thu 19/12/2024
Home > tv > First Light, BBC Two

First Light, BBC Two | reviews, news & interviews

First Light, BBC Two

First Light, BBC Two

A very fine Spitfire drama takes to the skies

by Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Share
Reach for the sky: Sam Heughan as Geoffrey Wellum prepares to intercept Battle of Britain cliches
How do you rescue a drama about Spitfire pilots from over half a century of cliché and pastiche, from Kenneth More in Reach for the Sky to Armstrong and Miller’s street-talking RAF officers? After all, put an actor in a flying jacket and a cravat, get him to smoke a pipe and read the paper as he awaits the call to scramble, and you’ve got a 24-carat stereotype. The answer, as the wholly admirable First Light illustrates, is to go back to basics – to find the authentic details amidst the stock scenarios, and the emotional truth behind the stiff upper lips.

How do you rescue a drama about Spitfire pilots from over half a century of cliché and pastiche, from Kenneth More in Reach for the Sky to Armstrong and Miller’s street-talking RAF officers? After all, put an actor in a flying jacket and a cravat, get him to smoke a pipe and read the paper as he awaits the call to scramble, and you’ve got a 24-carat stereotype. The answer, as the wholly admirable First Light illustrates, is to go back to basics – to find the authentic details amidst the stock scenarios, and the emotional truth behind the stiff upper lips.

You can’t imagine Kenneth More’s Douglas Bader exclaiming, “Shit... fuck... fuck... get off!” as he is pursued by a Messerschmitt 109

Explore topics

Share this article

Share

Comments

Submitted by Robert Bache (not verified) on Wed, 15/09/2010 - 12:16
First Light, the best BBC programme in years Terrific. Can you tell me the name of the piece of choral background music and the composer. I think it was towards the end of the programme.

Submitted by Manray Media (not verified) on Wed, 15/09/2010 - 12:31
Robert, the composer is Gabriel Currington. He has his own site: www.gcscores.com. We are hoping to get a full list of credits on our site.

Submitted by sam baxter (not verified) on Wed, 15/09/2010 - 22:23
an amazing programme more people should watch this to realise what The Battle of Britain was actually like, well done to the bbc and everyone else involved will definately be buying this when it comes out! R.I.P to all the people who gave their lives(and who had them taken) for our way of life, Freedom

Submitted by Matthew Somerto... (not verified) on Thu, 16/09/2010 - 15:42
I must say I thought this was exceptionally good. The sheer terror of air combat was brought home more vividly than I can remember, as well as the gradual and remorseless psychological impact on the pilots involved. All this was underlined by the words of Geoffrey Wellum himself. I hope there will be a DVD release, perhaps with some extras such as an extended interview with Mr.Wellum and perhaps more background on the Battle of Britain.

Submitted by Simon C (not verified) on Fri, 17/09/2010 - 08:56
Excellent programme. I too wondred what the choral piece was - been nagging at me... sounded Holst-esque and vaguely familiar - what was it please?

Submitted by Paul Davis (not verified) on Sat, 18/09/2010 - 05:51
This was one of the best programmes I have seen for many years.It should be included in the national curriculum to remind young Boys and Girls that as in Afghanistan today ,the real heroes are not the Wayne Rooney's ,Ashley Cole or any other overpaid and pampered footballer.We should never forget the sacrifice these Men and Women made to keep our freedom and liberty

Submitted by matthew whiteman (not verified) on Fri, 08/10/2010 - 09:33
I would just like to thank everybody for their kind comments about First Light - and to you, Gerard, for such an intelligent take on my film. Matthew Whiteman, writer, producer and director, 'First Light'

Submitted by Jenny Christensen (not verified) on Thu, 12/09/2013 - 04:31
Some fans of Outlander, Sam Heughan and Gary Lewis will be doing a live tweet of First Light on 14 Sep at 12:30pm US east coast time. Basically, it's a bunch of fans watching the movie at the same time and commenting on twitter. Should you be interested in participating, we welcome your comments and thoughts. You can find comments under #HHTwitParty (Heughan's Heughligans Twitter Party). Here is a link to the countdown clock for the "event" http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20130914T1230&p0=212&ms.... Thank you for creating this fine piece of storytelling! -Jenny (@JennyC10VA)

Submitted by Brian Htehrton (not verified) on Tue, 29/03/2011 - 02:19
I would like to obtain the words to the poem recited at the end of the movie. I have been unsuccessful to date as the movie has not yet been released on DVD in Australia.

Submitted by Robert Dafforn (not verified) on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:58

An excellent production and very moving. 

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more TV

Strike: The Ink Black Heart review - protracted, convoluted puzzler lifted by its leads The army veteran and his partner are still trapped in a detective-genre script
Black Doves, Netflix review - Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw battle against the implausible Can anyone be trusted in Joe Barton's twisty London drama?
Senna, Netflix review - the life and legend of Brazil's greatest driver You saw the movie, now watch the TV series
Landman, Paramount+ review - once upon a time in the West Billy Bob Thornton stars in Taylor Sheridan's Texas oil drama
Paris Has Fallen, Prime Video review - Afghan war veteran wreaks a terrible vengeance Cynical politicians and amoral arms dealers feel the heat
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, BBC One review - handsome finale for Hilary Mantel adaptation Mark Rylance is on top form as his Thomas Cromwell re-emerges after nine years
The Day of the Jackal, Sky Atlantic review - Frederick Forsyth's assassin gets a modern-day makeover Eddie Redmayne shoots to kill in lavish 10-part drama
Until I Kill You, ITV1 review - superb performances in a frustrating true-crime story Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans are compelling, but the script needs more ballast
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Disney+ review - the Boss grows older defiantly Thom Zimny's film reels in 50 years of New Jersey's most famous export
Industry, BBC One review - bold, addictive saga about corporate culture now Third season of the tale of investment bankers reaches a satisfying climax
Rivals, Disney+ review - adultery, skulduggery and political incorrectness Back to the Eighties with Jilly Cooper's tales of the rich and infamous
Disclaimer, Apple TV+ review - a misfiring revenge saga from Alfonso Cuarón Odd casting and weak scripting aren't a temptation to keep watching

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters