Review by Pia Webley
Stars Jack Hawkins, Elizabeth Sellars, Jeremy Bodkin | Written by John Eldridge & William Rose
UK certification U | UK RRP £15.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 87 minutes | Directed by Charles Crichton
A black and white drama that follows test pilot John Mitchell (Hawkins) as he is confronted with a dilemma. With none of his efforts really taking off, John feels like failure, unable to provide for his wife and two children.
When he is faced with testing a new aircraft, he knows he must make it a success in order to keep his job however the engine catches fire and the clever thing would be to get out. But oh no, that would be way too easy – and the end of the film.
Pretty much all of the film revolves around John’s turmoil in the sky as everyone watches him circle above them (for about an hour). Oh how easy film protagonists had it then – before deadly pandemics, aliens and nuclear bombs went and ruined the world in more recent films, that is. Hardly the adventure of the year (compared to recent disaster blockbusters) suspense is lost after about 20 minutes.
To its credit this simple film is still very watchable. You get drawn in as the screenplay assesses John’s of perseverance and duty, testing his strength of character. John displays a typical "British Stiff Upper Lip" attitude which has been lacking in more modern films and modern men. John is just an ordinary man faced with enormous pressure – much like real life and less like the far-fetched action heroes of Hollywood.
EXTRAS None