633 Squadron actually part inspired the Death Star battle sequence in Star Wars and although you might have never seen this film before, you would have heard of its stirring theme music.It is 1944 and the Royal Air Force commanders have been informed of a factory producing fuel for the German V2 rockets in the Norwegian fjords. The factory is protected by an overhanging cliff which if it collapses could destroy the factory beneath it. A squadron of De Havilland Mosquitoes are assigned the task for this dangerous mission.Cliff Robertson plays the stoic American flying ace (who joined the RAF) and he is joined by Oscar winner George Chakiris who plays the Norwegian resistance fighter Erik Bergman who is there to provide the sex appeal and has a sister who Robertson can romance.The British actors are also rans but who can miss Crossroads legend Shughie McFee and the film makes a nod to soldiers from all parts of the commonwealth.Despite the stirring finale the film has an hackneyed plot, cheesy lines such as 'You can't kill a squadron' and some hammy acting. The special effects are average at best but let's not ignore the stirring music and its influence on George Lucas.

First, I must state that I was quite disappointed by the comment by a poster stating that the "lack of Americans saving the day" was the reason for so many low votes. That is ignorance to the highest degree. Winning WWII was a group effort with supreme contributions from many countries.I enjoyed what I saw, I thought the score was exceptional! While I am not a fan of current-day CGI-enhanced movies, the special effects, even for a 1964 movie, were below standard. It appeared to be a very low-budget film.It was a great story and one I would like to learn more about. Cliff Robertson put in his normal quality performance. And, how can you not like a movie with Angus Lennie! VNG

The timing for me watching this is fortuitous, as just this morning I finished watching "Mosquito Squadron" (1969)--a very, very similar movie. Both films featured the de Havilland Mosquito (an amazingly fast and capable British fighter-bomber) and both were concerned with an Allied attempt to knock out a German rocket factory. This factory was set in Norway, the other film had it set in France. So which is the better film? Read on if you'd like my opinion.Cliff Robertson plays the American leader of a squadron of British planes. While this is odd, it might have occurred, as there were American pilots who joined the Brits after WWII broke out and before the US went to war. He is told that his squadron will have a new assignment. They are to fly into Norway and bomb an overhand in the rocks in a fjord in order to seal in a German rocket factory. This naturally will require precision low-level bombing--at which their Mosquitoes were best suited. To practice for the raid, they go to Scotland to fly among the cliffs. It's not Norway--nor is Norway, actually, as they used this same locale as a stand-in for Norway later in the film when the actual raid takes place.My biggest complaint about this film was the casting of George Chikiris. No, it's not because I have anything against him personally (I am sure he's a swell guy) but he was cast as a Norwegian!! He sounds about as Norwegian as Bill Cosby! And, while there are of course dark-haired Norwegians, why not hire an actor who at least looks Norwegian?! I don't blame Chikiris--after all, he was probably happy to have a job. But I am sure this must have nagged him as well, as the role just wasn't suited for him--he deserved better.While it's a bit obvious some of the planes are models on strings and the German fighter planes are simple transport/observation planes (Me-108s) and the film technically is not nearly as good as "The Battle of Britain", it's still a decent film. It has a rousing score, decent battle scenes and ends strongly. Overall, I'd give this one a 7 and say it is just a bit better than "Mosquito Squadron"--mostly because although Robertson mostly plays a grumpus, at least he has a personality--a problem with the other film, where the leading man was pretty flat, as he was given little in the way of personality.

The score is magnificent,and I think Harry Andrews is as great as ever. It not in the same class as "The Battle of Britain" and despite the fact that it deals with an historical subject, the film itself seems slightly dated. I suppose American money is necessary for such a film to be made at all, but I disliked a piece of RAF history and heroism becoming another "How America won the war". Turning an RAF Squadron Commander into a thoroughly unbelievable Yank (even if the Eagle Squadron connection meant it was not technically impossible) surrounded by rather simpering Brits was nothing short of an act of cultural vandalism. I found it hard to take the film seriously for that enormous clanger.