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The Plane Makers

  • TV Series
  • 1963–19651963–1965
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
30
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Plane Makers (1963)
  • Drama
The day-to-day story of a multi-million pound aerospace company, its new jet plane, its test-pilot, its workers and its ruthless and hard-nosed managing director John Wilder, the embodiment ... Read allThe day-to-day story of a multi-million pound aerospace company, its new jet plane, its test-pilot, its workers and its ruthless and hard-nosed managing director John Wilder, the embodiment of modern, unflinching capitalism.The day-to-day story of a multi-million pound aerospace company, its new jet plane, its test-pilot, its workers and its ruthless and hard-nosed managing director John Wilder, the embodiment of modern, unflinching capitalism.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
30
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Jack Watling
    • Patrick Wymark
    • Norma Ronald
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Jack Watling
    • Patrick Wymark
    • Norma Ronald
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Episodes58

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos

    Alan Dobie in The Plane Makers (1963)
    Jack Watling and Patrick Wymark in The Plane Makers (1963)
    Alan Dobie at an event for The Plane Makers (1963)
    The Plane Makers (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Watling
    Jack Watling
    • Don Hendersonas Don Henderson
    28 episodes28 eps • 1963–1965
    Patrick Wymark
    Patrick Wymark
    • John Wilderas John Wilder
    27 episodes27 eps • 1963–1965
    Norma Ronald
    Norma Ronald
    • Kay Lingardas Kay Lingard
    24 episodes24 eps • 1963–1965
    Reginald Marsh
    • Arthur Sugdenas Arthur Sugden…
    19 episodes19 eps • 1963–1964
    Robert Urquhart
    Robert Urquhart
    • Henry Forbesas Henry Forbes
    17 episodes17 eps • 1963–1965
    Norman Tyrrell
    • Sir Gordon Revidgeas Sir Gordon Revidge
    13 episodes13 eps • 1963–1965
    Wendy Gifford
    • Laura Challisas Laura Challis…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1963–1965
    Elizabeth Begley
    • Margie Thomasas Margie Thomas
    11 episodes11 eps • 1963–1964
    Sheila Raynor
    Sheila Raynor
    • Mary Sugdenas Mary Sugden…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1963–1964
    William Devlin
    • Sir Gerald Merleas Sir Gerald Merle
    9 episodes9 eps • 1963–1964
    Alan Dobie
    • David Corbettas David Corbett
    8 episodes8 eps • 1964–1965
    Peter Jeffrey
    Peter Jeffrey
    • James Cameron-Grant MPas James Cameron-Grant MP
    8 episodes8 eps • 1964–1965
    Harry Webster
    • Mr. Anstellas Mr. Anstell…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1963
    Barbara Murray
    Barbara Murray
    • Pamela Wilderas Pamela Wilder
    7 episodes7 eps • 1963–1964
    Tom Macaulay
    • Reginald Cunliffeas Reginald Cunliffe
    7 episodes7 eps • 1963
    Elizabeth Wallace
    • Harriet Evansas Harriet Evans
    7 episodes7 eps • 1964–1965
    Fred Ferris
    • Sam Adamsas Sam Adams…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1963–1964
    Kathleen St. John
    • Maidas Maid…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1963–1964
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The day-to-day story of a multi-million pound aerospace company, its new jet plane, its test-pilot, its workers and its ruthless and hard-nosed managing director John Wilder, the embodiment of modern, unflinching capitalism.
    • partially lost tv series
    • aeronautics
    • industry
    • boardroom
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the pre-production stage, the initial idea of a factory setting was dismissed by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (the show could not be seen to promote products advertised on ITV). Thus limited, the setting was to be either the world of aeronautics or shipbuilding, with the former being selected by ATV as location-work would be far easier to shoot for an aviation-related project.
    • Connections
      Followed by The Power Game (1965)
    • Soundtracks
      Citizens Of The World: March
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Trevor Duncan

      Performed by The New Concert Orchestra

      [Series theme tune for second and third seasons]

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Soaring Series!!
    Bought this along with "The Power Game" but have only just got around to watching this. Series may seem a bit patchy because only one episode of the first series survives. While "The Power Game" is all big business with Wilder's Machivellian machinations in taking control of Bligh Constructions this series, initially, has a bosses vs workers theme.

    Reginald Marsh is superb as Sudgeon, the managing supervisor who is suddenly thrust onto the board, as his old union chum says "we need someone like you on the board to fight for us but the workers will hate you"!! So while Wilder (Patrick Wymark) episodes are to do with wheeling and dealing in the board room and he is portrayed as ruthless, Marsh shows a man who is fair and human, although as in "Don't Stick Your Head Out" gets a glimpse into how Wilder operates. Once the series settles in it becomes a slice of life into the many departments of the Scott Furlong Air Company. In "Any More for the Skylark?" Wilder tries to put a stop to the practice of issuing free passages on test flights and a young clerk (Rodney Bewes) finds courage he never knew he had. "A Matter of Self Respect" finds Sudgeon giving a helping hand to a friend who has just been released from prison for manslaughter - this is particularly emotive as the man struggles to cope with his first visit to his young daughter!!

    Unfortunately mid way through series 3 Sudgeon is forced to resign - I noticed that throughout the start of the season Marsh's role was diminished and Alan Dobie who played the icy David Corbett gained prominence. Corbett was as coldly calculating as Wilder but he just didn't have the older man's passion and emotion to say nothing of charisma - I found him impossible to warm to. So without a character who audiences could relate to - the ying to Wilder's yang, the edginess went out of it and I can understand why the show ended when it did!!
    helpful•4
    0
    • kidboots
    • Nov 19, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 1963 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Den stora fabriken
    • Production company
      • Associated Television (ATV)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Barbara Murray obituary
    Jun 1The Guardian - TV News

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