The First of the Few 81 years old

The First of the Few

This 1942 fictionalized biopic chronicles the true story of how two of the most remarkable men in aviation history - visionary Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell and his test pilot Geoffrey Crisp - designed a streamlined monoplane that led to the development of the Spitfire.

Credits

The First of the Few Cast

Name Character
Leslie Howard He was 50, 50 years old when he died as R.J. Mitchell
Roland Culver He was 42, 83 years old when he died as Commander Bride
David Niven He was 33, 73 years old when he died as Geoffrey Crisp
J. H. Roberts He was 58, 76 years old when he died as Sir Robert McLean
Derrick De Marney He was 36, 71 years old when he died as Squadron Leader Jefferson
Rosamund John She was 29, 85 years old when she died as Diana Mitchell
Suzanne Clair as Madeleine
Rosalyn Boulter She was 26, 80 years old when she died as Mabel Lovesay
Brefni O'Rorke He was 53, 57 years old when he died as The Specialist
Erik Freund as Messerschmitt
George Skillan He was 50, 82 years old when he died as Mr. Royce
John Chandos He was 543, 587 years old when he died as Krantz
Fritz Wendhausen He was 52, 71 years old when he died as Von Straben
Anne Firth She was 24, 49 years old when she died as Miss Harper
Toni Edgar-Bruce She was 51, 73 years old when she died as Lady Houston
Jack Peach as Radio Announcer
Victor Beaumont He was 30, 64 years old when he died as Von Crantz
David Horne He was 44, 71 years old when he died as Mr. Higgins
Gordon McLeod He was 52, 70 years old when he died as Major Buchan
Filippo Del Giudice He was 51, 69 years old when he died as Bertorelli
Herbert Cameron He was 63, 86 years old when he died as MacPherson
Gerry Wilmot He was 18, now 99 years old as Radio Announcer

The First of the Few Crew

Name Department
Harry Miller as Sound Editor. He was 67 (116) years old when He died Sound
George Pollock as Assistant Director. He was 36 (34) years old when He died Directing
Georges Périnal as Director of Photography. He was 46 (68) years old when He died Camera
W. Percy Day as Art Department Coordinator. He was 64 (86) years old when He died Art
Henry C. James as Original Story. Writing
Katherine Strueby as Original Story. She was 35 (80) years old when She died Writing
Sidney Cole as Technical Supervisor. He was 34 (89) years old when He died Crew
William Walton as Music. He was 41 (80) years old when He died Sound
Jack Hildyard as Camera Operator. He was 35 (81) years old when He died Camera
Muir Mathieson as Music. He was 32 (63) years old when He died Sound
Miles Malleson as Screenplay. He was 55 (80) years old when He died Writing
Anatole de Grunwald as Screenplay. He was 32 (56) years old when He died Writing
Paul Sheriff as Art Direction. He was 39 (56) years old when He died Art
Adrian Brunel as Production Manager. He was 50 (65) years old when He died Production
Douglas Myers as Editor. He was 4 (23) years old when He died Editing
Phil C. Samuel as Production Manager. Production
The First of the Few poster
The First of the Few (81 years)

  • Release day: Monday, September 14, 1942
  • Runtime: 118 minutes