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Battle of Britain The Movie
The Men and Machines of one of the Greatest War Films Ever Made
by Robert J. Rudhall and Dilip Sarkar
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Book Presentation:
Released in 1969, Battle of Britain became one of the most iconic war films ever made. Featuring a stellar cast including Sir Laurence Olivier, Trevor Howard, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, and Robert Shaw, the film depicted the events of the summer of 1940 with remarkable accuracy. Notable for its spectacular flying sequences, the film's production involved actual Battle of Britain veterans, including Group Captain Tom Gleave and Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland, who served as consultants.
This detailed account of the film’s making is complemented by a collection of captivating photos from the production. The images showcase the vintage aircraft used in the film, airfields, actors, and even merchandise from its 1969 release. Air-to-air shots of Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Hurricanes, and Heinkels, along with behind-the-scenes moments with veterans visiting the set, are included. Interviews with key figures such as Hamish Mahaddie, John Blake, and Ron Goodwin provide further insight into the film's creation.
The book highlights the effort and dedication that went into making Battle of Britain a cinematic masterpiece, capturing the spirit of the battle with authenticity and grand scale.
About the authors:
A prolific author, DILIP SARKAR has been obsessed with the Second World War for a lifetime. An MBE for ‘services to aviation history’, and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, unsurprisingly, for a retired police detective with a First in Modern History, his work has always been evidence-based - often challenging long-accepted myths. Firmly focussed on the ‘human’ experience of war, his many previous works include the authorized biographies of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader and Air Vice-Marshal ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, the best-selling Spitfire Manual and The Few. Dilip has presented at such prestigious venues as Oxford University, the Imperial War and RAF Museums, and National Memorial Arboretum; he works on TV documentaries, both on and off screen.Dilip Sarkar has now written over sixty well-received books. Having enjoyed a privileged relationship with many of The Few, he is a globally acknowledged expert on the Battle of Britain, currently working on a career-topping eight volume official history for The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to The Few. Described by the late Dr Gordon Mitchell, son of the Spitfire’s designer RJ Mitchell, as an ‘aviation detective’, Dilip Sarkar did actually begin his professional life as just that – a police detective. His evidence-based approach and ability to discover new material is well-known – in 2023, for example, he was responsible for having Air Chief-Marshal Sir Keith Park officially recognised as one of The Few. Made an MBE for ‘services to aviation history’ in 2003, Dilip was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society in 2006, achieved First Class Honours in Modern History as a mature student in 2010, and in 2024 was made both a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and member of London’s Royal Air Force Club. During his long career, Dilip has exhibited and spoken internationally at such prestigious venues as Oxford University, the RAF Museum, IWM Museum, and Airborne Museum, Oosterbeek; he has worked on many TV documentaries, on and off screen, again internationally, and has an engaging presence on YouTube and Facebook in particular. For more information, please see www.dilipsarkarauthor.com
See the publisher website: Air World
See Battle of Britain (1969) on IMDB ...
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