The First of the Few (1942)

Overview

Spitfire (The First of the Few) is a stirring wartime biopic that dramatizes the life and achievements of Reginald J. Mitchell, the brilliant British aeronautical engineer who designed the Supermarine Spitfire, one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of World War II. Directed by and starring Leslie Howard, the film serves both as a tribute to a national hero and as a morale-boosting piece of wartime propaganda.

Released in the thick of WWII, it functions as both cinematic drama and patriotic inspiration—part biography, part call to arms. While it occasionally romanticizes its subject and simplifies events for dramatic effect, the film remains an evocative and emotionally resonant testament to the quiet, determined individuals who contributed to Britain’s wartime survival—not from the cockpit, but from the drawing board.

Plot Summary

The film opens with a prologue in the present (1942), as a Royal Air Force squadron returns from a combat mission. Group Captain Geoffrey Crisp (played by David Niven), a fictionalized pilot based on real-life test pilots, tells a young airman about the man responsible for the aircraft they all depend on—R.J. Mitchell.

The story then flashes back to the interwar period, tracing Mitchell’s rise from an ambitious, unconventional designer at Supermarine to his groundbreaking work on racing seaplanes for the Schneider Trophy. Despite early setbacks, Mitchell (Leslie Howard) becomes increasingly obsessed with speed and innovation. His designs win Britain multiple Schneider Trophy victories, earning international acclaim.

As tensions rise in Europe, Mitchell becomes increasingly concerned with the threat of Nazi Germany. Foreseeing the inevitability of war, he pivots from racing planes to the development of a fighter aircraft that will be fast, manoeuvrable, and powerful—the Spitfire.

Despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Mitchell works himself to exhaustion, determined to finish his design before his death. He completes the prototype in 1936, and the film ends with Mitchell’s legacy assured as the Spitfire soars into battle, defending the skies of Britain.

Themes and Interpretations

Visionary Patriotism

Mitchell is portrayed as a quiet revolutionary—not a soldier, but a man whose deep sense of duty and national pride drives him to create something enduring. His story emphasizes that war is won not only by those who fight, but by those who build and innovate.

The Heroism of Sacrifice

Mitchell sacrifices his health, and ultimately his life, in service of a higher cause. The film lionizes this stoic endurance, aligning it with British wartime ideals of selflessness, resolve, and ingenuity.

Science in Service of Humanity

One of the most interesting philosophical undercurrents in the film is Mitchell’s internal conflict about creating machines of war. Initially a pacifist, he comes to see the Spitfire as a tool not for aggression but for the defence of civilization.

Propaganda with Purpose

While undeniably propagandistic, Spitfire is less jingoistic than many of its American counterparts of the era. It wears its patriotism with quiet dignity, focusing on character and craft over bombast.

Characters and Performances

Leslie Howard as R.J. Mitchell

Howard brings his signature quiet intensity to the role. His Mitchell is a cerebral, gentle, driven man—more professor than public speaker, more craftsman than crusader. Howard’s portrayal avoids sentimentality even as it builds emotional weight; he captures the essence of a reluctant hero, making Mitchell’s personal journey feel sincere and poignant.

It’s also worth noting that Howard, himself a real-life wartime casualty (he was killed in 1943 when his plane was shot down, likely by the Luftwaffe), imbues the role with a deep, personal conviction that resonates beyond the screen.

David Niven as Geoffrey Crisp

Niven provides the film’s comic relief and emotional anchor. As a composite figure of several RAF pilots, Crisp is rakish, brave, and loyal—a contrast to Mitchell’s bookish seriousness. His presence helps bridge the world of invention with the frontline, making the film more dynamic and accessible.

Niven’s performance is lively and charismatic, balancing out the film’s more cerebral moments with wit and warmth.

Rosamund John as Diana Mitchell

While her role is limited by the standards of wartime biopics, Rosamund John brings gentle intelligence and supportiveness to the character of Mitchell’s wife. She represents the personal toll of Mitchell’s dedication, but also the strength of those who supported from the home front.

Direction and Style

As a director, Leslie Howard brings a restrained, almost documentary-like quality to many scenes, especially those involving aircraft development and engineering. The pacing is deliberate, with long conversations about technical innovation, aerodynamic design, and bureaucratic roadblocks—a bold choice for a wartime film, but one that serves its thematic purpose.

There’s also a surprising amount of humour and humanity throughout, largely due to David Niven’s presence and the clever script.

The film incorporates real footage of Spitfires in flight, as well as material from the Schneider Trophy races, lending authenticity and a sense of scale. The final sequences, showing the Spitfire in action, are rousing and symbolic, though understandably limited by the era’s production constraints.

Historical Accuracy vs. Dramatic License

The film simplifies some aspects of Mitchell’s life and compresses timelines, but remains broadly faithful to the major facts:

Mitchell did die in 1937 from cancer, never seeing the Spitfire fly in combat.

The Spitfire was indeed a technological marvel, shaped by Mitchell’s obsession with speed and his work on seaplanes.

The film omits some of the challenges and team contributions behind the Spitfire’s creation (notably those of test pilot Jeffrey Quill and engineer Joseph Smith), choosing instead to focus the narrative on Mitchell alone—typical of wartime biopics.

Nonetheless, the liberties taken serve the film’s myth-making goal: to celebrate British ingenuity and quiet heroism.

Reception and Legacy

Spitfire was warmly received in Britain, praised for its inspirational tone, strong performances, and reverence for real-world heroes. In the U.S., the shortened version (retitled Spitfire) also found an audience, though it lost some of the original’s nuance.

Over time, the film has come to be appreciated not just as propaganda, but as a touching human story and a rare cinematic look at the behind-the-scenes side of war—a celebration of intellect, perseverance, and the enduring value of individual vision in the face of global crisis.

Its influence can be seen in later films about wartime invention and engineering, such as The Dam Busters (1955), Reach for the Sky (1956), and even more recent entries like The Imitation Game (2014).

Conclusion

Spitfire (The First of the Few) is a moving, quietly heroic film that blends biography with national tribute. At its heart is a deeply human performance by Leslie Howard, who not only portrays a reluctant genius, but also guides the film with intelligence and emotional restraint.

As both a wartime morale booster and a cinematic love letter to innovation and sacrifice, Spitfire stands as a testament to the many forms heroism can take. It is not about glory on the battlefield, but about the vision, toil, and quiet courage that make victory possible.

Final Rating

An eloquent tribute to a national hero—equal parts inspiration and introspection, brought to life by the dignified touch of Leslie Howard and David Niven.