Write a 1000 word review of two films on the Battle of Britain. "The World at War" and "The Way to the Stars"

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Film and history: The Battle of Britain

Write a 1000 word review of two films on the Battle of Britain

The world at war was a twenty six part documentary series produced between 1971 and 1974 by Jeremy Isaacs of Thames Television. It features many key interview subjects from the common soldier in the armies to major figures in the war. The series was proved popular and controversial when it was first broadcasted in 1974, with the emotive music by Carl Davis and the voice of Laurence Olivier as narrator. This review is on a clip from the series focusing on the Battle of Britain.

The drop in morale of Churchill’s forces following the fall of France to the Nazis is evident from this clip. The documentary presents the battle of Britain as restoring British confidence and describes it as Britain’s “finest hour”. The battle is portrayed as victorious on Britain’s behalf; there is a sense of optimism in this clip. Following humiliation at Dunkirk the battle of Britain is Britain’s redemption and this is seen clearly in the visual images of the battle and the spoken word. For example BBC reporter Charles Gardener’s commentary on the battle is interesting, he states “that was beautiful… the RAF really got these boys” when commenting over images of the battle. This particular clip is somewhat biased, there is no mention of the German point of view of the battle only an English viewpoint. The images within this film are the closest thing to a definitive visual history of the Second World War. It is also of mention that the film gives the accounts of ordinary men such as RAF pilot Ray Holmes. It goes on to present two different British view points on German pilots; however it does not provide us with any German accounts.

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The interpretation of the programme is that ultimately Britain won the Battle. There are many references throughout that lead us to believe that Germany were not trained and prepared enough for an air war over England. The commentary of the Battle itself or the interviews with Adolf Galland the Luftwaffe Squadron leader illustrate Germany as the weaker side.

It is blatant that the film is directed at a British audience as there is a lot of pro British bias throughout it. One would be persuaded to agree with the interpretation offered that Germany was pessimistic and much weaker ...

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