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IMDbPro

Q Planes

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
994
YOUR RATING
Q Planes (1939)
ComedyDramaMystery
A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
994
YOUR RATING
    • Tim Whelan
    • Arthur B. Woods(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Brock Williams(original story)
    • Jack Whittingham(original story)
    • Arthur Wimperis(original story)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Valerie Hobson
    • Tim Whelan
    • Arthur B. Woods(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Brock Williams(original story)
    • Jack Whittingham(original story)
    • Arthur Wimperis(original story)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Valerie Hobson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier, Valerie Hobson, and Ralph Richardson in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson in Q Planes (1939)
    Sandra Storme in Q Planes (1939)
    Ralph Richardson in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson in Q Planes (1939)
    Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson in Q Planes (1939)
    Q Planes (1939)
    Q Planes (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • Tony McVane
    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • Major Charles Hammond
    Valerie Hobson
    Valerie Hobson
    • Kay Hammond
    George Curzon
    George Curzon
    • Jenkins
    George Merritt
    George Merritt
    • Barrett
    Gus McNaughton
    Gus McNaughton
    • Blenkinsop
    David Tree
    David Tree
    • Robert Mackenzie
    Sandra Storme
    Sandra Storme
    • Daphne
    Hay Petrie
    Hay Petrie
    • Stage Door Keeper
    Frank Fox
    • Karl
    George Butler
    • Air Marshall Gosport
    Gordon McLeod
    • The Baron
    John Longden
    John Longden
    • Peters
    • (as John Longdon)
    Ronald Adam
    Ronald Adam
    • Pollack - Aviation Engineer
    • (uncredited)
    Patrick Aherne
    • Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Eileen Bennett
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Wallace Bosco
    • Bit part
    • (uncredited)
    Leslie Bradley
    Leslie Bradley
    • Major Hammond's Assistant
    • (uncredited)
      • Tim Whelan
      • Arthur B. Woods(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Brock Williams(original story)
      • Jack Whittingham(original story)
      • Arthur Wimperis(original story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Patrick Macnee readily confessed that his famous portrayal of John Steed in The Avengers (1961) was, in many respects, based upon Sir Ralph Richardson's performance as the louche hat-wearing, umbrella-wielding Major Charles Hammond in this film.
    • Goofs
      As Major Hammond is brought by the police into the Air Ministry, the police are greeted by his assistant with "good morning." Moments later the two of them are in Hammond's office and he asks him the time and the assistant replies "a little after four."
    • Quotes

      Mr. Barrett: All right! All right! Will you as a personal favour take that plane up?

      Tony McVane: Well of course I will, you parboiled, pudding-minded, myopic deadhead!

    • Soundtracks
      Titles
      (uncredited)

      from Murder on Diamond Row (1937)

      Music by Miklós Rózsa

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Classic British wartime romp
    When newly developed planes being disappearing during testing with no trace a police Inspector and a test pilot begin to look into the possibility of espionage within the company.

    Wartime dramas are very much of a standard affair – feel good affairs where we beat the Germans. This is very much one of those – the story is very flimsy and unlikely but it manages to have plenty to commend it. The story is carry by the comedy and the characters that make you overlook the sheer unlikely way in which the planes vanish. The story progresses to the inevitable shootout between the Brits and the Germans but on the way there's plenty to enjoy.

    The film is mainly saved by a wonderful performance by Ralph Richardson as the inspector – he is funny from the first scene and his character is wonderfully charming and forgetful. Olivier is also good, but it's not his best! The supporting cast of sassy women and foolish businessmen also add to the mix to make for an enjoyable romp.

    Overall this isn't a classic but the comedy and a superb Richardson makes this better than the sum of it's parts.
    helpful•8
    0
    • bob the moo
    • Mar 16, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 20, 1939 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Brooklands Aerodrome, Weybridge, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Irving Asher Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 22 minutes
      • Black and White

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