The First Of The Few tells the story of RJ Mitchell, the aircraft designer whose legacy includes the Spitfire and countless other revolutionary designs. Mitchell is played by Leslie Howard – also the film’s director – with his usual elegance and charm. But even Howard is outdone in the elegance-and-charm stakes by his co-star, David Niven.

Niven plays Jeffrey Crisp, a skirt-chasing pilot who befriends “Mitch” and offers to be the first man to test each of his planes as it comes off the production line – Crisp is the man who wins Schneider trophies in Mitchell planes, and he will also become the first man to take to the skies in a Spitfire.

In reality, though, there was no Jeffrey Crisp. The character is an amalgam of a number of test pilots (who if they had all appeared in the film, one after another, wandering in and out, might have confused an audience); though there was one in particular – Jeffrey Quill – whose part in the evolution of the Spitfire was significant, and who was the single biggest inspiration for Niven’s Crisp.

Made in 1942, the film is a fine piece of rousing patriotism (just what the British needed at the time), a tribute to a national hero who gave his life to build the machine that would save his country, even if RJ Mitchell died before knowing just how successful it would be. Like so many British films of its day, The First Of The Few is uncompromising in its hero-worship, and teeming with unquestioning national pride.

Apart from the noble and charming Brits, the film is populated with menacing, barking Germans (who reveal to Mitch their plan for world domination, under “our new chancellor, Adolf Hitler…”) and wild Italians who wave their arms a lot and speak with spectacular comedy accents. When Mitch admires a German plane, his German host says proudly, “Efficiency!” To which Mitch replies, “Poetry, I call it.” At least he doesn’t add “old chap” for effect.

Howard and Niven speak with the most clipped of clipped vowels, and they’re speaking dialogue that dates the film, but also lends it its charm. On learning that there’s something wrong with the filter, Mitch tells his wife he’s off to fix it:

Wife: “Darling, it’s after midnight!”
Mitch: “I daren’t leave it, I simply daren’t.”

The film begins in 1940, the war already begun, with a group of rookie pilots sitting around talking about “the Spit”. Then Jeffrey Crisp saunters in and tells them the exciting story of its origins, of RJ Mitchell, his inspiration (watching a flock of birds in flight) his struggle with the government and ill-health, and his determination to build “a fighter – the fastest and deadliest fighting aeroplane in the world”.

Watch a clip from The First of the Few here.  With kind permission from CABLE FILMS, USA.

Transcript

Clip 1

Oh it isn't working long hours that's tiring. It's because what one wants is always just out of reach. It's tiring always stretching up for something that's just out of reach, but I'll get it. After all, what I want isn't as easy as all that. It's because I do 400 miles an hour, turn on a sixpence, climb 10,000 feet in a few minutes, dive at 500 without the wings coming off, carry eight machine guns.

Eight guns?

Yes.

And all from a picnic on the cliffs. Remember, watching those birds?

Hmm. But it isn't exactly a bird I'm creating, is it? At least its a curious sort of bird. A bird that breaths fire and spits out death and destruction. A Spitfire bird.

Clip 2

Musical accompaniment.

Clip 3

No panic, when we get through they'll be throwing those blinking brass hats in the air.

I wish he'd been here.

So do I.

Don't worry, I'll show that old Craydorf. He's gonna be proud of her.

He can be. So can you.

Me, I'm just the hands. I don't do anything.

Except risk your neck.

Oh that. Come on Mack, give me those. We're off.

Good luck Jack.

Watch your step.


Mr. Mitchell, what are you doing?

What do you think I'm doing, shaving?

You must rest.

Oh my dear, I got so bored resting.

Well I can't help that.

I can. You know you are making a complete invalid out of me.

You know very well what the Doctor said.

I know very well the Doctor's a big bluff.

Mr. Mitchell really. Now if you promise to rest I'll make you a nice cup of tea.

Tea.


My goodness, that plane gave me a fright. They have no right to fly so low, somebody ought to stop them. You alright?

Yes, I'm alright. A bit tired that's all.

Well, your tea won't be long.


Chris, a moment.

Ah, good work. Well, there's the job Sir. I hope you are satisfied.

Satisfied. Well as a representative for the Air Ministry, I can't commit myself. As an old pilot I think that is one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Oh Mitchell would have liked to hear you say that Sir.

Yes, I'm sorry he isn't here.

Perhaps you'd like to say it to his wife.

I'd love to.

She's just behind you. Diana, Air Marshall Bradford.

Congratulations Mrs. Mitchell. Will you thank your husband, and tell him that he's given England something that she badly needs.

Thank you.

Well what now?

Now it remains for the Government to make up its mind. Listen, that's a thing I would never like to be responsible for.