Spitfire: The Plane that Saved the World [DVD]

Just a really inspiring documentary. The film makers portray the beauty of flight and the graceful lines of the Spitfire with taste and care. They don't stray from the fact that the plane's, and all the WWII fighters', "beauty" or desirability was based on its ability to kill efficiently. But when it comes to right and wrong, the Spitfire stands as a symbol of what can be made and flown for the right reasons, even when it has to come to killing in a war. Intermingled with interviews from pilots, women who provided tactical and logistical service, and footage from dogfights, the film tells a compelling story of how humans responded to existential threats and how the Spitfire was an essential tool in that response.

I bought this for my husband, the airplane/military fan, but he was so tired the first night we played it he fell asleep. Instead, I was the one fascinated by the whole thing, which included interviews with the pilots who flew the Spits, including an "ATA girl," the Women's Air Transport Auxiliary, who delivered planes to various bases so that men could be spared for flying in combat. Nice score with it as well.

If I was that one guy in the reviews for every historical military film who obviously plays way to much War Thunder since he somehow knows that this particular camouflage pattern wasn't used on this variant of such and such a vehicle with this certain gun caliber on the eastern front until the second half of August 1943, how could the directors be so clueless about commonly known historical facts, etc.,etc., I would give this documentary one star because half the shots are actually of Hurricanes.But I'm not (except for the bit about playing to much War Thunder) so I will give this beautiful documentary told from interviews with surviving pilots five stars. And I'm totally not biased at all because the Spitfire is my favorite plane ever.

I really enjoyed this film. Much of the aerial photography is stunning and the film makers did a good job of weaving together contemporary and archival footage of this great airplane. Any aviation buff or devotee of Great Britain during WWII will love this film. The use of the oral history interviews from Spitfire veteran pilots adds a great deal to the movie, and my wife and I especially enjoyed hearing from the women who ferried these planes. The reunion of one of these pilots with one of the actual planes that she flew near the end of the film is marvelous. My only real criticism of the film is that it is essentially a hagiographic view of the Spitfire. There is no discussion of its shortcomings, such as its very limited range (which is demonstrated quite well in the film "Dunkirk"). I very much look forward to renting and watching this film again.

This is a wonderful documentary in so many ways. With the United States on the sideline at the time, Britain was the last major line of defense against Hitler's war machine. And it was air power that decided who would win and who would lose. In watching this movie, I learned how incredibly valuable and versatile the Spitfire was in beating back the Luftwaffe's onslaught. That plane was the tip of the spear in that defense, and was for Britain until the conclusion of the war.Beyond all the beautiful visual footage, both new and vintage, it intertwines a great deal of interviews of the few surviving Spitfire wartime pilots, who were instrumental in its successful use.This movie is far, far more than just a rundown on yet another killing machine. It is the history surrounding this machine, and it is a movie about people struggling to survive.And unlike what some other reviewers conclude, this film does not attempt to claim that the Spitfire won WWII. However, it was highly instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain, which in a sense was WWII in miniature.

Spitfire is an incredible journey into history beautifully filmed with amazing stories from those who were there. Spitfire is not just an amazing documentary about an aircraft design that played a key role in shaping world history, this film is a testament to human spirit rising above the most difficult circumstances imaginable to achieve victory during World War 2. Spitfire is also a contemporary lesson reminding us to be thankful for what we have and mindful that it can be taken away. God save the Supermarine Spitfire!

I went into this expecting a standard, run-of-the-mill History Channel-style documentary about the Spitfire. Boy was I wrong! This film is crafted with care, and you can tell the love that the filmmakers have for the subject matter.The story of the Spitfire unfolds with the beginning of the Supermarine company, led by RJ Mitchell. This is quickly juxtaposed with Hitler's rise to power in Germany, and the tension that results feels palpable with the urgency for the UK to get a fighter in the air all the more potent.The historical footage from the Spit's gun cameras during combat is intercut with stunning aerial cinematography. The air-to-air footage in this film is some of the best I've ever seen, on par with the aerials in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.The interviews help move the story along, talking about the early development of the airplane to the later variations of the Spitfire by the people who actually flew them.All in all, a beautiful film that is well produced. This deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, with the best sound system you've got. A great experience.

There was nothing to dislike about this book. It should be in every English persons (male and female) library

É un bellissimo film documentario sull'aviazione

Professionally constructed documentary cleverly composed of contemporary and vintage war footage. Meet some of the ladies that ferried the Spitfire from factory to airfield! Mary Ellis reunites with her maiden plane as a finale, and they both look astounding! Moving accounts of some of the veteran pilots. A Canadian connection and a German influence! Musical score adds to the drama. A flying tribute to a flying legend.

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A masterpiece! THE best Spitfire documentary out there. Captures the magic of this aircraft......and much more. What it really stood for. The people who flew this magical 'killing machine'. Not only is this a well-ballanced and informative film-documentary it's camera work is just that....almost film like. Great camera work and soundtrack. The camera work captures that raw and gritty feel found in the Spitfire scenes in the recent film DUNKIRK. 10 stars for this film. Cannot fault it. Honest and well-ballanced. But seriously entertaining. European region code. I don't quite understand the moans about it not being region free. Why should it be? I don't expect to purchase a DVD from the US and expect it to be region free. Anyway, highly recommend.

The Spitfire and Hurricane fighters of 1940 and the brave young men who flew them literally saved western civilisation from the scourge of the Nazis. Only Britain and its independent Commonwealth Dominions, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa & Rhodesia, stood alone. This doco fittingly memorialises the men and their machines. A must see.