Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952)
"The Sound Barrier" (original title)

Fictionalized story of British aerospace engineers solving the problem of supersonic flight.

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Terence Rattigan

Stars:

Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, Nigel Patrick

Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Ralph Richardson	...	John Ridgefield
Ann Todd	...	Susan Garthwaite
Nigel Patrick	...	Tony Garthwaite
John Justin	...	Philip Peel
Dinah Sheridan	...	Jess Peel
Joseph Tomelty	...	Will Sparks
Denholm Elliott	...	Christopher Ridgefield
Jack Allen	...	Windy Williams
Ralph Michael	...	Fletcher

Storyline

Tony successful fighter pilot during World War II marries into the family of a wealthy oil magnate who also designs airplanes. The movie traces the company's attempt to break the sound barrier, as well as tensions between father and daughter. Lots of footage of early 50s jet aviation in Great Britain as well as shots of the Comet airliner, world's first jet passenger plane.

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Plot Keywords:

jet | supersonic flight | comet airliner | sound barrier | aviation | 

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Taglines:

Jet Packed Excitement! Jet Packed Danger! Jet Packed Romance! The Greatest Adventure Story of Our Time!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Breaking Through the Sound Barrier

Filming Locations:

Chilbolton Aerodrome, Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are major aviation errors in this movie. The movie shows the Comet jetliner in testing before it went operational. By the time the Comet first flew the breaking of the sound barrier was already several years in the past whereas, in the movie, it hasn't been done yet. The movie also implies that the Vampire jet that is flown from England to Egypt made the flight nonstop. The Vampire would have needed at least one refueling stop, and probably two if flying anywhere near its maximum speed.

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Goofs

When Sue tells her husband she is pregnant, she tells him the baby is due around Christmas. But when the child is born, the weather is warm and sunny, suggesting the child is anything but a December baby.

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, immediately after the human actors, are listed four British aircraft: The de Havilland Comet, the Vickers-Supermarine Attacker, the de Havilland Vampire, and the Vickers-Supermarine Swift.

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Soundtracks

"With Sword and Lance"
(uncredited)
Music by Hermann Starke

User Reviews

Excellent film, technically ludicrous

This is an outstanding film about the human cost of progress and obsession. Richardson is great as the aviation mogul willing to pay the necessary price for reaching new realms and new worlds. Historically and technically, the film is so out in left field as to be almost laughable (the plot point about control reversal is apparently the result of a writer hearing a valid aeronautical term and misunderstanding it completely) but in the end, the issues raised and the fine performances make Sound Barrier a winner. The aerial photography is outstanding, and there is one beautifully composed shot from below the nose of the Comet airliner that perfectly emphasizes the sleek lines of that most beautiful jet.