The Man in the Sky (1957)

Director:

Charles Crichton

Writers:

John Eldridge (screenplay)
William Rose (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 July 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A PILOT'S DECISION! (original print ad for U.S. release "Decision Against Time" - all caps)

Plot:

The efforts of test pilot John Mitchell to make a better life for his wife Mary and their two children seem doomed to failure and he blames himself...

Plot Keywords:

Company | Wolverhampton | Test Pilot | Engine | Reporter

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Jack Hawkins	...	John Mitchell
Elizabeth Sellars	...	Mary Mitchell
Jeremy Bodkin	...	Nicholas Mitchell
Gerard Lohan	...	Philip Mitchell
Walter Fitzgerald	...	Reginald Conway
John Stratton	...	Peter Hook
Eddie Byrne	...	Ashmore
Victor Maddern	...	Joe Biggs
Lionel Jeffries	...	Keith
Donald Pleasence	...	Crabtree
Catherine Lacey	...	Mary's Mother
Megs Jenkins	...	Mrs. Snowden
Ernest Clark	...	Maine
Raymond Francis	...	Jenkins
Russell Waters	...	Sim

Also Known As:

Decision Against Time (USA)
Test Pilot (UK) (alternative title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

Trivia:

The aircraft featured was a TYPE 170 Mark 11A G-AIFV designed and produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Although the actual scenes were filmed at Wolverhampton, practice was carried out at Lydd Ferryfield in Kent (now London Ashford Airport). Filming was not without problems and on 15 May 1956 the aircraft overshot the runway, causing quite extensive damage to the nose and wing sections. Following repairs the aircraft returned to operations with Silver City Airways before being scrapped in May 1962.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 1950's: Music, Memories & Milestones (1988) (V)

A very simple story that is told wonderfully thanks to Ealing Studios

Those 'in the know' about classic films instantly perk up when they see that a film is made by Ealing Studios. That's because this small British film company had a wonderful string of small films that were absolute gems in the 1940s and 50s. Most of these were wonderful little comedies, though pretty much all the Ealing films I have seen have been excellent or even better. Their track record was absolutely astonishing. When I saw this was an Ealing production, I made sure to tune in when it came on Turner Classic Movies.

Unlike most of the famous Ealing films (such as PASSPORT TO PIMLICO and THE LADY KILLERS), this one is not a comedy but a rather tense drama. However, when I read the TCM plot summary of the film it was very inaccurate. It read "a test pilot thinks back on his past as he fights to survive a burning plane". However, this film is NOT a series of flashbacks (thankfully) and exactly what the pilot (Jack Hawkins) is thinking isn't really investigated until the last few minutes or so of the film! So what is the film all about, then? Well, Hawkins is a test pilot and the plane does catch fire, but once the fire is extinguished it's difficult to control the plane and he circles for about a half hour to burn up fuel. And during all this time the film is told in real-time and shows how many members of the crew (who had parachuted to safety), the airplane company's owner and others react to impending doom for Hawkins--as it appears that successfully landing the craft is a fool's errand! Despite this very simple plot, the film earns a lot of respect and a high score on IMDb because of exquisite acting and especially writing. For the subject matter, the absolute most is squeezed out of the plot and the tension is amazing. It's a great film fill of wonderful character studies and is a whole heck of a lot better than many of the more recent and special effects intensive films we've gotten from Hollywood. Acting and writing--that's what it's all about, isn't it?