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Breaking the Sound Barrier

Play trailer Poster for Breaking the Sound Barrier 1952 1h 55m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
With a passion for aviation design and engineering, wealthy oilman John Ridgefield (Ralph Richardson) is determined to break the sound barrier with the aircraft company he owns. He has already lost his son in the pursuit, and his daughter, Susan (Ann Todd), resents her father even more when he chooses her husband, World War II pilot Tony Garthwaite (Nigel Patrick), to be one of the test pilots. Yet Ridgefield stands resolute in the name of scientific progress.

Critics Reviews

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David Denby The New Yorker 05/01/2013
The aerodynamic issues in the movie may now be antiquated, but the excitement and beauty of early jet aviation are still irresistible. Go to Full Review Empire Magazine 05/01/2013
4/5
It's an interesting scientific-military soap opera, acted with stiff upper-lip restraint by a great cast, but Lean's visual sense really comes into play in the aerial sequences. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times 05/01/2013
4.5/5
This must be said about this picture: it soars far above its clumsy tag and it comes pretty close to being the most exalting of contemporary films. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 07/15/2020
7/10
This aircraft film directed by Lean is very exciting. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/12/2020
3/4
One of the more overlooked achievements from the director of The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. Go to Full Review Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media 03/12/2020
4/5
Thoughtful and thrilling test pilot drama; moments of peril. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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06/09/2021 An absolute classic! The movie is a master class in movie making, superb cinematography and well acted too. See more 08/13/2016 one of leans 'little pictures' See more 04/05/2016 The subject matter sounds very boring, but the film does manage to bring some credible drama to what is essentially a film about testing jet engines. See more 09/06/2015 David Lean at his most effective. See more 02/09/2014 An exciting Lean film and unlike anything I've really seen from him before. It is a smaller scale to most of his best works but it contains plenty of thrills. See more 06/08/2013 Love that movie. Ralph Richardson was so good!! See more Read all reviews
Breaking the Sound Barrier

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

Ralph Richardson

John Ridgefield

Ann Todd

Susan Garthwaite

Nigel Patrick

Tony Garthwaite

John Justin

Philip Peel

Joseph Tomelty

Will Sparks

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Breaking the Sound Barrier

Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952) Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis With a passion for aviation design and engineering, wealthy oilman John Ridgefield (Ralph Richardson) is determined to break the sound barrier with the aircraft company he owns. He has already lost his son in the pursuit, and his daughter, Susan (Ann Todd), resents her father even more when he chooses her husband, World War II pilot Tony Garthwaite (Nigel Patrick), to be one of the test pilots. Yet Ridgefield stands resolute in the name of scientific progress.
Director
David Lean
Producer
David Lean
Screenwriter
Terence Rattigan
Distributor
Lopert Pictures Corp.
Production Co
London Film Production, British Lion Film Corporation
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 21, 1952, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 27, 2008
Runtime
1h 55m