‘Outstanding’ British World War 2 classic is on BBC Two this weekend | Films | Entertainment

Back in 1952, George More O’Ferrall directed a film adaptation of the book What Are Your Angels Now? called Angels One Five. The British World War 2 film stars Jack Hawkins as a young fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.

This was the first British post-war film about the RAF’s conflict with the Luftwaffe and some of its scenes were shot at RAF Uxbridge where there was a wartime operations room. The film’s title refers to an RAF radio procedure from World War 2 in which Angels stands for altitude and One Five for 15,000ft.

Upon its release, the Daily Mirror called it “an outstanding British film… brilliant realism… ace-high entertainment”, and the News of the World wrote, “a splendid film, awe-inspiring entertainment”. Meanwhile, our very own Sunday Express said, “it has sincerity, a moving simplicity”, the Daily Mail called it “straight, clean, modest, true, moving” and the Daily Herald said, “This film polishes up your pride.”

Angels One Five is on BBC Two this Saturday morning at 10:15am and will be streaming on BBC iPlayer afterwards for a limited time.