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633 Squadron (1964)

Rate: 6
Viewed: 1/25

633Sq
1/25: This is the film that George Lucas stole from for the final mission on Death Star in Star Wars.

Ditto for Top Gun: Maverick. Compare these three by how the aircrafts go through the tunnel-like path while being hit with gunfire with the same style of editing. Anyway, it's easy to think of Mosquito Squadron while watching 633 Squadron. Despite lifting some footage from the latter for the former, all I can say is that they're highly similar.

The performances are fair. Like David McCallum, Cliff Robertson plays it practical and ends up being the only worthwhile character. As a matter of fact, he knew how to fly but wasn't allowed to do in the movie for insurance reasons. George Chakiris is matter-of-factly, but I don't understand why he was sent away for a small mission given he had been training with the other guy the whole time. Maria Perschy is merely used to provide throwaway romance.

If there's anything disappointing apart from the cheap special effects, it's the last five minutes which sends a message: "Win at all costs." Maybe that's why Cliff Robertson's character gave up on life by knowing he was expendable, hence the purposeful killing of the blond-haired woman's brother. Also, 633 Squadron is a rare film with everybody dead at the end (don't be fooled; Hopkinson [Angus Lennie of The Great Escape] isn't going to live). By the way, the resistance fighters shouldn't have exposed themselves by walking in the middle of the trail out in the open.

All in all, 633 Squadron and Mosquito Squadron should be seen back-to-back.