The director Boris Segal directed several good films. The star Christopher George was a good actor with a strong presence on film. Laraine Stephens had a great naked back and good hair. There is a terrific low flying stunt (repeated scene several times) with a B-17 wing just above the ground. There is excellent cutting with stock combat footage from the Second World War.
Yet all that amounts to not that much. A television writer Donald Sanford wrote a script that might have worked for a made-for-television feature. Even though the narrative comes from an actual raid, the complexities of the script—the hardbound commander never quite engages viewers—at least it did not engage this viewer. I kept wondering what purpose Gabrielle had on the English base other than sleeping with Commander Brandon. The film lacks any sense of majesty, terror, or depth. It seems another mindless war movie made in the late sixties but reflecting an earlier ethos. I kept wondering what the BBC would have done with this material. Review updated: This is a good-looking film with attention to sets and design. Editing is extremely good.
Yet all that amounts to not that much. A television writer Donald Sanford wrote a script that might have worked for a made-for-television feature. Even though the narrative comes from an actual raid, the complexities of the script—the hardbound commander never quite engages viewers—at least it did not engage this viewer. I kept wondering what purpose Gabrielle had on the English base other than sleeping with Commander Brandon. The film lacks any sense of majesty, terror, or depth. It seems another mindless war movie made in the late sixties but reflecting an earlier ethos. I kept wondering what the BBC would have done with this material. Review updated: This is a good-looking film with attention to sets and design. Editing is extremely good.