TROUBLE IN THE SKY(CONE OF SILENCE) (director: Charles Frend; screenwriters: from the novel by David Beaty/Jeffrey Dell/Robert Westerby; cinematographer: Arthur Grant; editor: Max Benedict; music: Gerard Schurmann; cast: Peter Cushing (Capt. Clive Judd), George Sanders (Sir Arnold Hobbes), Gordon Jackson (Capt. Jock Bateson), Michael Craig (Capt. Hugh Dallas), Andre Morell (Capt. Edward Manningham), Bernard Lee (Capt. George Gort), Elizabeth Seal (Charlotte Gort), Noel Willman (Nigel Pickering); Runtime: 76; MPAA Rating: PG; producer: Aubrey Baring; VCI Entertainment/Universal ; 1960-UK)
“The story is inspired by true events in the 1950s.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Charles Frend(“The Sky Bike”/”Torpedo Bay”/”Girl on Approval”), the former editor for Hitchcock, adeptly helms this classic civil aviation suspense thriller. It fails to clearly develop its characters with any clarity, but its aerial cockpit scenes are still exciting even if the technology parts are dated. The story is inspired by true events in the 1950s. It’s based on the novel by David Beaty and the screenplay is written by Jeffrey Dell and Robert Westerby.
Veteran Brit pilot Capt. George Gort (Bernard Lee), for the fictional Phoenix Fleet, crashes in India and is blamed by the airline industry for the death of the co-pilot. Gort then tries clearing his name. When returned to duty, his plane again crashes in India and he’s killed.
George Sanders is the crash investigator. Peter Cushing is the arrogant pilot, Gort’s most hostile critic. Elizabeth Seal is Gort’s loyal daughter. Michael Craig) is the military pilot who helps Gort, at his daughter’s request, to clear his name. Noel Willman is the villainous plane designer.
REVIEWED ON 10/20/2015 GRADE: B-
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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