633 Squadron

Description

Based on true events, this "exciting, engrossing [and] breathtaking" (The Hollywood Reporter) action-adventure stars OscarÂ(r) winners* Cliff Robertson and George Chakiris as two WWII fliers pitted against the Nazis in a do-or-die mission. Filled with "blazing, pulse-pounding and realistic air-fighting footage" (Boxoffice), 633 Squadron will "put your heart in your throat" (Los Angeles Times)! 1944. Allied forces learn that the Nazis are planning to pummel England with an all-out rocket blitz. The only way to stop the threat is to send Mosquito bombers into narrow Norwegian fjords to create an avalanche that will crush the Nazis rocket-fuel plants. Can Wing Commander Roy Grant (Robertson) and the boys of the courageous 633 Squadron pull it off? And if so, will they live to reap the glory?

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie.......2007-09-10

This is a super movie and you can see and hear where Stars Wars scenes come from and the radio chatter.

Exciting WWII adventure.......2007-08-30

633 Squadron is not a well-known or highly-touted WWII movie, but it is an above average, exciting look at an RAF fighter-bomber squadron. In the early months of 1944, a section of the RAF Eagle Squadron, the 633 Squadron, is given a dangerous mission that could have a profound impact on the upcoming D-Day. The 633 must fly through a narrow fjord of Norway and blow up a German factory producing rocket fuel. The factory is built deep under a cliff, think Guns of Navarone, and is impossible to attack in any other way. With the help of the Norwegian underground who will try to knock out the German anti-aircraft, the 633 begins their training for this possibly suicidal mission. This movie is not groundbreaking, but it does everything well. The training sequences in Scotland are exciting, the camraderie among the pilots doesn't seem forced, and the final attack in the fjord is very well done. I give credit to this movie for how it handles the attack, it's not necessarily a happy ending, not all the pilots make it, but it shows the realistic results of what an attack like this would be. So for a moving, realistic and still exciting WWII movie with some great aerial footage of the Mosquito fighter-bomber, give 633 Squadron a try.

Cliff Robertson takes the lead here as Wing Commander Roy Grant, the leader of 633 Squadron. Grant accepts the risk involved with the mission and its possible impact, but also knows it may cost a lot to get it done. Robertson is very strong as Grant, a really good role for him. George Chakiris gives support as Lt. Erik Bergman, the leader of the Norwegian underground who initially trains with the 633 before being dropped back into Norway to prepare his men. It's not a huge part, but Chakiris pulls it off well. Maria Perschy plays Hilde Bergman, Erik's sister who begins to fall for Robertson's Grant as they get to know each other. Harry Andrews, Donald Houston, and Michale Goodliffe are good in supporting roles as Grant's RAF superiors. The squadron consists of John Meillon as Gillibrand, the Australian pilot who loves women and drinking, John Bonney as Scott, the one-handed cocky but likable second-in-command, and Angus Lennie as Hoppie, Grant's nervous navigator, among several others who aren't given much to do.

The DVD offers a great-looking widescreen presentation, a real beauty, and a theatrical trailer for the movie. Not much in the way of special features, but the movie is worth the price. So for an exciting WWII adventure with a strong cast headed by Cliff Robertson, check out 633 Squadron!

good flying scenes.......2007-02-19

Airplane buffs will find it worthwhile for the great flying scenes of Mosquitos. Another review said that the DVD was widescreen but mine wasn't and the product info indicates only 1.85:1 ratio. That is disappointing because a lot of the flying scenes are diminished in quality by being clipped to fit the TV screen. But the clipped version is still better than nothing.

A serviceable war flick with some good action scenes..........2006-10-04

This is not a bad war flick, but it is not first rate either. The cast in my opinion seemed just a tad bit too nanchalant. People facing very great danger generally act differently than people out for a Sunday stroll, but in this film the protagonists really seem to lack the emotion of honest fear. This unreal emotional tenor was pretty consistent throughout the film.

