It’s not often I watch Movies for Men channel on Sky but the rain put an end to my efforts of any more painting work outside today. Loose Women wasn’t on today and surfing the channels – I found an excellent 50’s documentary about what RAE were doing about the Comet disasters. This was followed by a movie called Cone of … cant recall the end title and TV listings don’t cover M4M.
Anyhow, this movie was made in 1960 and I’ve never seen it before. The commentator claims it’s very loosely based on the life of the Comet – her words – not mine. I suspect what she was suggesting was a hint of the shenanigans that go on behind the scenes. The cast included Peter Cushing (semi bad guy) Micheal Craig (bad come good guy) – the bloke from James Bond who played ‘M’ and followed the rule book (and snuffed it as a result) – even Gordon Jackson (aka Hudson and the prat out of the Professionals) makes an appearance.
There were some very good atmospheric shots of Heathrow, Filton – I think and somewhere else in the UK – any ideas? The foreign shots – eg India were crap as they used models.
My main question is what the heck was the aircraft they used that kept crashing in India? – was it an Ashton?? – did this really have 6 engines – as implied in the film?
Over to you experts
By: Zebedee - 12th August 2008 at 18:09
“There is a particulary bad film, can’t remember the title and features that awful made up Rutland Raindeer aircraft.”
That will be the well known James Stewart version of Neville Shute’s “No Highway”… there’s a thread about the reindeer mock up here…
Anyway… apart from that my favourite has to be “The Net”…
Set in a fictious firm on the solent thats building a nuclear powered hypersonic delta winged flying boat it feature the usual duplicitous spys, anxious wives and square jawed heroes….
Oh and the plane, M7 looks like the illegitimate offspring of a Vulcan and the Saro Duchess…
Zeb
By: pagen01 - 12th August 2008 at 17:50
Thanks chaps
Are there any more films from the 50’s & 60’s that show our aviation heritage in passing? – ie almost incidental??
Regards
The Sound Barrier, 1951, directed by David Lean is to me the greatest aviation film ever made, even the aircraft get equal billing along side the actors in the opening credits.
Although there are technically unrealistic parts to the story, the flying and ground sequences with the VS.510, 535 (Swift), Vampire night fighter and Comet (look out for the brief Cunningham appearance and inter company wind up) are stunning and the hopes, dreams and ultimatley the dashes of the post-war British aircraft industry are very well portrayed.
My (and Miggers here) avatar is a scene from the film.
Makes me emotional every time I watch it – and that takes some doing!
There is a particulary bad film, can’t remember the title and features that awful made up Rutland Raindeer aircraft.
By: Newforest - 12th August 2008 at 16:20
Sounds like an interesting film. might have to see if I can get hold of a copy somehow.
Here it is. (from the looney:p).
By: mike currill - 12th August 2008 at 16:12
Sounds like an interesting film. might have to see if I can get hold of a copy somehow.
By: Robbie - 11th August 2008 at 21:03
CONE OF SILENCE
Thanks chaps
Are there any more films from the 50’s & 60’s that show our aviation heritage in passing? – ie almost incidental??
Regards
By: Portagee - 11th August 2008 at 20:49
Yep it would appear to be Cone of Silence
By: pagen01 - 11th August 2008 at 20:46
Cone Of Silence , the aircraft was one of six experimental Avro 706 Ashtons, a mark 3, WB493.
This is the same aircraft that had two Olympus fitted for trials work, hence becoming a six turbjet engined aircraft.
By: Atcham Tower - 11th August 2008 at 20:43
Cone of Silence perhaps?
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August 11, 2008 at 8:39 pm