Malta Story (1953)

1942 and the island of Malta is battling for survival. The threat of invasion by Axis forces is increasing as air raids wear down its defence. Entering this maelstrom is Flight Lieutenant Peter Ross, an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot.

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writers:

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

Stars:

Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Steel

Cast

Credited cast:
Alec Guinness	...	Flight Lt. Peter Ross
Jack Hawkins	...	Air Commodore Frank
Anthony Steel	...	Wing Commander Bartlett
Muriel Pavlow	...	Maria Gonzar
Renée Asherson	...	Joan Rivers (as Renee Asherson)
Hugh Burden	...	Major Eden
Nigel Stock	...	Giuseppe Gonzar aka Ricardi
Reginald Tate	...	Vice Admiral Payne
Ralph Truman	...	Vice Admiral Willie Banks
Flora Robson	...	Melita Gonzar - Maria's Mum
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Manuel Bugeja	...	Maltese man riding horse and carriage (voice)

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 Royal Air Force reconnaissance photographer's romance with a local girl is endangered as he tries to plot enemy movements.

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Plot Keywords:

malta | air raid | naval uniform | stronghold | air attack | 

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Taglines:

NOW ! Another Great Performance in the ALEC GUINNESS Hall of Fame ! ...

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The average age of a pilot during the Siege of Malta was 21.

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Goofs

The story takes place circa 1942, but all of Muriel Pavlow's and Renee Asherson's hair styles and clothing are strictly in the style of the early 1950s.

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Quotes

Flight Lt. Peter Ross: Hello.
Maria Gonzar: Hello.
Flight Lt. Peter Ross: So... you weren't killed.
Maria Gonzar: No... I hardly ever am.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: MALTA 1942

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Connections

Featured in Frances Farmer Presents: Malta Story (1959)

User Reviews

There is a real hero in this film

Looking at the full cast list there is an actor Richard Leven - Soldier (uncredited). Richard (born Henry Richard Leven) was starting out after the war in theatre which never took off but his life was colourful and like many ex-servicemen there were difficult periods. His role during the war was a bomber pilot and he was a Squadron Leader at the age of 21. He was highly decorated, DFC, DFM and Belgium Croix de Guerre Palme and he flew more daylight bombing missions than any other pilot - 127. He died without family but at his funeral in 97 they had to start the service early; so many people wanted to speak about him and how he had helped them.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

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:

1.66 : 1