Cliff Robertson, as usual, puts in a good performance, and the plot is serviceable--the Nazis are planning to bombard England and possibly the D-Day landings with V2 rockets, so 633 Squadron must bomb the rocket fuel factory in Norway. The mission is not unrealistic, and the film seems to be technically pretty accurate. Once again though, the characters all just seem to be indifferent to the fact that they are on something approaching a suicide mission.

The film moves along at a reasonable pace, holding the viewer's interest. However, the ending is a total letdown (no spoiler here) and could have been much better.

Overall, an OK film for a rainy afternoon or whatnot.

Can't Get Enough of those Mossies.......2006-02-14

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!

Average customer rating:

Twentieth Century warfare as seen through the eyes of filmmakers

Ultimate War DVD Giftpack

Manufacturer: MGM/United Artists
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Military & War | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000NQQ0AU
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

This giftset includes 10 favorite classic war films including: The Great Escape, Flyboys, 633 Squadron, The Battle of Britain, The Devil's Brigade, Exodus, Paths of Glory, Platoon, Run Silent, Run Deep and Zulu.

Customer Reviews:

Twentieth Century warfare as seen through the eyes of filmmakers.......2007-05-31

ULTIMATE WAR GIFTPACK consists of ten movies on ten DVDs. The majority of these are big-budget spectaculars that include large casts of famous actors. Subject matter covers many of the 20th Century's major conflicts: the Boer War, WWI, WWII and Vietnam. This top-quality box set is certain to please the most discriminating war film collectors.

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The following alphabetized program list provides viewer poll ratings for each title (based on a 1 to 10 scale), plus country of origin (if other than USA), years of release and best-known actors.

(6.8) The Battle of Britain (UK-1969) - Harry Andrews/Michael Caine/Trevor Howard/Curd Jürgens/Ian McShane/Laurence Olivier/Christopher Plummer/Michael Redgrave/Ralph Richardson/Robert Shaw/Susannah York

(6.5) The Devil's Brigade (1968) - William Holden/Cliff Robertson/Vince Edwards/Andrew Prine/Claude Akins/Richard Jaeckel/Richard Dawson/Harry Carey Jr./Michael Rennie/Carroll O'Connor/Dana Andrews/Patric Knowles

(6.8) Exodus (1960) - Paul Newman/Eva Marie Saint/Ralph Richardson/Peter Lawford/Lee J. Cobb/Sal Mineo/John Derek/Hugh Griffith/Jill Haworth/Paul Stevens/George Maharis

(6.6) Flyboys (France/USA-2006) - James Franco/Scott Hazell/Mac McDonald/Philip Winchester

(8.4) The Great Escape (1963) - Steve McQueen/James Garner/Richard Attenborough/Charles Bronson/Donald Pleasance/James Coburn/David McCallum

(8.5) Paths of Glory (1957) - Kirk Douglas/Ralph Meeker/Adolphe Menjou/George Macready/Wayne Morris

(8.1) Platoon (1986) - Tom Berenger/Willem Dafoe/Charlie Sheen/Forest Whitaker/John C. McGinley/Kevin Dillon/Johnny Depp/Oliver Stone (cameo)

(7.3) Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) - Clark Gable/Burt Lancaster/Jack Warden/Don Rickles

(6.2) 633 Squadron (1964) - Cliff Robertson/George Chakiris

(7.9) Zulu (UK-1964) - Stanley Baker/Jack Hawkins/Michael Caine/Nigel Green/Patric Magee

Average customer rating:

Great Movie
Exciting WWII adventure
good flying scenes
A serviceable war flick with some good action scenes...
Can't Get Enough of those Mossies

633 Squadron [Region 2]
Starring: Cliff Robertson , George Chakiris , Maria Perschy , Harry Andrews , and Donald Houston
Director: Walter Grauman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B00008V6XW

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie.......2007-09-10

This is a super movie and you can see and hear where Stars Wars scenes come from and the radio chatter.

Exciting WWII adventure.......2007-08-30

good flying scenes.......2007-02-19

A serviceable war flick with some good action scenes..........2006-10-04

Can't Get Enough of those Mossies.......2006-02-14

DVD:

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