Reach for the Sky (radio serial) explained

Reach for the Sky is a 1954 Australian radio serial based on the book of the same name by Australian author Paul Brickhill which was a biography of Douglas Bader. It was one of the most acclaimed Australian radio dramas of the 1950s, and a notable success for Rod Taylor who played Bader.^[3]

The novel had been a huge best seller, selling almost 100,000 copies in Australia alone.^[4]

The script was written by Morris West who had adapted other Brickhill books for radio such as The Dambusters and The Great Escape, both of which also starred Taylor.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Reception

According to Gordon Grimsdale who directed in the scene where Bader "is informed of the loss of both his legs, a halt in production had to be called to allow several members of the cast to recover from the emotional stress of the scene."^[8]

The Advocate wrote "Mr. West has excelled himself in this adaptation... would be a pity to miss such a presentation of so moving and gallant a story."^[9]

The Adelaide Mail called it "excellent radio".^[10]

The Daily Telegraph said Taylor gave "one of the most moving performances I have yet heard from any radio actor, either here or abroad."^[11]

Cast

• Rod Taylor and then Bruce Stewart as Douglas Bader
• Neva Carr Glynn
• James Mills
• David Nettheim
• Madge Ryan

Notes and References

1. News: Highlights Of The Week's Radio Programmes . . 97 . 5,468 . South Australia . 7 October 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 54 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Bader story for DB . . 24,161 . Victoria, Australia . 3 November 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Award Winner In Bader Story . . 97 . 29,934 . South Australia . 22 September 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 17 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Bader story for DB . The Herald . 24,161 . Victoria, Australia . 3 November 1954 . 14 February 2024 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: The Radar Story From 5AD . . 97 . 29,916 . South Australia . 1 September 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Must All Radio Toughs Be Foreigners? . . 13984 . New South Wales, Australia . 7 December 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 33 (Late Final Extra) . National Library of Australia.
7. Book: Philp, Peter. Eureka. 2016. Drama in Silent Rooms: A History of Radio Drama in Australia from 1920s to 1970s . 402–403.
8. News: Adults Show They Are Young at Heart . . 13,882 . New South Wales, Australia . 10 August 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 21 (Late Final Extra) . National Library of Australia.
9. News: Radio Film . . LXXXVII . 5182 . Victoria, Australia . 18 November 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: Still reaching for the air . . 44 . 2,204 . South Australia . 4 September 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 77 . National Library of Australia.
11. News: Around the Dial . . XIX . 111 . New South Wales, Australia . 29 July 1954 . 20 November 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia.