The Sound Barrier (1952)
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- Approved
- 1h 58min
- Adventure, Drama
- 21 Dec 1952 (USA)
- Movie
Fictionalized story of British aerospace engineers solving the problem of supersonic flight.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Ralph Richardson | ... |
J.R.
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| Ann Todd | ... |
Susan Garthwaite
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| Nigel Patrick | ... |
Tony
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| John Justin | ... |
Philip
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| Dinah Sheridan | ... |
Jess
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| Joseph Tomelty | ... |
Will
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| Denholm Elliott | ... |
Chris
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| Jack Allen | ... |
'Windy'
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| Ralph Michael | ... |
Fletcher
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Rodney Goodall | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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| Donald Harron | ... |
ATA Officer (uncredited)
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Vincent Holman | ... |
Factor (uncredited)
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Jolyon Jackley | ... |
Susan's Baby (uncredited)
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| Douglas Muir | ... |
Controller (uncredited)
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| Leslie Phillips | ... |
Controller (uncredited)
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Anthony Snell | ... |
Peter Makepeace (uncredited)
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Sally-Jane Spencer | ... |
Daughter of Philip (uncredited)
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Robert Brooks Turner | ... |
Test Bed Operator (uncredited)
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Directed by
| David Lean | ||
Written by
| Terence Rattigan | ... | (story) |
| Terence Rattigan | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| David Lean | ... | producer |
| Norman Spencer | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Malcolm Arnold | ||
Cinematography by
| Jack Hildyard | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Geoffrey Foot | ||
Editorial Department
| Teddy Darvas | ... | second assistant cutter (uncredited) |
| Valerie Leslie | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Peter Taylor | ... | assembly editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Joseph Bato | ||
| John Hawkesworth | ||
Makeup Department
| Ida Mills | ... | hairdresser |
| George Partleton | ... | makeup artist |
| Daphne Martin | ... | hairdresser (uncredited) |
Production Management
| John Palmer | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Adrian Pryce-Jones | ... | assistant director |
| Anthony Squire | ... | director: aerial unit |
| Ted Cotton | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| David Peers | ... | assistant director: aerial unit (uncredited) |
| Fred Slark | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| Anthony Squire | ... | second unit director: flying sequences (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Leila Rubin | ... | sets designer (as Vincent Korda) |
| Maurice Fowler | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| William Hutchinson | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Peter Mullins | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth Scott | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Elven Webb | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bill Cook | ... | boom operator |
| John Cox | ... | sound supervisor |
| Bert Ross | ... | sound recordist |
| Winston Ryder | ... | sound editor |
| Jack Davies | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Dick Longstaff | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
| Harry Tate | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Denys N. Coop | ... | camera operator (as Denys Coop) |
| Jo Jago | ... | cameraman: aerial unit |
| Peter Newbrook | ... | cameraman: aerial unit |
| John Wilcox | ... | cameraman: aerial unit |
| Peter Broxup | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Ceri Davies | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Wally Fairweather | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| John Godar | ... | focus puller: aerial unit (uncredited) |
| George Courtney Ward | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Paul Wilson | ... | assistant camera: second unit (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Elizabeth Hennings | ... | costume supervisor |
| Ivy Baker | ... | wardrobe mistress (uncredited) |
| Jack Dalmayne | ... | wardrobe master (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Muir Mathieson | ... | conductor: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / musical director (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maggie Unsworth | ... | continuity (as Margaret Shipway) |
| Beryl Booth | ... | continuity: aerial unit (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Pamela Mann | ... | producer's secretary (uncredited) |
| Jean Osborne | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Margaret Townsend | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Leslie Colquhoun | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . (as Leslie Colquhoun D.F.C. G.M. D.F.M.) |
| John Cunningham | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . (as John Cunningham D.S.O. O.B.E. D.F.C. D.L.) |
| John Derry | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . (as John Derry D.F.C.) |
| Gordon Horne | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . |
| Michael Lithgow | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . |
| David Morgan | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . |
| Jeffrey Quill | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . (as Jeffrey Quill O.B..E. A.F.C.) |
| Trevor S. Wade | ... | the producers wish to acknowledge the generous help and advice of the following test pilots . . . (as the late Trevor S. Wade D.F.C. A.F.C.) |
Production Companies
- London Film Productions (present)
- British Lion Film Corporation (produced in association with)
Distributors
- British Lion Film Corporation (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Lopert Pictures Corporation (1952) (United States) (theatrical)
- Filmimport A/S (1952) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Nederland Film (1953) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- National Telefilm Associates (NTA) (1955) (United States) (tv)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- BFI National Archive (a restoration by)
- Ministry of Supply (the producers wish to acknowledge the co-operation of)
- Optimum Releasing (a restoration by in association with)
- StudioCanal (a restoration by in association with)
- The David Lean Foundation (a restoration funded by)
- The Director and Members of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors (the producers wish to acknowledge the co-operation of)
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (music played by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Tony, a successful World War II fighter pilot, marries into the family of a wealthy oil magnate who also designs airplanes. The movie traces the company's attempt to break the sound barrier, as well as tensions between father and daughter. Los of footage of early-1950s jet aviation in Great Britain as well as shots of the Comet airliner, the world's first jet-passenger plane.
Written by Henry Brugsch |
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| Taglines | Jet Packed Excitement! Jet Packed Danger! Jet Packed Romance! The Greatest Adventure Story of Our Time! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | GBP250,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| 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 the crew except Squire fell 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." See more » |
| Goofs | In the observatory, John tells Tony that the Andromeda galaxy is 700,000 light-years away; The best estimate since 1940 (when the known Cepheid variables were separated in two types by Baade) is 2.54 million light-years, BUT: this corresponds to 778,000 parsecs! So, it seems that parsecs and light years were somehow switched here in the movie. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Military Marvels (2012). See more » |
| Soundtracks | With Sword and Lance See more » |
| 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 See more » |
| 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. See more » |