Appointment in London: It is 1943, and a Wing Commander of Bomber Command is fighting his personal demons whilst edging towards his 90th (and final) operation over Germany, flying Avro Lancaster bombers.To put this film into context it was made in 1952, from a story written by a WWII veteran who had himself survived over 100 operations. Most of the film's outdoor sequences were shot at RAF Upwood (http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/) which was at that time home to a squadron of soon-to-be obsolete Avro Lincoln bombers. These appear in the background and (at a distance) pass well enough as Lancasters, a few of which were of course used for the closer shots.Britain in 1952 was still suffering the after-effects of WWII; petrol had not long come off the ration, but rationing was to remain on many basic foodstuffs for another two years to come. Most folk didn't have two beans to rub together, yet the country faced the prospect of the developing Cold War, which could have turned hot at any time.Despite near bankruptcy, the UK was in the midst of developing it's V bomber force (the iconic 'Vulcan' had just made its maiden flight) and the nuclear weapons that they would carry; a product of the 'freedom at any cost' mentality which must have prevailed during WWII.Bomber Command's role in WWII is today in some danger of being overlooked. It should not be forgotten that for several years they were the sole means of striking back at the enemy, and that they arguably waged what remains the most costly air war ever fought; whilst the US Eighth Air Force suffered appalling aircrew losses (~26000 casualties), Bomber Command lost over twice as many, but from a smaller complement. Their losses averaged over 44%, and their daily losses were on occasion almost inconceivable, in some instances exceeding (say) the total losses of Fighter Command during the whole Battle of Britain.The effect of this air campaign will be debated for decades to come, but in round numbers -even without allowing for the bombing damage itself- it is estimated that at any one time it cost the Germans the use of about 1000 operational fighter aircraft, several hundred thousand men, about 10000 of the lethal 88mm gun (which was also one of the most devastating anti-tank weapons of WWII), millions of shells, and all the manufacturing facilities and infrastructure to support them.However Albert Speer (Germany's armaments minister during WWII) was in no doubt about the significance of the air war against Germany. Years after the war he is quoted as saying that "... No one has yet seen that this was the greatest lost battle on the German side".This is one of the few films that makes any real attempt to show what the bulk of Bomber Command's operations would have been like in 1943; night ops over Germany, with a high loss rate. The final operation in the film is portrayed as a mission against a secret weapon facility in Germany; this is quite realistic, echoing the real 'Operation Hydra' of August 1943, in which the V2 development facility at Peenemunde was bombed, causing significant delays to the missile programme.It is all played in a rather understated fashion in this film, and it perhaps lacks the drama of some other WWII films. (And of course there are a few goofs; e.g. the final scenes 'wartime London' show cars without blackout gear and a few 1950's unibody models...) Yet it is a very good, and rather significant film that is sadly underrated. Without films of this sort, important parts of our history may soon be forgotten.Near to me, there are still the remains of dozens of WWII airfields. In most cases they are just crumbling back into the landscape, home to little more than old ghosts and fading memories. I can't imagine what it would have been like over 70 years ago, but films like this can give you some idea.Definitely worth watching.

This film was also released as APPOINTMENT IN London. Dirk Bogarde is the stalwart star of this wartime drama centered around the lives of the men of a bomber squadron based at Lincoln. A great deal of original aerial footage is edited into the film throughout, culminating in a huge bombing raid over Germany in the latter part of the film, which shows a genuine squadron flying in formation at night, and features the most astonishing real footage of the roaring inferno produced by such a bombing raid. There are also some shots of London in 1952 showing that there was still almost no traffic. Bogarde plays Wing Commander Mason, who at the beginning of the film has flown 87 sorties over Germany and is being urged on all sides to call it quits, but he is determined to go on until he completes 90 missions, because 'I have set my mind on it'. However, he is getting over-tired and everyone worries that he will make mistakes or simply not make it. My wife likes Bogarde a great deal. She used to be taken by her mother to tea with him and his mother in Denham Village when she was a child, when she became entranced by him and his peculiar charm. His mother was apparently rather butch. I only met him and chatted with him on one occasion, at Shepperton. He was certainly a major figure in the history of British cinema. He could be rather waspish, and was no heterosexual. One old friend of ours unexpectedly turned up on the credits of this film, Cecil Ford. He was credited as Assistant Director. I checked IMDb, and he had already been an assistant director for five years by this time. The next year he moved up to Production Manager. Dinah Sheridan plays the love interest in this film. Although everyone thought she was an English rose, Sheridan was really half Russian and half German. She did very well in the part, showing great restraint as 'a widow since Dunkirk' and not falling for the first airman she sees. Everyone in the film is very restrained indeed, and all the upper lips are stiff in the Old Style. This is seriously traditional British fare. Bryan Forbes does very well as an airman who doesn't make it. His wife is played by the interesting actress Anne Leon, who died long ago and made few films. She was very effective, but as she was no glamour gal, it seems she was not offered many parts. It is always a pity when people of talent are not properly recognised. In terms of names we might recognise today, Nigel Stock is uncredited as a co-pilot, not that you would notice. And that is about it. The film was ably directed by Philip Leacock, who went on to make another film with Dirk Bogarde three years later, THE Spanish GARDENER, and later in life was primarily a director of many popular television series. This film is probably about as realistic as you can get, as a portrait of Bomber Command in operation during the War. But it never sacrifices fiction for fact, and maintains strong story lines and dramatic narrative throughout, with all the accuracy serving to make it more moving and authentic.

Unlike Fighter Command whose exploits were painted across the skies of Southern England during the endless summer of 1940,Bomber Command never caught the public imagination.These were not glamorous public school chaps with silk scarves and Brylcreemed hair downing a brace of Huns before tea,gleaming Spitfires and intrepid Hurricanes doing Victory Rolls whilst beating up the airfield as the Waafs waved out of the Control Tower.No,these were mainly working class grammar school boys sitting in freezing aluminium tubes, little more than lethal containers of H.E and volatile fuel,in the pitch dark 5 miles above Occupied Europe in skies full of white hot metal shards any one of which,at any second,could turn their aircraft into a fiery coffin.Some chewed the ends of pencils whilst calculating the target's co - ordinates on paper,some tracking the amount of fuel being used,others scanned the sky for enemy fighters.Some flew the plane which took considerable strength to keep on a straight and level course under ideal conditions,let alone being bounced around in a hazardous sky where your every instinct is to drop your bombs and race home ASAP.These men displayed dour,determined courage night after long night in a bitter war of attrition.A standard tour of operations consisted of 30 missions,their chance of survival a little over 30%. Wing Commander Mason (Mr D.Bogarde)has flown 87 missions,the equivalent of spitting in The Grim Reaper's face several times.He is determined to complete his third tour despite opposition from his Commanding Officer and the M.O."Appointment in London" tells the story of his fight to survive against all the odds. Superficially resembling the mighty "Twelve o' clock high",closer study reveals more differences than might be immediately apparent.Gregory Peck's character was imposed on a failing squadron whose popular C.O. suffered a breakdown,Mason has been on base for a long time and is well - liked and respected,Peck a martinet where Bogarde tolerates his pilots' horseplay,for instance.There is no doubt "Twelve o' clock high" is the superior movie,but that doesn't make "Appointment in London" a poor one. Much of the pleasure is in the supporting cast,Mr A.Shaw as "Smithy",the adjutant,a much older man,outwardly stuffy,a veteran of the Great War and a man who has seen too many airmen die to allow himself to become affected.Mr C.Victor as the village publican and confidant to aircrew,paternal and compassionate,a splendid bit of acting.Mr C.Singer in a customary senior NCO role as the Flight Sergeant in charge of the groundcrew who lend the planes to the fliers and hope they take good care of them and,last but not least Mr S.Kydd as the mechanic who finds his pilot's lucky charm and is confronted late at night by an angry Mr Bogarde.This is a key scene in the movie as Bogarde's anger(mainly against himself) manifests itself in an exchange that graduallly moves from aggression to awkwardness to genuine respect.It is beautifully played by these two fine actors. My only personal caveat with the film is the complete lack of anything resembling affection between Mr Bogarde and Miss D.Sheridan as the naval officer he falls in love with.I'm sorry I just didn't believe in them as a couple.No spark,no chemistry,no nothing.Maybe it's me. All round though,"Appointment in London" is a well - made,interesting and enjoyable film with lots of well - loved faces.I recommend that you watch it.

From my summary you are entitled to think I found this an inferior rip-off of Twelve O'Clock High and you'd be correct. Dirk Bogarde was no Gregory Peck and though he gives the battle fatigue resulting from leading 80 + missions his best shot he doesn't quite cut it. Of course, if you haven't seen Twelve O'Clock High (released a couple of years earlier) chances are you'll enjoy this take on life on a bomber station in World War Two. All the usual suspects are wheeled out from Brian Forbes to Sam Kydd and there's even William Sylvester and Bill Kerr to ensure a balance of nationalities. Unlike Twelve O'Clock High the film can't resist introducing the female element so Dinah Sheridan is trotted out as the target for a half-hearted rivalry between Bogarde and Sylvester. Check it out if you must then check out a real movie on the same subject, beginning with Twelve.