A seasoned pilot is condemned for an error which causes a crash. The pilot later dies in a crash with similar circumstances and an examiner looks for scientific reasons for the crashes.
Michael Craig
Capt. Hugh Dallas
Peter Cushing
Capt. Clive Judd
Bernard Lee
Capt. George Gort
Elizabeth Seal
Charlotte Gort
George Sanders
Sir Arnold Hobbes
André Morell
Capt. Edward Manningham
Gordon Jackson
Capt. Jock Bateson
Charles Tingwell
Capt. Braddock
Noel Willman
Nigel Pickering
Delphi Lawrence
Joyce Mitchell
Marne Maitland
Mr. Robinson
William Abney
First Officer
Jack Hedley
First Officer
Simon Lack
Navigator
Hedger Wallace
Navigator
Charles Mylne
Steward
Howard Pays
Steward
Ballard Berkeley
Commissioner
Charles Lloyd Pack
Commissioner
Homi Bode
Controller
Anthony Newlands
Controller
Geoffrey Bayldon
Aircraft Controller
Ernest Blyth
2nd Court of Inquiry Member
Olga Dickie
Miss Wright
Victor Harrington
Court of Inquiry Member
Walter Henry
Court of Inquiry Member
Frederick Leister
Sir Henry
Gerald Sim
Operations Room Worker
Director
Charles Frend
Novel
David Beaty
Writer
Robert Westerby
December 8, 2024
7
Just as jet engine-powered aircraft were starting to take to the skies, veteran "Capt. Gort" (Bernard Lee) is involved in a near miss trying to take off in his new, state-of-the-art "Phoenix" aircraft. At the subsequent inquiry, he faces thinly veiled criticism from "Sir Arnold" (George Sanders) but is nonetheless cleared to keep flying by his senior colleague "Dallas" (Michael Craig). This earns both of them the chagrin of fellow pilot "Judd" (Peter Cushing) who's convinced of operator error and makes no bones about expressing his suspicions about "Gort" - especially when a landing at Calcutta reveals some foliage in the undercarriage. Thing is, both "Gort" and "Dallas" are convinced they are following the rules, to the letter, so what's wrong? When a tragedy ensues, the most convenient solution would seem to be to simply blame the pilot, but perhaps the foliage might reveal more clues as to what actually went wrong? There's a rather unnecessary romantic sub-plot with Craig and Elizabeth Seal's "Charlotte", but otherwise this is quite tautly directed thriller that uses some decent photography to illustrate the perils of the pilots and the claustrophobia of their tiny cockpits. The setting in India also presents us with an almost palpably hot and humid scenario for these airborne shenanigans. Cushing delivers best, I thought, as the man who comes across as jealous, or concerned, or ambitious or maybe all three? It's a simple story well acted and told and maybe isn't a film to watch if you have the slightest fear of flying (or, indeed, want one!).
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00