Review of 633 Squadron (1964) by Stuart K — 28 Apr 2014

Based upon the 1956 book by Frederick E. Smith, which was based upon a number of real Royal Air Force operations. This adaptation was directed by TV veteran Walter E. Grauman, (Columbo, The Untouchables and Murder, She Wrote.

) This has some brilliant aviation action on display, but it does feel a tad formulaic, and most of it was all done before in The Dam Busters (1955), but it's still a good film to watch. When Norwegian resistance leader Erik Bergman (George Chakiris) learns of a German rocket fuel plant in a fjord.

Bergman travels to England to report his findings to the RAF, who assign No. 633 Squadron to destroy it, with American Eagle Squadron pilot, Wing Commander Roy Grant (Cliff Robertson) is to lead this deadly mission.

With training taking place in the highlands of Scotland, using de Havilland Mosquitos. Bergman retuns to Norway to gather more intelligence on the plant, but the Nazi's have sent more reinforcements after attacks by the resistance, and Bergman ends up being captured by the Gestapo, leaving the squadron with a tough decision.

It's got it's moments, and the aerial action is well filmed and Ron Goodwin's score is heroic and patriotic. But it does have the odd niggle, like Robertson and Chakiris being cast to appeal to the American market, and poor Chakiris struggles as a Norwegian.

But apart from that, it manages to be a good film, but it does have it's saggy parts.