Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Remastered, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The efforts of test pilot John Mitchell to make a better life for his wife Mary and their two children seem doomed to failure and he blames himself. At the Conway Aero-Manufacturing Company of Wolverhampton, Mitchell is to take the company's new rocket-propulsion transport plane up for tests, fully loaded and carrying two important passengers - Ministry official Crabtree and buyer's representative Ashmore. Mitchell learns from his boss, Reg Conway, that if Ashmore does not recommend the plane, the company will be out of business and Mitchell out of a job, since the plane is not even insured as the firm's entire capital is tied up in the plane. Aloft, an engine catches fire and the passengers and other crew bail out, but Mitchell refuses to obey orders to jettison the plane in the Irish Sea. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...The Man in the Sky ( Decision Against Time ) ( Test Pilot )
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A combination of a Bristol Freighter, Jack Hawkins and Victor Maddern etc is just magic. A simple story made powerful by the sheer brilliance of the acting. Great for aircraft buffs and anyone who appreciates a very engaging story, presented to perfection.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One would have thought that a film about a pilot flying an aeroplane around for an hour or so, would be extremely tedious. However, this just goes to show how first impressions aren't always accurate. For a start, a film with Jack Hawkins as the lead actor, has to be taken seriously.
Jack Hawkins brilliantly shows the courage and conviction of a test pilot, trying desperately to save the aeroplane he has been demonstrating, which, in turn, would save his employer and his own job, and also secure the house his wife so desperately wants him to buy.
After the aeroplane suffers an engine fire, everyone bails out, apart from the pilot - Jack Hawkins. Despite the danger he finds himself in, the test pilot keeps calm and manages to give the appearance that he has everything under control and isn't particularly worried about the possible outcome. All eyes are pointing towards the sky, watching the machine fly around the airfield, gradually burning off the fuel that is compounding his difficulties. Despite being ordered to, he refuses to jump out and allow the aircraft to ditch at sea. He knows that, to do that, will mean the end of everything he holds dear.
We see the happy family; the housewife, the grandmother and two charming young children (what a difference from modern-day families!) Of course, the pilot's wife knows nothing of the danger her husband is in, until, that is, a well-meaning member of staff decides she absolutely must be told, whatever the consequences.
The outcome of the film is not determined until the aeroplane touches down in what is an amazing piece of piloting of a real aircraft. Bearing in mind there were no special effects to make this "stunt" easier, it is an amazing piece of film and an amazing scene, as the aircraft makes its way to the runway, touches down and, for a moment or two, one is left thinking that he may not make it after all. Fortunately, he does and wanders off home in a daze. (In this scene, the acting is absolutely superb, as the emotions and behaviour of a man who has just "stared death in the face" are wholly credible).
The subsequent blazing row he has with his wife, after she seems totally insensitive to what her husband has just experienced, is a credit to the script writer(s). He certainly puts his wife firmly in her place, but without resorting to foul language, violence or shouting. One can almost feel the tension, anger and fear as he puts his point across so well. However, he doesn't demean her; the point of the row is to ease tension and for them both to express their concerns. As a happily married couple, the situation soon calms with them both having said their piece, then moving on. What is clearly shown is the love, care and respect they both hold for each other. Absolutely brilliantly done!
A quality film, gripping and dramatic. Watch out for Donald Pleasence, Lionel Jeffries and Victor Maddern. Quite a line-up of actors!
Jack Hawkins brilliantly shows the courage and conviction of a test pilot, trying desperately to save the aeroplane he has been demonstrating, which, in turn, would save his employer and his own job, and also secure the house his wife so desperately wants him to buy.
After the aeroplane suffers an engine fire, everyone bails out, apart from the pilot - Jack Hawkins. Despite the danger he finds himself in, the test pilot keeps calm and manages to give the appearance that he has everything under control and isn't particularly worried about the possible outcome. All eyes are pointing towards the sky, watching the machine fly around the airfield, gradually burning off the fuel that is compounding his difficulties. Despite being ordered to, he refuses to jump out and allow the aircraft to ditch at sea. He knows that, to do that, will mean the end of everything he holds dear.
