The First of the Few
The thrilling human story behind the plane that licked the Luftwaffe!
1942 • 118 min • War · Drama
Synopsis
This 1942 fictionalized biopic chronicles the true story of how two of the most remarkable men in aviation history - visionary Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell and his test pilot Geoffrey Crisp - designed a streamlined monoplane that led to the development of the Spitfire.
Our family guide
Best from age 8- 100 Reviewers · 1 · 56%
- 67 Audience · 41 · 44%
This 1942 fictionalized biopic tells the story of R.J. Mitchell, the brilliant designer, and his test pilot, Geoffrey Crisp. Together, they developed a streamlined monoplane, leading to the creation of the iconic Spitfire aircraft.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 1/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 2/10
Heads up
- Some depictions of wartime stress
- Brief scenes of aircraft testing danger
What it models well
- Perseverance and dedication
- Ingenuity and innovation
- Patriotism and service
Talk about it after
- The importance of teamwork in achieving big goals
- How historical events inspire stories and films
- The role of technology in defense
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The First of the Few. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Criterion Channel
Plex
Plex Channel
Tubi TV
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Top billed cast
Director: Leslie Howard • Crew: Anatole de Grunwald, Miles Malleson
Trailers & clips
The First Of The Few 1942 Trailer | David Niven
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersLeslie Howard had a hand in just about everything here, and has delivered quite a poignant story of a dedicated and visionary man who might just have a legitimate claim to really have helped stave off the Nazis. He portrays R.J. Mitchell, a man whose vision was as an aircraft designer.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 6.7/10 (41)
- Age rating
- G
- Status
- Released
- IMDb
- tt0034734
