special bombs to be used on the raid are being towed to the aircraft, and at the very top of the screen we see a then-contemporary 1960's car go zooming by!

As another reviewer so astutely observed, the climactic bombing run through a fjord at a specific target evokes the Jedi attack on the Death Star at the conclusion of "Star Wars." While George Lucas has acknowledged Kurasawa's "Hidden Fortress" as a primary influence on "Star Wars," I wonder if he had "633 Squadron" in the back of his mind when designing the end run on the Death Star? Something to ponder.

The other reviewers have said some wonderful things about the excellent and authentic aerial combat footage, and the footage of the Mosquito fighters themselves, so I will only add my praise to theirs.

The only quibbles I have with the movie are the very fake miniature plane models used in the climactic bombing run, Cliff Robertson's lack of a British accent (he is playing an RAF captain...the only flaw in an otherwise marvelous performance), and the trite, standard romance that always seems a part of most war movies.

Overall, worth owning and watching several times.

While this film succeeds as a classic high adventure war movie, the use of actual Mosquitoes was indeed the real attraction.

At the time of filming, there were only three airworthy planes (as you can tell when they buzz the airfield) and the planes used were the BIV bomber versions, with painted over plexiglass noses, to make them look like fighter-bombers. The FB version had a door in the side of the plane, whereas you climbed up into the bomber version.

Technical accuracy? Who cares? It's just a pleasure to see ANY Mosquito flying for real, and the sound of those Merlins, especially where they buzz the tower and when they are practicing along the valley in Scotland, is a joy to the ears.

Ten stars wouldn't be enough to praise this movie. An absolute classic by any standards. Nice also to see the mighty Cliff Robertson as the Squadron Leader, with his Eagle Squadron shoulder flashes proudly displayed.

Utterly superb.

633 SQUADRON IS A VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF POST WWII MOVIES. THE FLYING SCENES, THE MUSIC, AND THE SCOTTISH / NORWEGIAN LANDSCAPES MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR ANY LACK OF OSCAR WINNING PERFORMANCES OR HITCHCOCK TYPE PLOTS, AS THE TWO PREVIOUS PRETENTIOUS INTELLECTUALS BEFORE MY REVIEW SEEM TO THINK EVERY FILM MUST CONTAIN. WAR WAS NOT ABOUT WONDERFULLY WITTY PEOPLE WITH THE WAR AS A BACKDROP FOR THEIR BRILLIANCE, BUT RATHER THE ABILITY OF THE NOBLE COMMON MAN WHO RISKED HIS LIFE WHILE LESS HONORABLE MEN FOUND JOBS IN THE REAR. A GOOD WAR MOVIE FOR IT'S TIME!