The First of the Few
“The thrilling human story behind the plane that licked the Luftwaffe!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The First Of The Few 1942 Trailer | David Niven
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-06-01
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Leslie Howard
R.J. Mitchell
David Niven
Geoffrey Crisp
Rosamund John
Diana Mitchell
Roland Culver
Commander Bride
Anne Firth
Miss Harper
David Horne
Mr. Higgins
J.H. Roberts
Sir Robert McLean
Derrick De Marney
Squadron Leader Jefferson
Rosalyn Boulter
Mabel Lovesay
Herbert Cameron
MacPherson
Toni Edgar-Bruce
Lady Houston
Gordon McLeod
Major Buchan
George Skillan
Mr. Royce
Erik Freund
Messerschmitt
Fritz Wendhausen
Von Straben
John Chandos
Krantz
Victor Beaumont
Von Crantz
Suzanne Clair
Madeleine
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 12, 1943
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Leslie Howard
- Screenplay & Story
- Anatole de Grunwald, Miles Malleson
- Original Score
- Muir Mathieson, William Walton
- Original Title
- The First of the Few
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, German, Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Production Studios
- British Aviation Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Leslie Howard
Anatole de Grunwald, Miles Malleson, Katherine Strueby, Henry C. James
Muir Mathieson, William Walton
Georges Périnal
Douglas Myers
Leslie Howard
Department Leadership Roster
Anatole de Grunwald
Screenplay
Leslie Howard
Director
Miles Malleson
Screenplay
Leslie Howard
Producer
Douglas Myers
Editor
Georges Périnal
Director of Photography
Muir Mathieson
Original Music Composer
William Walton
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The First of the Few.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The First of the Few.
War: World War II
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
Biographies
list0
list_War
Movies categorized under War
Criterion US - War Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on Criterion (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
Missing Mine
Similar Titles to The First of the Few
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
5.0
4.5
6.7
7.5
6.7
7.1
6.7
7.7
6.0
7.6
7.9
6.9
7.5
7.4
8.0
5.9
6.0
More Like The First of the Few
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The First of the Few
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The First of the Few about?
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.
Who directed The First of the Few?
The First of the Few was directed by Leslie Howard.
Who stars in The First of the Few?
The principal cast of The First of the Few includes Leslie Howard, David Niven, Rosamund John, Roland Culver, Anne Firth.
When was The First of the Few released and how long is it?
The First of the Few was released in 1942 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
Who composed the musical score for The First of the Few?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The First of the Few was composed by Muir Mathieson, William Walton.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The First of the Few?
The First of the Few holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).