Movies - The First of the Few

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	Movies - The First of the Few

The First of the Few, (known as Spitfire in the United States), is a 1942 British film, starring and directed by Leslie Howard, and co-starring David Niven. The Film Score was written by William Walton.

It is based on the true story of R.J. Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire. The title refers to the words of Winston Churchill who, when speaking of the Battle of Britain aircrew said: "Never in the face of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few."

Because the film was made during the Second World War, it was meant to be propaganda and so has a few inaccuracies:

Mitchell did not work himself to death on the Spitfire. Though he sometimes worked late, he also enjoyed a full family life and often took time off work to go sailing and play other sports. His final years were spent on other projects
Mitchell did not visit Germany and so never met Willy Messerschmitt. The film shows that the trip convinced him to design the Spitfire
In the film Mitchell's exact illness is not mentioned. Mitchell had rectal cancer and had a colostomy in 1933. However the film gave many people the impression that he had tuberculosis.

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