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Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Play trailer Poster for Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines G 1965 2h 12m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In 1910, newspaper mogul Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) decides to offer a large cash sum to the first pilot to successfully fly over the English Channel. Aviation experts from near and far enter the race, including the underhanded Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry-Thomas), wild American flyer Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman) and British ace Richard Mays (James Fox). Orvil and Richard come out as the front-runners, but both men are distracted by Rawnsley's lovely daughter, Patricia (Sarah Miles).
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Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Critics Reviews

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/27/2020
6/10
Good-natured and routinely humorous, though noticeably overlong (complete with intermission). Go to Full Review
Joan Didion Vogue 03/02/2020
While this sounds trying, it is not, so light and pretty and stylish is the picture, everything swimming in the green grass of England and the sweet lambent air of a 1910 that never was. Go to Full Review
Charles Cassady Common Sense Media 12/15/2010
5/5
Top gun of slapstick early-aviation comedies. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/19/2005
3/5
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 05/31/2005
4/5
Funny, zany and full of magnificent vintage airplanes; Red Skelton open and close is great. Go to Full Review
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 05/16/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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N L 10/30/2023 this movie is a serious laff and a half See more isla s 09/02/2022 This film features numerous quirky characters, plenty of visual, slapstick, madcap style comedy. After you watch this, you may find yourself humming either the theme tune, or 'frere jacques', the tune to which is played multiple times. I liked the arguments had between the rather pompous English/Brits and the American contestants and, of course, there's a romantic angle with one of the female characters and a somewhat rough and ready, almost cowboy type American. It was amusing enough to hear an English competitor utter 'you....dirty rotter!'. It has quite a jolly feel, with the instrumental pieces played while we watch various competitors trying to come in first place. Its not at all a rude or offensive film, which is nice - it dates from the mid 1960s I believe and its set in 1910, for reference. I would recommend this film for anyone keen on a period comedy drama thats suitable for family viewing. See more @Arthur135 08/15/2020 I guess the subject is timeless but the film itsself has stood time quite well -- for me Gert Frobe was the star as the ultimate stiff german officer See more steve d 07/18/2020 it seems to barley have a script. See more 10/22/2019 If your into those corny 60s comedies, then you should give this movie a try. See more 03/26/2015 Bloated inferior version of The Great Race which could have done with some muscular editing. Redeeming feature is Terry Thomas's performance otherwise nothing special. Drat and double drat! See more Read all reviews
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1910, newspaper mogul Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) decides to offer a large cash sum to the first pilot to successfully fly over the English Channel. Aviation experts from near and far enter the race, including the underhanded Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry-Thomas), wild American flyer Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman) and British ace Richard Mays (James Fox). Orvil and Richard come out as the front-runners, but both men are distracted by Rawnsley's lovely daughter, Patricia (Sarah Miles).
Director
Ken Annakin
Producer
Stan Margulies
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Rating
G
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 16, 1965, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
2h 12m
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