The First of the Few (Original title)Spitfire (Alternative title)
Date: 1942 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Leslie Howard
Synopsis: Biographical drama. The story of later years in the life of Reginald 'R.J.' Mitchell, aeronautical engineer and designer of the Spitfire fighter plane. When he becomes ill with a life-threatening condition, his doctor warns him he must give up his work to rest, or he will die within a year. Convinced of the importance of creating this powerfully fast plane, Mitchell struggles on to complete his work even if the effort brings his life to an untimely end.
Genres: Biopic, War
Subjects: Spitfires, World War II, Royal Air Force
Releases
Date: 1942Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 118 mins Length: 10585 FeetDialogue (original): English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(20)
Accessible materials to view(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: C-56977
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582427
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: N-99779
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(3)
Description: VHS cassetteColour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-642518
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376594
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376595
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(17)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10499 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56976
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-579874
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10704 FeetStock date: 1950BFI identifier: C-56980
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: C-56977
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582427
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: N-99779
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56973
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundLength: 7895 FeetStock date: 1941BFI identifier: C-56974
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteLength: 7895 FeetStock date: 1946BFI identifier: C-56975
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1975BFI identifier: C-56979
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582425
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film - suitable for duplication
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-56971
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56972
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteBFI identifier: C-56969
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundBFI identifier: C-56970
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: CTASound: SoundLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1975BFI identifier: C-56978
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: SoundLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582426
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film - suitable for duplication
Date: 1942 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Leslie Howard
Synopsis: Biographical drama. The story of later years in the life of Reginald 'R.J.' Mitchell, aeronautical engineer and designer of the Spitfire fighter plane. When he becomes ill with a life-threatening condition, his doctor warns him he must give up his work to rest, or he will die within a year. Convinced of the importance of creating this powerfully fast plane, Mitchell struggles on to complete his work even if the effort brings his life to an untimely end.
Genres: Biopic, War
Subjects: Spitfires, World War II, Royal Air Force
Releases
Date: 1942Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 118 mins Length: 10585 FeetDialogue (original): English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(20)
Accessible materials to view(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: C-56977
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582427
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: N-99779
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(3)
Description: VHS cassetteColour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-642518
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376594
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376595
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(17)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10499 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56976
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-579874
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10704 FeetStock date: 1950BFI identifier: C-56980
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: C-56977
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582427
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 10716 FeetBFI identifier: N-99779
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56973
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundLength: 7895 FeetStock date: 1941BFI identifier: C-56974
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteLength: 7895 FeetStock date: 1946BFI identifier: C-56975
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1975BFI identifier: C-56979
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582425
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film - suitable for duplication
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: NitrateSound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-56971
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1942BFI identifier: C-56972
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteBFI identifier: C-56969
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundBFI identifier: C-56970
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: CTASound: SoundLength: 10717 FeetStock date: 1975BFI identifier: C-56978
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: SoundLength: 10440 FeetStock date: 1989BFI identifier: C-582426
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film - suitable for duplication