Starwars: 633 Squadron Mosquito Deathstar attack

[@modernschoolatlas]

May the Royal Air Force be with you!

[@kd6rxl]

Lucas was quite frank back in 1977 that he had studied clips from a number of WWII films to block out the combat scenes. He wanted that part of his far-out sci-fi epic to fit Hollywood conventions and audience expectations.

[@TheJorgSacul]

My brother told me about this in 1977-- he recognized it immediately. Of course, I thought he was nuts and ignored him, until today. Great work!

[@XcessiveNinja17]

"I just lost my starboard engine" -> it's the left wing that's on fire

[@THEOUTCASTSCREATIVE]

Lucas always acknowledged this and other films as an influence on Star Wars.

[@harnois75]

The reason people refer to The Dambusters is because before Star Wars had its FX sequences shot, al the dogfights and space ship battles were put in with camera gun shots and war film footage as place holders. This is how it was originally shown to Ladd at 20th Century Fox. The Dambusters is the most obvious of these as lines of dialogue from the attack are directly lifted from the 1955 film, therefore it's obvious that the Death Star sequence was in part built up from it. But possibly 633 too.

[@oxmys]

"I can't shake it! I've got a wire attached to my wing!"

[@4thwallpublishing]

Alot of tweeking but dramatically the scenes are VERY similar. There is some Tarkin windbaggery from some Germans and a torture scene (although no Solo rescue). Another film called Mosquito squadron (which uses bouncing bombs on a tunnel!) has the solosque last minute save.

[@4thwallpublishing]

mosquitos flying in 3's down a fijord, no room to manouver, having to hit a precision target, being fired at by flak, hunted by 109's.....

[@gpmurf]

Excellent mashup. Lucas, however, has publicly acknowledged "The Dambusters" and other WWII films were a huge influence on the death star sequence.

[@hayabusabart]

The Force is strong in this one.. brilliant editing.. well done

[@BattleOfBritainTV]

Very good! although at 3:37 you included footage from the practice run with the chalk bombs. It's funny to see the big target with the sticky-tape 'X marks the spot' as if the Germans had set it up like that! The film 633 Squadron is really well made, and a good movie, let along a great war movie. There are quite a few other Star wars elements throughout the film you missed a trick a bit (the rebel base, the brother/ sister relationship ; the torture scene ... think vader and Leia......

[@gordonsalive75]

FANTASTIC!!!....glad others had noticed the similarities,was getting slightly bored of telling my star wars friends how much the death star attack resembled 633 squadron!

[@HonoredGeneral]

Very Well Done! nice mashup. This movie was made in the early 60's using only 3 Mosquitos that were still flying. Impressive for those times. Nice Job! once again.

[@ianrkav]

Yeah, George Lucas did say the fjiord run inspired the trench run in Star Wars:-)

[@godzilla6740]

It seems Mr. Lucas borrowed several ideass from several movies not only this one.

[@orangelion03]

My brother and I loved this film when we were kids (OK, we still do...). We went to see Star Wars together when it first showed in theaters and when they began the Death Star attack, we turned to each other and said "633 squadron!"

[@flyingjoejackson]

Well done Spartacus! very clever bit of editing. If only someone would make a film about the Mosquito raid on Amiens prison....now that WOULD be a classic. Mosquito was infinately better than the Lanc or the spit anyway.

[@Trek001]

sir... I was abot to dismiss this out of hand.. HOWEVER Well done to do this... great editing 5 stars and added to my fav list

[@EricFell]

That's amazing! Lucas copied the entire audio track from this sequence DIRECTLY from this movie?

[@4thwallpublishing]

well in a way you do as I believe the TIE engine noise is a p51 mustang played backwards (merlin under licensed). And your right only sound better than a merlin is 2 merlins.....

[@4thwallpublishing]

Outstanding! -Jeremy Sindon (Gold two - "3 marks at two ten") played a bomb disposal officer in a great series from the 1979 called "Danger uxb".

[@BrunoChemalle]

OLD OLD OLD old old old republic

[@grotty1535]

"hey the actor who played the australian pilot in this movie is the guy who ...." his name is John Mellion

[@Karagianis]

it's a mix, there's a line from dam busters near the beginning, the trench run is from 633 squadron, and the final explosion is from Guns of Navarone.

[@N17C1]

All kinds of awesome - two of my favourite movies!!!

[@SteveSabbai]

...except for a minor glitch at 2:20 this was very well done...matching up the audio with the video was excellent....