We see the happy family; the housewife, the grandmother and two charming young children (what a difference from modern-day families!) Of course, the pilot's wife knows nothing of the danger her husband is in, until, that is, a well-meaning member of staff decides she absolutely must be told, whatever the consequences.
The outcome of the film is not determined until the aeroplane touches down in what is an amazing piece of piloting of a real aircraft. Bearing in mind there were no special effects to make this "stunt" easier, it is an amazing piece of film and an amazing scene, as the aircraft makes its way to the runway, touches down and, for a moment or two, one is left thinking that he may not make it after all. Fortunately, he does and wanders off home in a daze. (In this scene, the acting is absolutely superb, as the emotions and behaviour of a man who has just "stared death in the face" are wholly credible).
The subsequent blazing row he has with his wife, after she seems totally insensitive to what her husband has just experienced, is a credit to the script writer(s). He certainly puts his wife firmly in her place, but without resorting to foul language, violence or shouting. One can almost feel the tension, anger and fear as he puts his point across so well. However, he doesn't demean her; the point of the row is to ease tension and for them both to express their concerns. As a happily married couple, the situation soon calms with them both having said their piece, then moving on. What is clearly shown is the love, care and respect they both hold for each other. Absolutely brilliantly done!
A quality film, gripping and dramatic. Watch out for Donald Pleasence, Lionel Jeffries and Victor Maddern. Quite a line-up of actors!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was very pleased to see this film out on DVD as I had been looking for a copy for some years - happily the film justified the wait, a tense thriller played out against a domestic routine.
Jack Hawkins gives another solid performance as a test pilot trying to save the companys aircraft, whilst concerned for his young family on the ground. Although Hawkins obviously had no flying experience, he does exude an air of reliablility and determination during his emergency. As usual with Ealing productions, lots of solid support from several stalwarts of British fifties cinema. Good air to air photography of the Bristol Freighter, this film held my attention from start to finish, intersting to see 1950s suburbia in development also.
Jack Hawkins gives another solid performance as a test pilot trying to save the companys aircraft, whilst concerned for his young family on the ground. Although Hawkins obviously had no flying experience, he does exude an air of reliablility and determination during his emergency. As usual with Ealing productions, lots of solid support from several stalwarts of British fifties cinema. Good air to air photography of the Bristol Freighter, this film held my attention from start to finish, intersting to see 1950s suburbia in development also.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A reminder concerning what we are missing.
Compare this with the the cliched CGI monstrosities that populate our screens today. A simple but gripping story told by first class actors, an uncluttered screenplay that is... Read more
Published 9 months ago by In Glorious Black And White
They don't make them like they used to
I watched this for the older of the two "sons" (he is currently my tutor at college) and was pleasantly surprised by the film itself. Read more
Published 13 months ago by MacBraveheart
good old days
I enjoyed this movie because it was made on location where i live.It gives me an insight of the area 55 years ago . Read more
Published 14 months ago by georgegeorge
Wolverhampton,Bilbrook,Pendeford Movie "Man In THe Sky"
MAN IN THE SKY .
British Movie in Mono+B&W,Some Plane scenes in Ealing Studios & Most over W-Ton & Pendeford,Fordhouses,Bushbury,Bilbrook & surrounding area. Read more
British Movie in Mono+B&W,Some Plane scenes in Ealing Studios & Most over W-Ton & Pendeford,Fordhouses,Bushbury,Bilbrook & surrounding area. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Steve Modsworth W-Ton
A very watchable film
Wolverhampton in the mid 1950's , perhaps especially the aerodrome (yes, the word was still used then)council houses and individual specialist shops for every thing; Were mum could... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Roy Vicars
MAN IN THE SKY
I have just viewed this film for the first time recently after being told about it when i was younger. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by b a dutton
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
