The First of the Few

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.

Discover

Leslie Howard

R.J. Mitchell

David Niven

Geoffrey Crisp

Rosamund John

Diana Mitchell

Roland Culver

Commander Bride

Anne Firth

Miss Harper

David Horne

Mr. Higgins

J.H. Roberts

Sir Robert McLean

Derrick De Marney

Squadron Leader Jefferson

Rosalyn Boulter

Mabel Lovesay

Herbert Cameron

MacPherson

Toni Edgar-Bruce

Lady Houston

Gordon McLeod

Major Buchan

George Skillan

Mr. Royce

Erik Freund

Messerschmitt

Fritz Wendhausen

Von Straben

Victor Beaumont

Von Crantz

Suzanne Clair

Madeleine

Brefni O'Rorke

The Specialist

Gerry Wilmot

Radio Announcer

Jack Peach

Radio Announcer

Art

W. Percy Day

Art Department Coordinator

Paul Sheriff

Art Direction

Camera

Jack Hildyard

Camera Operator

Georges Périnal

Director of Photography

Crew

Sidney Cole

Technical Supervisor

Directing

Leslie Howard

Director

George Pollock

Assistant Director

Editing

Production

Leslie Howard

Producer

Adrian Brunel

Production Manager

Phil C. Samuel

Production Manager

Sound

Harry Miller

Sound Editor

John Dennis

Recording Supervision

Muir Mathieson

Original Music Composer

William Walton

Original Music Composer

Writing

Henry C. James

Original Story

Katherine Strueby

Original Story

Miles Malleson

Screenplay

Art

W. Percy Day

Art Department Coordinator

Paul Sheriff

Art Direction

Camera

Jack Hildyard

Camera Operator

Georges Périnal

Director of Photography

Crew

Sidney Cole

Technical Supervisor

Directing

Leslie Howard

Director

George Pollock

Assistant Director

Editing

Production

Leslie Howard

Producer

Adrian Brunel

Production Manager

Phil C. Samuel

Production Manager

Sound

Harry Miller

Sound Editor

John Dennis

Recording Supervision

Muir Mathieson

Original Music Composer

William Walton

Original Music Composer

Writing

Henry C. James

Original Story

Katherine Strueby

Original Story

Miles Malleson

Screenplay