[@CaptainNomura]

Actually both 633 Squadron and Dam Busters inspired George Lucas, I think I remember he admitting it in one of the interviews shortly after his first film. Anybody who saw both films immediately saw the connection.

[@Lincolnlineman]

Lol, I never considered 633 squadron as being borrowed, only The Dam busters. Anyone else notice the end to Independence Day also borrowed a bit from these films? The narrow run with no room to manoeuvre, flights of 3 aircraft, last shot making the win?

[@sbl195207]

I thought so back when Stars came out, Very good spoof. I've always enjoyed 633 Squadron as well even though the special effects were primitive. Thank you.

[@603mac]

The Force will be with you..........yeah that would be the Royal Air Force

[@lighthousecollector]

great stuff -very clever -as a fan of Mosquitos and Star Wars I really appreciated this!

[@richardwillett]

I've thought this since 1977 when I first saw Star Wars!

[@QSDigitalVideo]

Good work Spartacus. Lucas doesn't deny getting inspiration from WWII movies, but I'm not sure it was this specific one.

[@CaptWindShear]

Right On! Thought exactly the same thing myself the first time I saw Star Wars back in '77.

[@2206411411]

The plans for the Mosquito exist, there are surviving moulds for at least some of the moulded parts, and there are (very occasional) Mosquitos in "museum condition" sold - usually for a fair chunk of change. In principle, restoration to flying condition is possible. There are also Mosquito projects, but progress reports from those are far and few between. It seems that the Mosquito is a lot tougher than Spitfires and Hurricanes, both of which have been replicated.

[@lomax343]

The question of whether George Lucas borrowed from The Dam Busters (NOT Dambusters) or from 633 Squadron rather overlooks the possibility that 633 Squadron borrowed from the Dam Busters. Oh, and isn't that bit at 4:21 from Mosquito Squadron, not 633?

[@cygil1]

God damn it, it's almost shot for shot in places.

[@4thwallpublishing]

Oh definatly. Although vaguely remember hearing a story that the TIE noise was a mustang engine played backwards (which ironically would make it a merlin made under license). Just wish Mossies flew again...

[@DEP717]

That was brilliant! Five stars easily! Great mixing skills!

[@modernredeye]

I realised where he got the Death Star attack as soon as I saw it. Obvious to anyone who saw both films. Better theme tune in 633 Squadron and nicer machines! Originals always better!

[@myrtlevilleace]

Totally agree, besides those twin Merlins sound better than a TIE.

[@Robert265283]

Remake 633 Squadron please George Lucas

[@4thwallpublishing]

Thats the Folkewolf TA 154 i believe which was a German wooden plane - inspired by the British "wooden wonder" called the Dehaviiland Mosquito

[@terentii]

@doffincodger When they were free to maneuver, yeah, usually. When locked into an attack run at a fixed altitude and airspeed, though, it would have been easier for the Germans to bounce them. The German "fighters" in 633 were Messerschmitt Bf108 Taifuns, BTW. The Taifun wasn't a fighter, it was a trainer. It's the same plane James Garner and Donald Pleasance stole to fly to Switzerland in "The Great Escape."

[@reese5alive]

An excellent interpretaion, well done. A difficult film to edit.

[@4thwallpublishing]

Yes the navigator (Stewie Macfee) (short one from the great escape) is practically R2D

[@LupusAries]

Interesting, however as an aviation enthusiast. that mixing up of the X-Wings eninges with the mosquitos is horrible, since the Mosquitos merlin Motor has a destinctive and definately other sound, and most beautiful if you ever heard a real one. Else it is interesting. It fit pretty nicely, well it was always sayd that much of the fighting scenes were inspired by such films and in the first cuts they were placeholders until the trick scenes were done.

[@budgiefeathers]

hey the actor who played the australian pilot in this movie is the guy who did the narration of the vb ads before he died and he star in crocdile dundee with paul hogan.

[@sapphire200182]

I especially liked the briefing scene... and the firing sound effects go so well with the lousy visuals!

[@Gareth769]

nice - my two fave films combined cheers mate

[@randomperson1865]

Good job matching the voice to the mouth movements

[@volumex2000]

yes but where was Hann Solo and his Millenium Falcon ?

[@duxforddixie]

A better theatrical trailer than the original!!

[@4thwallpublishing]

Yeah the video has been chopped around a little, but the sound is pretty much the trench run shortened.

[@GarlicPudding]

Fantastic editing! consider this fav'ed.

[@4thwallpublishing]

Thanks Enterprise! Thats even better I think- apt that a merline would be used for the Falcon.

