Clouds Over Europe (1939)
"Q Planes" (original title)

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.

Directors:

Tim Whelan, Arthur B. Woods

Writers:

Brock Williams (story), Jack Whittingham (story),

Stars:

Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Valerie Hobson

Cast

Complete credited 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)

Storyline

Experimental aircraft of several countries are mysteriously vanishing during test flights over the sea. The latest is British, and Hammond of the Secret Service, comical but competent, investigates undercover. Also interested is waitress Kay, a disguised reporter...and Hammond's sister. The government and plane manufacturer Barrett think the whole business is just coincidence, but the 'Viking,' ostensible salvage ship controlled by a Foreign Power, has much to do with it...

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Plot Keywords:

spy | ship | british secret service | screwball comedy | ray gun | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clouds Over Europe

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Irving Asher Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ocean liner Olivier flies over is the French SS Normandie. She caught fire and capsized in New York harbor in 1942 and was subsequently scrapped.

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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!

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Soundtracks

"The Fight"
(uncredited)
from The Green Cockatoo
Music by Miklós Rózsa

User Reviews

It's all Olivier and Richardson

The two stage actors rattle off the rapid-fire dialogue like two Spitfires in a dogfight. I got the feeling they were almost in a goof-off competition to see who could memorize their lines right before the take and spit them out with the most unrehearsed verve.