Q Planes (1939)

Directors:

Tim Whelan
Arthur B. Woods

Writers:

Brock Williams (story) &
Jack Whittingham (story) ...

Release Date:

20 June 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller | War

Plot:

Lighthearted romp of a pre-war spy story: quirky British secret service man finds out who's using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Ship | British Secret Service | Screwball Comedy | Ray Gun

Cast

Laurence Olivier	...	Tony McVane
Ralph Richardson	...	Maj. Charles Hammond
Valerie Hobson	...	Kay Lawrence
George Curzon	...	Jenkins
George Merritt	...	Mr. Barrett
Gus McNaughton	...	Blenkinsop, Hammond's Butler
David Tree	...	R. Mackenzie
Sandra Storme	...	Daphne
Hay Petrie	...	Stage Door Keeper
Frank Fox	...	Karl
George Butler	...	Air Marshal Gosport
Gordon McLeod	...	The Baron
John Longden	...	John Peters, a Pilot (as John Longdon)

Also Known As:

Clouds Over Europe (USA)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Irving Asher Productions

Trivia:

The destroyer sent to intercept the SS Viking is the HMS Echo (H23). This was one of 9 E class destroyers of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1934. During the Second World War she sank a U boat in 1943 and was transferred to the Greek Navy in 1944.

Quotes:

Mr. Barrett: Alright! Alright! Will you as a personal favour take that plane up?
Tony McVane: Well of course I will, you parboiled, pudding-minded, myopic deadhead!

Rollicking good fun

Everyone involved with this brisk comedy/thriller seems to be enjoying themselves immensely. It's a ripping yarn about spies, disappearing planes and a secret ray gun, lit up by Olivier and Richardson, with lots of cheerful gags along the way. It's dated, of course, but if you can leave that aside it's still good fun.