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The Crowded Sky

  • 1960
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
908
YOUR RATING
The Crowded Sky (1960)
ActionAdventureDrama

Disaster movie about a Navy jet and a commercial airliner heading for a mid air collision.Disaster movie about a Navy jet and a commercial airliner heading for a mid air collision.Disaster movie about a Navy jet and a commercial airliner heading for a mid air collision.

  • Director
    • Joseph Pevney
  • Writers
    • Charles Schnee
    • Hank Searls
  • Stars
    • Dana Andrews
    • Rhonda Fleming
    • Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    908
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph Pevney
    • Writers
      • Charles Schnee
      • Hank Searls
    • Stars
      • Dana Andrews
      • Rhonda Fleming
      • Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
    • 41User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    The Crowded Sky (1960)
    The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Troy Donahue in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Dana Andrews and Nan Leslie in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Rhonda Fleming and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Dana Andrews, Anne Francis, and Saundra Edwards in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Rhonda Fleming and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Anne Francis, Frieda Inescort, and John Kerr in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Rhonda Fleming and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in The Crowded Sky (1960)
    Rhonda Fleming in The Crowded Sky (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Dick Barnett
    Rhonda Fleming
    Rhonda Fleming
    • Cheryl Heath
    Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
    Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
    • Dale Heath
    John Kerr
    John Kerr
    • Mike Rule
    Anne Francis
    Anne Francis
    • Kitty Foster
    Keenan Wynn
    Keenan Wynn
    • Nick Hyland
    Troy Donahue
    Troy Donahue
    • McVey
    Joe Mantell
    Joe Mantell
    • Louis Capelli
    Patsy Kelly
    Patsy Kelly
    • Gertrude Ross
    Donald May
    Donald May
    • Norm Coster
    Louis Quinn
    Louis Quinn
    • Sidney Schreiber
    Ed Kemmer
    Ed Kemmer
    • Caesar
    • (as Edward Kemmer)
    Tom Gilson
    Tom Gilson
    • Rob Fermi
    Hollis Irving
    Hollis Irving
    • Beatrice Wiley
    Paul Genge
    Paul Genge
    • Samuel N. Poole
    Jean Willes
    Jean Willes
    • Gloria Panawek
    Frieda Inescort
    Frieda Inescort
    • Mrs. Mitchell
    Nan Leslie
    Nan Leslie
    • Bev
    • Director
      • Joseph Pevney
    • Writers
      • Charles Schnee
      • Hank Searls
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A National Airlines DC-6 was repainted with fictional "Trans States" titles and insignia for a majority of the ground and aerial scenes, with the exception of a few scenes where models were used instead of the real aircraft.
    • Goofs
      The airliner is supposed to be a DC-7, but when it crash-lands, the #1 engine has a 3-bladed prop. The DC-7 had 4-bladed props. Therefore, the airliner has to be a DC-6.
    • Quotes

      Cheryl Heath: I just love banana splits. Is it all the wonderful mixed-up flavors, or is it something Freudian?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Feud: Pilot (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Secret Love
      (uncredited)

      Music by Sammy Fain

      Played when Dale and Anne are at the restaurant

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    More soapy than most airplane films of the 1950s-70s...though I did enjoy it.
    "The Crowded Sky" is an odd airplane disaster film. On one hand, I know darn well that the film has many flaws. But on the other, I still very much enjoyed the movie and do recommend you see it.

    During the late 1950s-60s and then again in the 1970s, airplane disaster films were amazingly common and popular. Just off the top of my head, I can recall "No Skyway in the Sky", "Zero Hour!" (which was parodied in "Airplane!"), "The High and the Mighty", "Airport", "Airport 1975" and "Airport '77" all fall in this genre. However, "The Crowded Sky" is unusual because it stars Dana Andrews...who also starred in "Zerio Hour!".

    Unlike the other films I mentioned above, "The Crowded Sky" relies much more heavily on lengthy flashback scenes....nearly all of which are pretty soapy. A few are really interesting (such as the love life of the Navy pilot and the painter and his father) and some are simply too many....which got in the way of the main story. As for the main story, it's telegraphed early and often. It's really not giving anything away to say that the T-33 Navy trainer and the DC-6 airliner WILL crash into each other sooner or later...the only questions are when and how serious this crash will be. And, until then, you see these flashback stories of the pilots of each craft as well as a few others.

    Now again...I admit the film has faults. Apart from too many flashbacks, the film also is at its best AND worst after the crash occurs. On one hand, the planes are pretty obviously models...too obviously. But on the other, everything else about this is exceptionally tense and well handled. And, overall the good easily outweighs the bad....and the two leads, Dana Andrews and Efram Zimbalest Jr. both are excellent.
    helpful•4
    0
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 2, 2020

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    FAQ1

    • Does this movie have any elements that were parodied in Airplane?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 2, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • SOS für Flug T 17
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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