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Q Planes main poster

5.8/10 • 38

1939-02-211h 22m

ComedyMysteryThrillerScience Fiction

DRAMA OF THE WAR ON SPIES!

In England, an eccentric police inspector, an earnest test pilot and a spunky female reporter team up to solve the mystery of a series of test aircraft which have disappeared without a trace while over the ocean on their maiden flights; unaware, as they are, that a spy ring has been shooting the planes down with a ray machine hidden aboard a salvage vessel which is on hand to haul the downed aircraft aboard, crews and all.

Directors
Tim Whelan, Arthur B. Woods
Writters
Ian Dalrymple
Editors
Ian Dalrymple, Hugh Stewart

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Ralph Richardson

    Ralph Richardson

    Maj. Charles Hammond

  2. Laurence Olivier

    Laurence Olivier

    Tony McVane

  3. Valerie Hobson

    Valerie Hobson

    Kay Lawrence

  4. George Merritt

    George Merritt

    Mr. Barrett

  5. George Curzon

    George Curzon

    Jenkins

  6. Roy Emerton

    Roy Emerton

    Viking First Mate

  7. Frank Fox

    Frank Fox

    Karl

  8. Gus McNaughton

    Gus McNaughton

    Blenkinsop, Hammond's Butler

  9. George Butler

    George Butler

    Air Marshal Gosport

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 22, 2022

7/10

When aircraft with secret gadgets aboard start disappearing all around the globe, "Maj. Hammond" (Ralph Richardson) reckons that there is something suspicious going on. His investigations - frequently interfered with by his aspiring journalist sister "Kay" (Valerie Hobson) - eventually, despite scepticism from the latest aircraft's manufacturers, manage to enrol budding pilot "McVane" (Laurence Olivier) into his cunning plan to identify and bring the perpetrators to book... As a story, it's all a bit far-fetched, but what gives it quite an edge is the really quirky - almost improv. style of delivery from Richardson. He doesn't exactly speak directly to camera, but much of his effort in this breezy espionage thriller appears more directly aimed at us (and his long-suffering butler "Blenkinsop" (Gus McNaughton)). That creates quite an enjoyable intimacy that, coupled, with quite a quickly paced series of scenarios and a better the average performance from the frequently too aloof Hobson to make for quite a fun 80-odd minutes. Even Olivier manages to shake off some of his traditionally rigid style on occasion, though it's never that far away, before an action packed denouement invoking a ray gun, a destroyer and... Ralph's umbrella! It's a hybrid of genres this, and at times is a bit of a mess - but I actually quite enjoyed it, and I'd give it a go.

Media

  • Q Planes backdrop

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
bureaucracyspymurderaviationwoman reportersabotageumbrelladenialscrewball comedyaircraft factorytest pilotray gunspy ringinfiltratorexperimental aircraftsalvage shipquisling