The Night My Number Came Up (1955)

On a routine flight from Hong-Kong to Japan, a British military transport aircraft's fate may or may not depend on a prophetic nightmare.

Director:

Leslie Norman

Writers:

Victor Goddard (based on a story by), R.C. Sherriff (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Redgrave, Sheila Sim, Alexander Knox

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Redgrave	...	Air Marshal Hardie
Sheila Sim	...	Mary Campbell
Alexander Knox	...	Owen Robertson
Denholm Elliott	...	Fl. Lt. McKenzie
Ursula Jeans	...	Mrs. Robertson
Ralph Truman	...	Wainwright
Michael Hordern	...	Lindsay
Nigel Stock	...	The Pilot
Bill Kerr	...	The Soldier
Alfie Bass	...	The Soldier
George Rose	...	Bennett
Victor Maddern	...	The Engineer
David Orr	...	The Co-Pilot
David Yates	...	The Navigator
Doreen Aris	...	Miss Robertson

Storyline

At a fashionable dinner party in Hong Kong a naval officer is coaxed into revealing details of a dream in which eight persons take off from Bangkok in a Dakota bound for Tokyo and crash in the Japanese mountains. Amongst those listening is Air Marshal Hardie who is due to fly to Tokyo the next day. Hardie initially dismisses the dream because he is scheduled to fly out in a Liberator, but as Hardie arrives at the airport he discovers that the Liberator has developed mechanical problems and has been replaced by a Dakota. When, just before the flight is due to depart, two soldiers board the plane making a complement of eight, Hardie fears that the Dream may be coming true and he is destined to die.

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Plot Keywords:

air marshal | japan | post war | year 1946 | transport plane | 

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Taglines:

12 Men and a Girl Re-Living a Dream That Fortold Disaster

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Genres:

Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sie waren 13

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Gaumont Kalee Recording) (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script is based on a personal account by Sir Victor Goddard.

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Goofs

The plane becomes iced over on the leading edges, but when it starts to descend from 19,000 feet, the distant shots of the aircraft do not show any ice at all.

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Quotes

Lindsay: Runway One-Three? Thirteen. Ominous...
Air Marshal Hardie: Naval types seem to thrive on superstition.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: KAI TAK AIRPORT HONG KONG

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Soundtracks

Everything In the Dream Was Lovely
(uncredited)
Written by Jack Fishman

User Reviews

In-flight terror

This has to be one of the few films to address the philosophical concept of predestination versus free will. Made by Ealing Studios (better known for their comedies) it follows a motley group of military officers, civil servants and others who are flying in a small passenger plane from Hong Kong to Tokyo. The night before the flight a naval officer relates a dream he had in which their plane was lost over the sea and eventually crashed on the coast. At first the travellers are amused and rather sceptical, but as the circumstances alter: planes are changed, passengers added - in line with the dream - they become more and more nervous. Then the storm clouds close in.

This has to be one of the better British films of the fifties, as director Leslie Norman nicely builds up the tension notch by notch, allowing occasional respite as the main characters deliberate on superstition and rationality, fate and predestination, the power of dreams. Michael Redgrave is all cool rationality, Denholm Elliot repressed anxiety, and Alexander Knox the sceptic who becomes increasingly unhinged by fear, then philosophically resigned to the inevitable. It's a welcome addition to the list that will never make it as an in-flight movie. If you're nervous about flying, don't watch it.