Strong and Moving!

How sad is this?

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

All the reviewers recognise this as great story telling with lots of snippets all over the place to add interest: the framing of the story between Michael Hordern's first arrival at air traffic control, and his chilling final remarks to the controller; Denholm Elliott's background as the Battle of Britain ace who cracked, Alexander Knox's unpleasant internment in Hong Kong during the war, the jokes about officers and civilians between the squaddies, Alfie Bass and Bill Kerr (Hancock's famous sidekick).But a practical reason to keep coming back to this film is the early shot of making the approach to Kai Tak (once the world's greatest real-life white knuckle ride) in the days before the surrounding hills were covered with high rise apartments which you looked up to as you banked to starboard on finals.

I originally saw this great film not long after it was released in 1955. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the climax to come and make the prophecy come true. When the climax came I remember heaving a huge sigh of relief, so great was the tension created by the cast and directors. This is the type of film that 'sneaks up on you' because it was not released here as the main attraction (In the days when a black and white film was shown first and I thought it was far better than the film I had gone to see. I have seen it only once since then and it captured my attention just as much then. I wish a film company or TV channel would release it. I would dearly like to obtain a video copy of it as this seems to be the only way I'll ever get to see it again. Ron Sawers

I saw the movie for the first time only two days ago (12/01/2002) and really liked it. For a black & white movie, it had a good story line, suspense and a good selection of characters. It was typically British as in The Dam Busters and Reach For The Sky, bt then again, somethings the British do better than America. Its a movie I could watch again. It also shows a young Denholm Elliott, still highly recognizable as the same person who starred in the Indiana Jones Movies.Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

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.