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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Jetstream" or "Killing Urge" or "Jet Storm")

 

Directed by Cy Endfield
UK 1959

 

Brace for impact with this time-ticking thriller, starring Richard Attenborough as a former scientist with a bomb on an airplane.

Passengers on a trans-Atlantic flight from London to New York discover that one of them is mentally unbalanced. Believing a fellow passenger is the hit-and-run driver who killed his child, he smuggles a bomb on board and intends to use it.

Directed by Cy Endfield (Sands of the Kalahari), don’t miss this edge-of-your-seat nail-biter, one of the earliest examples of an aviation-based ‘disaster movie’.

***

Jet Storm is a 1959 British thriller film directed and co-written by Cy Endfield, a blacklisted American filmmaker who relocated to the UK during the McCarthy era.

The story unfolds aboard a transatlantic flight from London to New York, where a grieving father, played by Richard Attenborough, plants a bomb to exact revenge on a fellow passenger—a hit-and-run driver responsible for his daughter's death—endangering the lives of all on board, including stars like Stanley Baker, Hermione Baddeley, Diane Cilento, and Mai Zetterling.

Known alternately as Jet Stream or Killing Urge, the film builds tension through interpersonal dramas and moral dilemmas among the passengers, showcasing Endfield's skill in crafting suspenseful narratives on a confined set, though it received mixed reviews for its pacing and melodramatic elements.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 13th, 1959 (Lewisham, London, charity premiere)

 

Review: Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Distribution Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:30:46.441        
Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 31,387,019,467 bytes

Feature: 27,092,674,560 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Imprint

 

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 31,387,019,467 bytes

Feature: 27,092,674,560 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by film critic Kim Newman and Jo Botting from the BFI National Archive (2025)
• NEW Film historian Sheldon Hall on ‘Jet Storm’ (2025 - 22:50)
• Theatrical Trailer (1:54)


Blu-ray Release Date:
August 8th, 2025
Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (August 2025): Imprint have transferred Cy Endfield's Jet Storm to Blu-ray. Jet Storm's visual aesthetic is quintessentially late-1950s British cinema, shot in black-and-whit emphasizing dramatic tension and psychological depth rather than spectacle, aligning with director Cy Endfield's background in noir-influenced thrillers. As a worldwide first on Blu-ray, this 1080P transfer appears sourced from a well-preserved print, preserving the 1959 cinematography's naturalistic shadows and textures, though minor age-related artifacts like occasional specks appear in brighter scenes. Overall, the HD presentation quality elevates the thriller atmosphere, making it a visually engaging upgrade for fans of vintage disaster films. Depth is present.

NOTE: We have added 42 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is balanced and appears to faithfully reproduce the original soundtrack with clear, undistorted dialogue that drives the film's character interactions and moral debates, alongside subtle ambient aircraft hums and tension-building cues. Thomas Rajna's score is sparse and orchestral, weaving tense strings and understated motifs to build unease without resorting to bombastic cues, fitting the film's precursor status to the disaster genre. Imprint offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray extras package features a new audio commentary by film critic Kim Newman (The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies) and Jo Botting from the BFI National Archive (2025), offering insightful analysis of the film's themes, production history, and Cy Endfield's directorial style; a new 23 minute featurette with film historian Sheldon Hall (Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood History) discussing Jet Storm's context and legacy (2025); and the original theatrical trailer, all complementing the limited edition slipcase design. These newly produced materials provide depth for enthusiasts interested in 1950s British cinema and disaster genre precursors.

Cy Endfield's Jet Storm stands as a pioneering entry in the disaster film genre, predating the high-profile Hollywood spectacles like Airport (1970) by over a decade. Filmed in Britain during Endfield's exile from Hollywood due to the McCarthy-era blacklist, the movie reflects his transition from sharp, cynical American noir films to more ensemble-driven British dramas. Set almost entirely aboard a transatlantic flight from London to New York on a BOAC jet (modeled after the Comet but with fictionalized interiors for dramatic effect, including an accessible luggage compartment and lower lounge), it features a stellar cast led by Richard Attenborough as the grief-stricken antagonist and Stanley Baker as the steadfast captain. At its core, Jet Storm grapples with vengeance and the limits of justice, portraying Tilley's bomb as a metaphor for unchecked personal retribution in a flawed legal system. Tilley's psychosis stems from societal failure - Brock's evasion of punishment - highlighting how grief can morph into nihilistic rage, where one man's quest for "justice" endangers innocents, forcing passengers to confront whether vigilante action is ever justified. Grief and mental health are portrayed with nuance, avoiding melodrama; Tilley's breakdown illustrates the psychological toll of loss, while subplots like Bardow's widowhood add layers of shared vulnerability. Jet Storm endures as a thoughtful thriller that transcends its era's conventions, blending edge-of-your-seat tension with incisive social commentary. Endfield's film reminds us that true disasters stem not from external threats but from internal fractures - grief, injustice, and division - and that redemption lies in collective humanity. While not without flaws, its depth rewards revisits, offering timeless insights into the human condition amid peril. Imprint's limited edition Blu-ray of Jet Storm stands as a commendable debut for this overlooked thriller with fresh extras add educational value, making it a worthwhile pickup for collectors despite its niche appeal. Priced as a boutique release, it rewards fans of Richard Attenborough's early work and Cy Endfield's exile-era films, though casual viewers might await a standard edition; recommended for those seeking a polished preservation of a proto-disaster classic. Very entertaining.

Gary Tooze

 


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Box Cover

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Distribution Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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