| Conquest of the Air | |
| Producer: | Alexander Korda |
| Starring: | Laurence Olivier |
| Narrator: | Charles Frend |
| Music: | Arthur Bliss |
| Cinematography: | Wilkie Cooper George Noble Hans Schneeberger Lee Garmes |
| Editing: | Peter Bezencenet Charles Frend Richard Q. McNaughton |
| Studio: | Alexander Korda Productions |
| Distributor: | London Films (UK) |
| Runtime: | 71 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
Conquest of the Air is a 1936 documentary film or docudrama on the history of aviation up to that time. The film features historical footage, and dramatic re-creations, of the developments of commercial and military aviation; including the early stages of technological developments in design, propulsion, and air navigation aids. The film was a London Films production, commissioned by the British Air Ministry.
The film was initially commissioned by Alexander Korda prior to the advent of World War II, and the Air Ministry saw the value in promoting Britain's contribution and leadership in aviation during this period. Some notable footage is featured of the early phases of automated flight, navigational equipment, and the transitions between civil and military developments, including heavy bombers; fast fighter aircraft; and the advent of naval aviation (aircraft carrier), plus the initial experiments with vertical rotary flight (helicopters).
An updated version was released in 1940 and released in the United States on 20 May 1940.[1]