Battle Of Britain (1969) : Scramble!/Battle in the Air

[michaelheintz1833]

Sir William was commissioned to compose the score, but when Guy Hamilton heard it, he did not like the final work, so he hired someone else to compose. This is the only piece from Walton left in the theatrical release. Hard to believe......

[michaelheintz1833]

......you must keep up with me!

[OldSchoolPatriot2012]

You can teach...monkeys to fly better than that!

[Aemulator]

I grow up with this movie and the longest day... SIGH! :,)

[Phantomhaivuru07]

Booms a daisy. Enough to make a wheep.

[Brian79camino]

monkeys can fly better than that!

[singningwongho]

2:30 come in red 2........

[LockAndLoadp]

@singningwongho Come in Blue 2....

[Brian79camino]

@LockAndLoadp takatakatataktak!

[lolomgmetobavi]

@singningwongho I believe Come in red 2 was said around 1:30.

[singningwongho]

@lolomgmetobavi ummmmmm sorry i dont think so mate, the battle had hardly began at that time. actually more like 2:36 that come in red 2 was said. HA

[lolomgmetobavi]

@singningwongho You're right, I mistaken it for: Red 3, This is Red 1, I can hardly see you...

[buffallobill007]

they were all heroes in the air and on the ground male and female, all fought the cause at the time. would you get that now?

[Danewcielo]

My grandfather was a pilot in 315 Squadron, he died by crashing into mountain. He was great.

[keirfree]

@Danewcielo Sad to Read ,,,,,!!

[Spaceman13666]

Agreed. My Grandfather was a Battle Of Britain pilot. (Defiants 264 Squadron. Though I never got to meet him. He died 7 years before I was born. (Cancer of the throat.)

He too was shot down twice. Lucky or something. The 1stt time he was shot down he got back through the resistance. 2nd time, Stalag Luft III.

This along with the film. Always make me so proud of him and all the other pilots.

So to your grandfather and mine. And to all others involved. Balls of Steel indeed.

We salute you

[whyyyyou]

cont ; My pointing out Arnold's music isn't meant to take anything away from Walton. I just thought it was an interesting bit of trivia to pass along. Walton composed the vast majority of the score.

Also rather neat ;There's even a photograph of the two musical giants during the recording session of 'Battle Of Britain' on page 18 of the booklet.

[tklogan11809]

I'd like to meet the "genius" who thought of rejecting this cue, it's film music at its very best. I never heard anything more symphonic, frantic, frenetic, creative and at the same time elegant and beautiful. Walton deserved the Oscar for the last 4 minutes of this track alone and Oscars should be discontinued.

[whyyyyou]

Maginificent piece of music.

Not to be a know-it-all or anything :- } but the stark,menacing music heard at 2:52 & 4:45 that seems to suggest explosions, smoke, and fire, was actually composed by Malcolm Arnold who was a very close friend of Walton and conducted his score for the film.. as well as helping Walton meet the tight deadline by composing a few minutes of music..

I read about this in the liner notes booklet for the Chandos label recording: Sir William Walton's filmmusic vol 2

[tklogan11809]

@whyyyyou hmmm do you have any documentation or evidence that M. Arnold wrote any of this, including 2:52 and 4:45?

[whyyyyou]

@tklogan11809

"Malcolm Arnold's contribution was not limited to conducting;he also helped Walton with the orchestration and even with the composition of various sequences including 'Battle in the Air'. Parts of the latter do sound more like Arnold than Walton..."

From pg 7 of the liner notes booklet written by Christopher Palmer, for the Chandos recording Sir William Walton 's filmmusic vol 2.

[sol31bc]

Superb piece of music. Great film, but when I first saw it as a child, this music was by far the most vivid, memorable element for me. That final battle scene in which it features really elevates the film to another level in my view. Until reading the comments, I never knew it was part of a 'dropped' score. I'll have to seek it out.

[grzesminor]

'blue 2?'

'come in blue 2'

[Electricfox]

"Everything up?"

"Yes...."

"Reserves?"

"None..."

"That's what I just told the Prime Minister..."

[MrEric177]

To all of the RAF pilots! The best of the brave!

[FadGadget1]

I so love this score. Second half is seriously menacing.

My grandad flew in a Lancaster bomber. Was shot down twice! and still survived the war. Now that's balls of steel with a serious amount of luck. Grandad you were the best R.I.P.

[RifleMan80]

@FadGadget1

God bless your grandpa, and the other R.A.F. pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice to save their country. I too lost family members in World War II. Two great uncles. My great grandpa survived through Guadalcanal , and the Philippines with the US Marines. But my two great uncles died in Europe with the Army.

[IMPERIALSTORMTROOPER]

@FadGadget1 nice story mate, your grandad was a true hero

[Rossco139]

this track really added to the desperation of the moment in the movie

[crzxr]

Yes, this is part of Walton's score for the film. The first section of this excerpt was not used, but the main part - the war in the air - was used at Olivier's insistence, and thank God, as it's the only decent music in the picture. You can now re-instate Walton's entire score with the current DVD.

[tomenicus]

@crzxr you're bloody right, mate. I remember Trevor Howard said something like "Everything up? Any reserve available? NO? That's what I've told to the minister..." that was the last battle in movie...

[PineTreeAndCone]

Isn't this william walton??

[Hoovercat]

@PineTreeAndCone

yes.....most of Waltons score was dropped from the film for being too 'menacing'...hence Ron Goodwin coming up with something a bit 'lighter'.

[alih15]

Not as good as reb baron soundtrack i think?