[@GHMETCALFE]

Classic. I'm actually watching 633 Squadron right now on Netflix. Nicely put together clips, but I always flt that the Rebel Base scenes with all the pilot chatter was taken right from the movie "Midway" Check it out sometime.

[@BrianKorot]

OMG! WTF! LOL! That was just about scene for scene... Wow.... Darn you George Lucus!

[@zenoist2]

I like this film too. The special effects are pretty corny in places . It has a brilliant theme tune.

[@doffincodger]

Damn Clever! But miss the Merlin 'Moaning!

[@stufield7497]

I always thought there were some similarities. This is great.

[@MarcJboy]

This is excellent parody mate well done!! Love both comparisons, obviously no offence to WW2 either, a lot of brave men in fiction but in spirit

[@orangelion03]

Staring Angus Lennie as R2D2!

[@Valkyrie801]

Hilarious! Well done! I got a laugh outa' this one!

[@Killamarshian]

I think they have, it's called 'Mosquito Squadron'

[@4thwallpublishing]

@Trashcansam123 actually i made this before I saw the Keiper one. I think its clear Lucas borrowed heavily from both

[@Hudson633]

The 633 will be with you, always. ALWAIS!

[@MrsRoguedemonhunter]

Oh... I also loved this movie too. hehe Sit and watch it with dad. Awesome.

[@therookpiece]

Masterful. It works so well.

[@OdeeOz]

Too funny. And pretty much accurate where he got some of the footage. Thanks for sharing Oh, great movie 633 Squadron is too. Well worth the watching.

[@dancerman1138]

Brilliant Bloody Brilliant Thank you

[@Litzen2k]

RIP Poorkins..

[@cirian75]

@roguewarrior5 Lucas him self said it inspired the Death Star trench run.

[@emforty2]

Lucas was 9 years old when he saw this ! and "may the force be with you" LOL !

[@sapphire200182]

Heh, excellent stuff! Lucas obviously took lots of scenes from both Dambusters and 633 Sqdrn., the pilfering cad.

[@connla]

@roguewarrior5 except that lucas has said that 633 squadran inspired the trench run in star wars.

[@2206411411]

A Mosquito with German markings is used in the first part of the movie Where Eagles Dare, I seem to remember. The Germans also tried to reproduce the Mosquito, but their clone did not see the skies before the end of the war as far as I know.

[@doffincodger]

The De Havilland Mosquito was generally too fast to be shot down by enemy fighters ?

[@4thwallpublishing]

Cheers- yeah thought about including that but it kind of doesn't mix with the planes so well. Its funny though I think I thought of that torture scene when I first saw starwars!

[@SteveSabbai]

...nicely done

[@TheFett007]

This edit is amazing.

[@CreweMike]

I used to bullseye womp rats. That bit cracked me up!

[@slartibartfast1712]

absolutely brilliant

[@Sundancetr4]

This was funny great editing!

[@4thwallpublishing]

Yep,if only there was one still flying...

[@olentangy74]

Bravo ! Well done !

[@TheGroundedAviator]

I'd say both film's influenced Star Wars.

[@Drunkenmaster770]

awesome. great job

[@CrazyKraut20]

when i see those old planes and i hear things like "lock s coils in attack position" or "switch shields to double front " i have to laugh XD 5:07 comes straight out of monty python "no im alright BLARGh" XXD

[@mstytz]

He also played a US sailor in the movie "On the Beach."

[@SirArthur100]

Great vid!

[@4thwallpublishing]

True- atleast Lucas had the imagination to transpose it to space - Emmerich didn't even make that leap.

[@robby762]

That was awsome, well done

[@emptyangel]

I'm sure it was inspired by it, not directly and blatantly lifted.

[@mastermalpass]

Weird how much resemblence there is here. I saw in another movie a while ago though that Battle of Yavin was much more like the Dam Busters.

[@lwilde]

Very good!

[@battobum]

There are a couple- one in britain, one in canada and one in Australia [i thnk].

[@TheTenderBear]

Nice comparison!!!!!

[@GSVNotInventedHere]

Great vid Sparacus ;) Lucas copied from everwhere and everything. It show's in Phantom Muzzled when he had to be totally original and no one said 'George! That idea stinks!' Shame really. The vision was great. the execution abit hap hazzard and corporate toy projected sales heavy. A New Hope and Empire are still bloody great though as is the original 633 :) As a by note. I heard Peter Jackson is rebooting 'The Dam Busters'. Hope it's a good 'un!