The lions has wings (1939-WWII-Propaganda-British)

The Lion Has Wings (1939) is a documentary-style British propaganda film. Made at the outbreak of the Second World War, it was made and released to cinemas very quickly and helped convince the government of the value of film in the propaganda battle as well as in spreading information

The Lion Has Wings is recounted in various "chapters" with a linking story revolving around a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) officer, played by Ralph Richardson, his wife and his family.

The film opens with a newsreel style documentary comparing life in Britain to life in Nazi Germany, narrated by E.V.H. Emmett in the contrived and maudlin narrative style common to such newsreels in Britain. This mainly uses existing newsreel footage with some additional footage shot especially for this film. It includes scenes from Fire Over England with Queen Elizabeth I giving her speech to the troops at Tilbury about repelling invaders. It also compares the relaxed lifestyles and openness of the British Royal Family and the British people with the militarism of Nazi Germany by including footage from Triumph of the Will (In German: Triumph des Willens).

The second chapter shows an early bombing raid on German warships in the Kiel Canal. Although it was mainly recreated in the studio and with special effects, it also includes some footage of the real bombers and their crews returning from the raid.^[1]

The third chapter shows an attack by Luftwaffe bombers and how it is repelled by the RAF, with assistance from the Observer Corps and the barrage balloons.

Cast:

Merle Oberon	Mrs. Richardson
Ralph Richardson	Wing Commander Richardson
June Duprez	June
Flora Robson	Queen Elizabeth I (edited from Fire Over England) (archival footage)
Robert Douglas	Briefing officer
Anthony Bushell	Pilot
Brian Worth	Bobby
Austin Trevor	Schulemburg
Ivan Brandt	Officer
G.H. Mulcaster	Controller
Herbert Lomas	Holveg
Milton Rosmer	Head of Observer Corps
Ronald Adam	Bomber Chief
Robert Rendel	Chief of Air Staff

Directed by	Michael Powell Brian Desmond Hurst Adrian Brunel Alexander Korda (uncredited)
Produced by	Alexander Korda Ian Dalrymple
Written by	Adrian Brunel Ian Dalrymple E.V.H. Emmett
Starring	Merle Oberon Ralph Richardson June Duprez
Music by	Richard Addinsell
Cinematography	Osmond Borradaile Bernard Browne Harry Stradling Sr.
Editing by	Henry Cornelius Charles Frend Hugh Stewart Derek N. Twist
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	3 November 1939 (UK)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English