One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)

[Nigeyb]

This is a discussion about...






One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)

Written, Directed and Produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

Powell and Pressburger - always a sign of quality

Made quickly and relatively cheaply (for £700,000) at the height of the war, One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942) was one of Powell and Pressburger's early successes both critically and financially. Although the script is a little shapeless and the story tends to wander from one episode to another, the direction is taut and scenes are well handled by Powell. On the strength of its box-office, Powell and Pressburger were offered an unprecedented film-by-film deal with J. Arthur Rank, allowing them to choose their own projects.

Aircraft was one of the first major film roles for Googie Withers - who had previously appeared in four Powell 'quota quickies' - as the Dutch resistance leader who comes to the airmen's aid, and whose mixture of charm and determination baffles them. The character provides further evidence of the way the war was beginning to change society and the role of women, as does a similarly strong role for Pamela Brown. Both actresses attracted the attention of critic C.A. Lejeune in The Observer.

The gripping story of the airmen also impressed the New Statesman. Particularly striking is the opening sequence, in which Powell shoots each airman in close-up, creating intimacy and giving the audience a sense of the bomber's cramped conditions and the dangers its crew face. The low position of the camera, looking admiringly up at the airmen, reinforces their heroism.

For the flying scenes, art director David Rawnsley covered the entire studio floor with a model of Stuttgart in miniature; cameraman Freddie Ford completed the aerial camera shots by lying flat on his stomach for ten hours a day high in the roof of the studio. The painstaking work paid off: the viewer feels the terrifying danger the airman confront as they fly over enemy lines under fire from anti-aircraft guns.

The creation of such imaginary worlds was to become a hallmark of Powell and Pressburger's films. Aircraft signalled the end of the first phase of their partnership; with the freedom its success brought them, their work together now took an increasingly ambitious direction.

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/i...

From Wikipedia...

The film received two Academy Award nominations, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger for Best Writing, Original Screenplay, and Ronald Neame (photography) and C. C. Stevens (sound) for Best Effects, Special Effects.[11] Powell's nomination was the only Academy Award nomination he ever received in his career – Pressburger won an Academy Award for 49th Parallel and was nominated for The Red Shoes as well.

One of Our Aircraft Is Missing joins other British war films as one of the most "well-remembered, accomplished and enjoyed" realist films of the period.

In 2014 the film was included in a set of war film packaged together and sold to raise funds for The Royal British Legion veterans organisation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_of_O...

Showing in the UK on More4
on Wed 17th Sep 2014
@ 10:00-12:05
125 minutes

Watch it and then let's discuss it.

[Jan C]

I don't think it is showing in the US. Although there is an interesting article about it at TCM.com and they offer the movie for $6.95.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Jan.


That all sounds very promising for US based BYTers who want to get involved.

Also free to view for Amazon.com instant video customers (a service I know nothing about)...

http://www.amazon.com/One-Our-Aircraf...

[Jan C]

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Jan.


That all sounds very promising for US based BYTers who want to get involved.

Also free to view for Amazon.com instant video customers (a service I know nothing about)...

Costs $100+ to join Amazon Prime and I have been stalling on that and they have since raised their price.

http://www..."

[Jan C]

But I just checked and it is available on You Tube.

[Jill]

I saw it on TCM once several years ago and rather liked it. Plus I like Googie Withers (but what an unfortunate name she had!!)

Powell and Pressburger made some really good films. But then Michael Powell made "Peeping Tom" and it wrecked his very successful career. It is an amazing but pretty creepy film.

[Nigeyb]

I'm about 30 minutes in and, so far, I am very impressed.


Great cinematography and a very credible cast. A fine evocation of a bombing raid into Germany - Stuttgart to be precise - and it reminded me that those aircrews must have had nerves of steel.

Needless to say, and as the title suggests, all does not go exactly to plan.

On the opening credits I notice that, in addition to Googie Withers, there's going to be an appearance by Peter Ustinov, and the film was edited by David Lean.

Stellar eh?

[Jill]

So many times viewers don't take time to read the credits and miss interesting facts. Sir David Lean came a long way from film editor, didn't he?

[Nigeyb]

^ He certainly did!