The Sound Barrier (1952)

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Terence Rattigan (writer)

Release Date:

21 December 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Aviation

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Breaking Through the Sound Barrier (USA) (promotional title)
Breaking the Sound Barrier (USA)

Runtime:

UK:118 min | USA:109 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U (original rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Chilbolton Aerodrome, Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Despite this fictionalized story of breaking the sound barrier, this feat was accomplished by Air Force General Chuck Yeager on October 14, 1947 at Edwards Air Force Base. Furthermore, Yeager explained that if a pilot were to break the sound barrier in the manner depicted in the film, the pilot would've been killed. The film was also heavily based on the endeavors of the De Havilland company in the UK. Geoffrey De Havilland Jr, son of company owner Geoffrey De Havilland was killed in September 1946 whilst conducting high speed tests approaching the speed of sound over the Thames estuary.

An evocative look at British inventive genius

This black and white early 50s movie shows crusty Britain at its stiff upper lip best. It is the story of mans obsession with speed, and a ruthless plane makers ambition to succeed in building a supersonic jet. Richardson plays the tycoon whose dream kills his son and son-in-law, but who finally sees the error of his ways and whose daughter returns to the cold family home with his grandson.

The film is also a vehicle to show the world Britain's proud lead in jet technology. There is a classic sequence in the film where the happy daughter and son-in-law deliver a De Havilland Vampire jet fighter to Egypt. They set off at breakfast time in England and hurtle over the English Channel, the Alps, Ancient Greece and the Pyramids before arriving in at the airfield. Of course we take this for granted now, but 47 years ago this was unheard of. The director contrasts the old ruins and remains of our ancient ancestors with the marvel of the modern age: the jet plane.

The film also introduced THE marvel of the early fifties, the De Havilland Comet jet liner. This beautiful but flawed machine was in service SIX years before any other jet liner and for a while, the world rushed to De Havillands, and Britains door. For two years the worldwide fleet gave the travelling of the future.

In every other way this is an eccentrically English film with creaky old houses, cottages with roses around the door and eccentric engineers. Shout in glorious black and white it conveys a sense of wonder and optimism in the future, whilst being thoroughly old fashioned