Malta Story (1953)

In 1942 Britain was clinging to the island of Malta since it was critical to keeping Allied supply lines open. The Axis also wanted it for their own supply lines. Plenty of realistic ... See full summary »

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writers:

Thorold Dickinson (idea), Peter De Sarigny (idea),

Stars:

Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Steel

Cast

Cast overview:
Alec Guinness	...	Flight Lt. Peter Ross
Jack Hawkins	...	Air CO Frank
Anthony Steel	...	Wing Cmdr Bartlett
Muriel Pavlow	...	Maria Gonzar
Renée Asherson	...	Joan Rivers (as Renee Asherson)
Hugh Burden	...	Eden, Security
Nigel Stock	...	Giuseppe Gonzar aka Ricardi
Reginald Tate	...	Vice Adm Payne
Ralph Truman	...	Vice Adm Willie Banks
Flora Robson	...	Melita Gonzar, Maria's Mum

Storyline

In 1942 Britain was clinging to the island of Malta since it was critical to keeping Allied supply lines open. The Axis also wanted it for their own supply lines. Plenty of realistic reenactments and archival combat footage as the British are beseiged and try to fight off the Luftwaffe. Against this background, a RAF reconnaissance photographer's romance with a local girl is endangered as he tries to plot enemy movements.

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Plot Keywords:

malta | world war two

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Malta Story

Filming Locations:

Malta

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Film-Makers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thorold Dickinson was to direct but was replaced.

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Goofs

About half an hour into the film, there is a scene just before the Spitfires arrive at Malta, depicting an officer briefing the ground crews who states that each aircraft will have an identification number painted on it. When the aircraft arrive shortly afterwards, none of them have numbers on them.

User Reviews

ANOTHER SOLID WAR FILM FROM EALING STUDIOS

A no-frills account of the siege of the mediterranean island of Malta during WW2. Most of the action is seen through the eyes of a very young Alec Guinness, a reconnaissance photographer stranded on Malta en route to Egypt. While on the island he romances a local girl in between hazardous flying missions. Much weight is given to the courage of the islanders in the face of appalling hardships, for which the island was awarded the George Cross by the British.

The British cast (mainly now deceased) is distinguished, and stiff upper lips are much in evidence.