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IMDbPro

The Sound Barrier

  • 19521952
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
34,860
4,926
The Sound Barrier (1952)
AdventureDramaRomance
Fictionalized story of British aerospace engineers solving the problem of supersonic flight.Fictionalized story of British aerospace engineers solving the problem of supersonic flight.Fictionalized story of British aerospace engineers solving the problem of supersonic flight.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
34,860
4,926
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Terence Rattigan(story)
    • Stars
      • Ralph Richardson
      • Ann Todd
      • Nigel Patrick
    Top credits
    • Director
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Terence Rattigan(story)
    • Stars
      • Ralph Richardson
      • Ann Todd
      • Nigel Patrick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 33User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos26

    David Lean, Brenda de Banzie, and John Mills in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd and Nigel Patrick in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd and Ralph Richardson in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd, Nigel Patrick, and Ralph Richardson in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd and Nigel Patrick in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd and Nigel Patrick in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd, John Justin, and Dinah Sheridan in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd and Nigel Patrick in The Sound Barrier (1952)
    Ann Todd in The Sound Barrier (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • J.R.
    Ann Todd
    Ann Todd
    • Susan Garthwaite
    Nigel Patrick
    Nigel Patrick
    • Tony
    John Justin
    John Justin
    • Philip
    Dinah Sheridan
    Dinah Sheridan
    • Jess
    Joseph Tomelty
    Joseph Tomelty
    • Will
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Chris
    Jack Allen
    Jack Allen
    • 'Windy'
    Ralph Michael
    • Fletcher
    Rodney Goodall
    • Little Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Donald Harron
    Donald Harron
    • ATA Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Vincent Holman
    • Factor
    • (uncredited)
    Jolyon Jackley
    • Susan's Baby
    • (uncredited)
    Douglas Muir
    Douglas Muir
    • Controller
    • (uncredited)
    Leslie Phillips
    Leslie Phillips
    • Controller
    • (uncredited)
    Anthony Snell
    • Peter Makepeace
    • (uncredited)
    Sally-Jane Spencer
    • Daughter of Philip
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Brooks Turner
    • Test Bed Operator
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Lean
    • Writer
      • Terence Rattigan(story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The flying sequences under the direction of Anthony Squire, were based at the Vickers aerodrome at Chilbolton near Nether Wallop in Hampshire. Squire managed to secure one of the last airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers for the task. The cameramen were positioned in the front and rear turrets while Squire conducted proceedings from the central astrodome. The Lancaster was replaced by a Vickers Valetta after all, but Squire had fallen asleep due to an oxygen supply failure. Luckily as he recalled, "They all woke up on the way down, like people in a fairy wood, but I didn't bother with the Lancaster again."
    • Goofs
      In the observatory, John tells Tony that the Andromeda galaxy is 700,000 light-years away; it's actually 2.54 million light-years away.
    • Quotes

      Susan Garthwaite: [regarding an image of the surface of the moon, displayed via JR's telescope] What's that?

      John Ridgefield: It's the moon.

      Susan Garthwaite: I never knew it could look so unfriendly.

      John Ridgefield: It's an unfriendly universe.

      Susan Garthwaite: Do you believe that?

      John Ridgefield: Unfriendly only because it's unconscious of our existence.

    • 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 113 The Vickers-Supermarine SWIFT Rolls-Royce 'Avon' Engine
    • Connections
      Featured in Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies: Military Marvels (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      With Sword and Lance
      (uncredited)

      Music by Hermann Starke

    User reviews33

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Intelligent and informative film, despite some limitations
    I first watched THE SOUND BARRIER on TV in 1975, and liked it immensely, finding it both informative and intelligent in its presentation- It keeps the viewer interested to the end, no doubt because David Lean's direction is very good, at times even inspired, and it is helped by extremely competent cinematography and a credible screenplay. Sir Ralph Richardson is superb as JR, a man obsessed with building ever better aircraft in competition with de Havilland and other companies, to the point of driving his son (well played by Denholm Eliott) and his son in law (Nigel Patrick) to their deaths. I also liked John Justin as the pilot who finally breaks the sound barrier. Ann Todd, who was married to David Lean at the time, somehow does not seem right for the part. I would have liked to see Vivien Leigh or Kay Walsh in that part, as both conveyed their emotions more readily and in greater depth. The technical aspects are succintly but clearly presented, and the discussion about the telescope and how what you see there is from 700,000 light years, and more, ago, certainly makes me realize my insignificance, every time I see THE SOUND BARRIER. David Lean had just come from making three masterpieces. BRIEF ENCOUNTER, GREAT EXPECTATIONS and OLIVER TWIST, and this is a transitional film, which already carries some signs of the epic that would emerge with the superlative THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, and be continued with LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DR ZHIVAGO, RYAN'S DAUGHTER and, just before his death, PASSAGE TO INDIA. Recommended. 7/10
    helpful•3
    0
    • adrian-43767
    • Jul 9, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Breaking the Sound Barrier
    • Filming locations
      • Chilbolton Aerodrome, Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • London Film Productions
      • British Lion Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • £250,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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