The First of the Few

The First of the Few

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 on 12 June 1943, under the alternate title of Spitfire.

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Year:
1942
1,092 Views

German:
Guns *always* have the last word! Any nation that has forgotten that is *finished*!

Geoffrey Crisp:
Mitch, what do really think I can get out of her?

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Oh, two eighty five.

Geoffrey Crisp:
[astonished] Two eighty-five? Mitch, this is 1927, not 1977!

[the Mitchells have bumped into Crisp at a Dress Ball]

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Well, who's the lucky lady?

Geoffrey Crisp:
Don't know, I haven't met her yet!

Air Ministry Official:
[Referring to the new Spitfire airplane] We shall need it in 12 months. Sorry, but that's all the time we can give you.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[Referring to his imminent death] You shall have it in eight. Because... because that's all the time *I* can give *you*!

[Last lines]

Geoffrey Crisp:
[Sotto voce, to the heavens] Mitch, Mitch, they can't take the Spitfires Mitch. They can't take 'em.

Lady Houston:
I don't love the government, but I do love my country.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[Approaching Mitch] Well, how are you? Oh, I see you need a proper holiday.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Do I?

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[Thinking about it] Yeah, I do. Hadn't thought of that'

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[Yelling to his wife inside the cottage] Diama!

Geoffrey Crisp:
Look, I'm going away next week. Both of you come with me.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
No. Why didn't you tell me that before?

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[Calling his wife inside the cottage again] Diana! And look who's here.

Diana Mitchell:
Hello, Geoff.

Geoffrey Crisp:
Hello, Diana.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Here, we're going to have a holiday.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[to Geoff] Where?

Geoffrey Crisp:
Where? Spain... Paris. There's lot to be said for Pa...

Geoffrey Crisp:
[Getting a fresh thought]... Germany!

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Why Germany?

Geoffrey Crisp:
No women.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
What do you mean? There are 35 million womwn in Germany.

Geoffrey Crisp:
Not my type.

Diana Mitchell:
[Injecting herself into the conversation] Where are we going?

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Well, believe it or not, we're going to Germany.

Reginald J. Mitchell:
[after disclosing his illness] I'm going on with my work because, as you said, it is important. At least we believe it's important, and we must live what we believe, musn't we?

Diana Mitchell:
[Realizing the extent of his illness] Live?

Reginald J. Mitchell:
Darling, we've all got to pack up some time or other. It isn't when we pack up that matters; it's what we do while we're here.

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