(aka 'One of Our Aircraft Is Missing')
UK 1942
As
49th Parallel would be the Canadian influenced propaganda effort by
Powell & Pressburger - One of Our Aircraft is Missing is the Dutch
equivalent. Supporting the war effort - Michael Powell was commissioned by the
British government and the film he and Emeric Pressburger made focuses on six
Royal Air force men who find themselves stranded in Holland after their bomber,
"B for Bertie", is shot down by anti-aircraft fire after a raid on Stuttgart.
The servicemen are all competent and affable - in civilian life they are a
garage proprietor, an actor, a Yorkshire businessman, a pilot, and a
professional footballer. All are given the help and resources they require from
the sympathetic Dutch farmers and country people. Googie Withers plays the woman
who formulates the final arrangements for their trek to the safe North Sea where
they can eventually be picked up by the Allies. The cast and crew (including
Powell acting in a guest appearance!) runs like a who's who of film language -
cinematography is by Ronald Neame, editor: David Lean - playing the Dutch
priest: Peter Ustinov etc.
In the powerful canon of Powell & Pressburger this gets little mention as it
doesn't reach the lofty heights of
Black Narcissus or
I Know Where I'm Going but the film is still one of the best to come out
of the war effort with multiple telltale's of the pairings obvious greatness.
Essential cinema.
Posters
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Theatrical Release: June 27th, 1942
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Universal Pictures Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
NOTE: Cover art on the Amazon.UK site is incorrect. |
| Distribution | Universal Pictures Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL | |
| Runtime | 1:38:21 | |
| Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • none |
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| Comments: |
Very decent transfer from Universal UK on this clandestine masterpiece. How it evaded me on the releases calendar I'll never know. There is a shade of brightness boosting, some artifacts and a few scratches visible, but it is progressive and tight to the frame edges. Contrast and black levels are very good. No extras but optional English subtitles are offered. Audio was fairly strong considering the age of the film. The price is reasonable for such a fabulous piece of cinema - just a shame it is bare-bones. We strongly recommend! |
DVD Menus
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Associated Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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A Life in Movies: An Autobiography by Michael Powell |
Michael Powell: Interviews (Conversations With
Filmmakers Series) by David Lazar |
Arrows of Desire: The Films of Michael Powell and
Emeric Pressburger by Ian Christie |
The Films of Michael Powell and the Archers by Scott Salwolke |
The Red Shoes: The Classic Story by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden |
Powell and Pressburger: A Cinema of Magic Spaces
(Cinema & Society S.) Andrew Moor |
Gone to Earth (Virago Modern Classics)
Mary Webb, Erika Duncan |
I Know Where I'm Going! (BFI Film Classics S.)
Pam Cook |
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
NOTE: Cover art on the Amazon.UK site is incorrect. |
| Distribution | Universal Pictures Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL | |
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Gary Tooze
Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA |
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Thank You!
