A secret jet aircraft capable of traveling three times the speed of sound is being developed by a group of scientists. On the day of the test flight, one of the scientists dies in a mysterious accident, and there are many arguments concerning the flight itself; some think it should be ground-controlled while Heathley (James Donald) wants it to be a manned flight with himself at the controls. Conflict also arises when one of his fellow scientists, taking advantage of Heathley's lack of attention toward his wife, Lydia (Phyllis Calvert), makes some moves on her. Then there is the question of just who is the enemy agent on the project.
Practical Effects
Genuine Saunders-Roe flying boat footage looks expensive
Acting
Herbert Lom brings slimeball energy to every scene
Director
Anthony Asquith
James Donald
Michael Heathley
Phyllis Calvert
Lydia Heathley
Noel Willman
Dr. Dennis Bord
Herbert Lom
Dr. Alex Leon
Robert Beatty
Maj. Sam Seagram
Patric Doonan
Brian Jackson
Walter Fitzgerald
Sir Charles Craddock
Muriel Pavlow
Caroline Cartier
Maurice Denham
Prof. Carrington
Marjorie Fielding
Michael's Mother
Herbert Lomas
George Jackson
Cyril Chamberlain
Inspector Carter
Hal Osmond
Agent Lawson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The flying boat sequences feature the real Saunders-Roe SR.A/1, an actual jet-powered seaplane fighter that never entered production — making this inadvertently precious aviation documentation.
Released during the early Cold War and Britain's anxious decline as aerospace leader, the film's desperate cheerleading for British technological supremacy now reads as melancholy propaganda.
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