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Cone of Silence

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6.7/10 • 11

1960-05-101h 28m

DramaThriller

Jet crash mystery solved !!! Where does the blame belong ? Is it the plane ? Is is the pilot ? Is it a plot ?

A seasoned pilot is condemned for an error which causes a crash. The pilot later dies in a crash with similar circumstances and an examiner looks for scientific reasons for the crashes.

Directors
Charles Frend
Writters
Robert Westerby
Editors
Robert Westerby, Max Benedict

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Michael Craig

    Michael Craig

    Capt. Hugh Dallas

  2. Peter Cushing

    Peter Cushing

    Capt. Clive Judd

  3. Bernard Lee

    Bernard Lee

    Capt. George Gort

  4. Elizabeth Seal

    Elizabeth Seal

    Charlotte Gort

  5. George Sanders

    George Sanders

    Sir Arnold Hobbes

  6. André Morell

    André Morell

    Capt. Edward Manningham

  7. Gordon Jackson

    Gordon Jackson

    Capt. Jock Bateson

  8. Charles Tingwell

    Charles Tingwell

    Capt. Braddock

  9. Noel Willman

    Noel Willman

    Nigel Pickering

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Dec 8, 2024

7/10

Just as jet engine-powered aircraft were starting to take to the skies, veteran "Capt. Gort" (Bernard Lee) is involved in a near miss trying to take off in his new, state-of-the-art "Phoenix" aircraft. At the subsequent inquiry, he faces thinly veiled criticism from "Sir Arnold" (George Sanders) but is nonetheless cleared to keep flying by his senior colleague "Dallas" (Michael Craig). This earns both of them the chagrin of fellow pilot "Judd" (Peter Cushing) who's convinced of operator error and makes no bones about expressing his suspicions about "Gort" - especially when a landing at Calcutta reveals some foliage in the undercarriage. Thing is, both "Gort" and "Dallas" are convinced they are following the rules, to the letter, so what's wrong? When a tragedy ensues, the most convenient solution would seem to be to simply blame the pilot, but perhaps the foliage might reveal more clues as to what actually went wrong? There's a rather unnecessary romantic sub-plot with Craig and Elizabeth Seal's "Charlotte", but otherwise this is quite tautly directed thriller that uses some decent photography to illustrate the perils of the pilots and the claustrophobia of their tiny cockpits. The setting in India also presents us with an almost palpably hot and humid scenario for these airborne shenanigans. Cushing delivers best, I thought, as the man who comes across as jealous, or concerned, or ambitious or maybe all three? It's a simple story well acted and told and maybe isn't a film to watch if you have the slightest fear of flying (or, indeed, want one!).

Media

  • Cone of Silence poster
  • Cone of Silence poster
  • Cone of Silence poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
airplanebased on novel or bookpilotairplane crashcourtroomaircraft factory