No Highway in the Sky

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RICHARD S Good drama for its time, as Stewart explores probability of metal fatigue on a commercial aircraft in 1951. Conflicting attitudes of airline personnel are well portrayed. Dietrich is uncommonly likeable as a sweet-hearted actress, Johns a bit unbelievable. Early in film, Stewart's character a bit ridiculous, but he gains credibility as the story progresses, and he, as always, delivers. Script development somewhat lacking. I recommend captions due to British sounds. Well worth you time! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/15/24 Full Review Steve D Frustrating despite some good acting. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/24 Full Review Audience Member Outstanding movie, James Stewart had his best. Yes I highly recommend this one James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas September 30, 2023. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/30/23 Full Review Matthew D I'd die for Marlene Dietrich's sincere actress and Glynis Johns' sweet stewardess, honestly. German director Henry Koster's aviation drama No Highway in the Sky (1951) is an excellent picture about the dangers of metal fatigue in airplanes. It's almost a cute romantic comedy between James Stewart and Glynis Johns too somehow. Koster's direction is striking with a film noir aesthetic, yet a humor about strangely eccentric scientists, here called boffins. I like that Koster wants the viewer to trust scientists and facts. It has the tension of a disaster thriller and the humor of a smart British comedy. Koster did a phenomenal job directing No Highway in the Sky with compelling drama, intelligently reasoned science, and surprisingly startling humor. Cinematographer Georges Périnal's stunning black and white shots are mesmerizing. I like the fog outside the plane's cockpit window to the dark nights outside cast in shadow. His close-up shots of faces are wonderful with emotional honesty and an intimate feel. Art direction by C.P. Norman makes industrial military bases, lavish airplane seats, and neat airport stations. I highly recommend No Highway in the Sky. I can only compare it to Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises. Writers Alec Coppel, R.C. Sherriff, and Oscar Millard adapted author Nevil Shute for the silver screen with style and scientific knowledge. This feels well researched and intelligent. The entire premise of No Highway in the Sky is fascinating. It's about the potentially fatal event of new airplane tails falling off mid-flight because of the high risk of experimental metals used by the Air Force. They prey on fear, paranoia, nervousness, and doubt with an intricately paced script. Editor Manuel del Campo makes 98 minutes feel like 20 to me with swift hard cuts. He keeps us in the conversation the entire time to ensure each scene has suspense. He keeps the shots mostly in close-ups with the occasional coverage in wide shots so we see the plane's interior. American actor James Stewart is gripping and hysterical as the socially awkward and apathetic scientist Theodore Honey. His slouched gait, lack of empathy, fastidious nature, vocal stuttering, spewing of scientist jargon and mathematical facts. He gets irritated once he must contemplate human error or casualties. He's "balmy to be a boffin" is a fun descriptor of Stewart's smart and shrewd scientist who is quite engaging in one of Stewart's most entertaining performances. German actress Marlene Dietrich is ultra glamorous and gorgeous as film starlet Monica Teasdale. Her casual dismissal of Stewart's aviation warnings is very funny. She is outstanding as she gets increasingly nervous. I appreciate her existential crisis in the face of potentially dying as well as her kindly buying Elspeth nice things. I liked the scenes of honest girl talk between Marlene and Glynis. British actress Glynis Johns is absolutely adorable, charming, and funny as the sweet stewardess Marjorie Corder. Her belief in Stewart's raving scientist is interesting, but it's her gentle manner and bubbly personality that is so endearing. The way she ends up flirting with James Stewart is just too cute as she makes No Highway in the Sky into a romantic comedy during her wonderful scenes opposite Stewart. I liked her kindhearted care-taking of Elspeth. I adore Glynis Johns ever since I saw her in The Court Jester and Mary Poppins. How can you not enjoy her considerate stewardess in No Highway in the Sky? English actor Jack Hawkins is pretty cool as the chief of metallurgy at RAE named Dennis Scott. He gets to be the skeptic and voice of reason, a kind of everyman or audience surrogate to react to all the science jargon being tossed around. British actress Janette Scott is hilarious and adorable as Stewart's genius daughter Elspeth Honey. She's precocious in a smart and proper way, practically doing an impression of Stewart's socially awkward and meticulous scientist. She delivers an amazingly sweet and touching performance as she's like her father's caretaker since her mother died. She should have gotten an Oscar for this, honestly. English actress Elizabeth Allan is pleasant as Shirley Scott. British actor Ronald Squire is furious and blunt as Director of RAE Sir John. British actress Jill Clifford is nice as the new stewardess Peggy. Irish actor Niall MacGinnis is intriguing as the increasingly nervous Captain Samuelson. His skeptical pilot feels foolishly ignorant like Kenneth More's absurdly irritated co-pilot Dobson. Composer Malcolm Arnold creates a high flying film score with a dreamy sentiment to it. Sound designer Buster Ambler creates rattling plane wings and roaring plane engines. Costume designer Christian Dior gives Marlene Dietrich luxurious lady's suits with fur stole and fuzzy hat. I loved Glynis' stewardess uniform, nurse's scrubs, and pretty suits. In conclusion, No Highway in the Sky is a killer film with fantastic acting from James Stewart, Glynis Johns and Marlene Dietrich, especially. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/23 Full Review Dan C Yes, maybe James Stewart does overdo the eccentricity a bit with his furtive walk, but he is wonderful in this. The real kudos should go to the director, however., and to the competent character actors. This film is filled with almost-hidden gems of understated acting and very dry British humor. I've watched it over and over again to catch these moments--and to relish the delivery of the dialog. You want to laugh out loud but don't, so as to catch the next line. So it's a kind of suppressed laughter that makes this so enjoyable. This film is an absolute delight. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/15/22 Full Review Audience Member This movie has several deep observations about "being different." The scientific explanations are ridiculous so cover your ears. Other than that it is similar to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" about standing up for one's principles. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

No Highway in the Sky

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