First Light

If a person is really looking for a DVD relating to how it really was during the Battle of Britain this film is it. I have been a Spitfire addict since my early childhood growing up around A/C & have been fortunate enough to talk with a few RAF & RCAF pilots who flew Hurricanes & Spitfires during WW2. Actually the Hurricane had a higher kill ratio than the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain but that's another story. For those of you who are pilots , remember your first solo when your instructor told you to stop on the taxi-way, got out turning you loose on your own. That part in the movie as Geoff arrived at the base with the original Spitfire Pilot's notes on his lap to me was a story on it's own , you didn't have the opportunity to have an instructor along for the ride in a single seat fighter to offer advice,help,etc. Progressing through your training you're now deemed fit to fly a fighter A/C . You have no combat experience but you may or may not have anytime flying Spitfires. Can you imagine the pressure on you ? Is it any wonder your memory turns to mush while being briefed by your ground crew on engine starting procedures & the rest is up to you. A new kid on the block & only eighteen years old in control of the latest fighter A/C of it's time, scarey ? But that's the way it was. I find in this day & age a lot of people just can't visualize that these pilots just didn't go up against the enemy who vastly outnumbered them but the weather they often flew in was often to prove fatal to their existence. And remember these young pilots were not seasoned veterans, it was a learning curve of you lived or died , veteran or rookie. I myself completely enjoyed the film,especially the bit parts of the real Geoffrey Wellum speaking of his experiences. Vastly outnumbered & fighting against seasoned German fighter pilots in their latest fighter A/C I think a person has to recognize what a disadvantage Britain was up against. For the true Spitfire lover & history buff you will see a few inaccuracies such as late model Spitfires that never flew in the Battle of Britain with their 4-blade props,dual under wing cooling scoops , late model exhaust stubs & rectangular gun sights BUT we're 70+ years into the future from the projected time period, original Spitfires of the early " Marks & Models " are very scarce so I find such an inaccuracy excusable. As a lover of these A/C & times the movie held my full attention. As a pilot I just loved all the cockpit shots , procedures, etc and as a history buff of this time period in history the movie captured my full attention & most of all this movie wasn't based on a Hollywood script but actually portrays the Battle of Britain from the youngest pilot to fly & fight in the Battle of Britain telling it like it was. " FIVE STARS " !

This film is a dramatization of Geoffrey Wellum's memoir, "First Light." It was produced by BBC Television in 2011 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I read Wellum's memoir  First Light: The True Story of the Boy Who Became a Man in the War-Torn Skies above Britain  and was absolutely enthralled by its directness and simplicity, but this docudrama does not quite capture the essence of the book.Geoffery Wellum appears in the beginning, at the end, and in a few places during the film and it was fascinating to see him and hear his well defined thoughts about himself, the young pilots, and what it all meant. His appearances are the highlights in this film.The portrayals of the people in the story are a bit flat, two-dimensional, and nearly bloodless and it's hard to believe that volatile young men in those volatile circumstances would have such a stiff-upper-lip quality about everything. Nobody ever raises their voices. Granted that Wellum didn't directly write much about the emotional roller coaster these young pilots endured but he very much intimates it and the film misses it.The film concentrates on Wellum and just a few other characters and would almost make you believe that an R.A.F. squadron was composed of only five or six people. The main characters are fine and are portrayed by excellent British actors but they are limited by the direction. Gary Lewis, who plays the squadron C.O., stands out and is the best of them all in this production.The air scenes with Spitfires and Me-109s are pretty realistic and all too brief.I liked the film very much as an adjunct to the superb memoir. It helped me to visualize Wellum's story just a little bit better. Unfortunately, the film really doesn't stand by itself.

This film is both engaging and heartbreaking. Narrated by the gentleman who is the actual subject of the story, the film is parsed between pictures of the man as he is in the present day, while showing dramatized pieces during WWII showing the beginning of central character's pilot training, the ongoing events of the character's and squadron's stories, and the closing narration. It may sound unnaturally cut and pieced, but in this case, it actually worked. I have a deeper appreciation of the Spirfire pilots' issues & obstacles of their missions. I came to this film due to my appreciation of Sam Heughan's work in Outlander. First Light was released in 1996, so there's 10 years difference between the two projects. You can see the evidence of Sam's burgeoning acting skills; and (smiling here) it was fun to see a few of his personal quirks show through. The pleasant surprise for me was a supporting role done by Gary Lewis (again Outlander). It was a joy to see the two of them working together and compare/contrast their Outlander roles.I wanted to give this a 5-star rating; however, the sound on this film just sucks! There's no close-captioning. I have a hearing problem, and unfortunately, there are several moments in the film when the conversations were lost in noise and mumbling. It made a difference in a few scenes when I couldn't pick-up the dramatic issue for lack of understanding the conversational points. This problem really robbed from the dramatic effect. I'd be surprised if even a fully healthy-hearing viewer could pick up all the conversations. Otherwise, the other aspects of the film were excellent. I do recommend this, especially for Heughan's/Outlander fans, and if you have healthy hearing, or great tolerance.

This is a dramatised version of Geoffrey Wellum's biographical book "First Light". The book itself is impressive enough, telling as it does the author's personal experiences as a young pilot in the Battle of Britain. What distinguishes this book and dramatised version from other personal accounts of the Battle of Britain is the psychological introspections by the author while in action, which add a spiritual dimension to what he recounts. The young actor acquits himself wonderfully of bringing young Geoffrey Wellum to life in this film.

This is a 'top shelf' movie DVD: I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially anyone who does not really know or understand why "so much is owed to so few" (Winston Churchill). The movie is very informative; I was a little hesitant that the movie would lean too much on the documentary aspect, however the minimal 'docco' insertions lead a lot of credibility to this film and balances it perfectly. To see Geoffery Wellum in his twilight years interviewed as to his recolections, this helps the viewer to step inside Geoff's ("call me Geoff")head and experience flying a Spitfire in ariel battles. What struick me the most with this film was how many of the questions that dogged Geoff as he flew and fought in 1940 are the same questions he still strives for answers today! I took flying lessons, flew solo and then some; to see and hear Geoff's reactions to his first solo in a Spitfire bought back to me the intense emotions when I first flew solo. His comments reminded me of what I shared with my wife upon landing "flying is like playing tag with the angels" and i felt a great kinship with Geoff (though I never experienced the terror of being shot at) and therefore this movie became quite emotional for me and I stand in absolute awe and appreciation at men like Geoff who fought for my freedom and the freedom of the world. Watch this movie and enjoy, I dare you to walk away from it underwhelmed, it won't happen!

It’s good but, you have to read the book first... really. The enchanting thing is that the film is interspersed with comments from Geoffrey Wellum. He brings the touch of reality that the film doesn’t quite succeed in capturing. Not that I could have done any better with such a difficult subject and story you understand.

Brilliant true story of Batle of Britain Spitfire Pilot.I know Geoffrey Wellum and have discussed his life as a schoolboy joining the RAF and all the problems of training, been there, done it and never became a pilot; my eyes gave trouble but became a Nav instead.To share Geoffrey's expeinces and share his fears and laughs you must read his story.Many fighter boys had similar lives.You wilnot be disappointed with this book.

Great film on a very real hero of the RAF during the Second World War. It delivers a warm human story of young man facing an incredible challenge: defending Britain's skies from the Nazi air menace.Worth price for understanding the pressures of what Spitfire pilots went through in this country's darkest hour.