Out of the Clouds
Encyclopedia
Out of the Clouds is a 1955 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden
, and starring Anthony Steel, Sid James
and James Robertson Justice
. An Ealing Studios
film, it follows the lives of the passengers and crew on a day at an airport that was filmed in Heathrow Airport.
and 31 July 1957, in the USA. The film is loosely based on the novel The Springboard by Jean Fores and was adapted by Rex Reinits. The screenplay
was written by Michael Relph
and John Eldridge
. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
co-operated with the film. Technical assistance was provided by BOAC
, British European Airways
, and Pan-American World Airways. The shooting started in early June 1954. There was a temporary production office at Heathrow Airport. The film used one of Ealing Studios
' largest ever sets to create the interior of the terminal building. The authors of The Cinema of Basil Dearden and Michael Relph said that the background and setting are more interesting than the characters. Bernadette Ibbetson was the hair stylist for the film and Richard Addinsell
composed the music. The author Charles Barr described the film as an acquired value as a period piece
. The film is the last disc in Ealing Classics 2009, volume 1.
Basil Dearden
Basil Dearden was an English film director.-Life and career:Dearden was born at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. He graduated from theatre direction to film, working as an assistant to Basil Dean...
, and starring Anthony Steel, Sid James
Sid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
and James Robertson Justice
James Robertson Justice
James Robertson Justice was a popular British character actor in British films of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
. An Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
film, it follows the lives of the passengers and crew on a day at an airport that was filmed in Heathrow Airport.
Description
The film was released on 15 February 1955, in the UK, 2 May 1955, in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and 31 July 1957, in the USA. The film is loosely based on the novel The Springboard by Jean Fores and was adapted by Rex Reinits. The screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
was written by Michael Relph
Michael Relph
Michael Relph was a British art director and producer. He was the son of actor George Relph....
and John Eldridge
John Eldridge
John Eldridge , Australian politician, was the Member for the Division of Martin in the Australian House of Representatives from 12 October 1929 to 19 December 1931....
. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
co-operated with the film. Technical assistance was provided by BOAC
Boac
Boac may refer to:* Boac, Marinduque, a municipality in the Southern Philippines* Boac , an American rapper* British Overseas Airways Corporation, a former British state-owned airline...
, British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
, and Pan-American World Airways. The shooting started in early June 1954. There was a temporary production office at Heathrow Airport. The film used one of Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
' largest ever sets to create the interior of the terminal building. The authors of The Cinema of Basil Dearden and Michael Relph said that the background and setting are more interesting than the characters. Bernadette Ibbetson was the hair stylist for the film and Richard Addinsell
Richard Addinsell
Richard Stewart Addinsell was a British composer, best known for film music, primarily his Warsaw Concerto, composed for the 1941 film Dangerous Moonlight .-Life:...
composed the music. The author Charles Barr described the film as an acquired value as a period piece
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
. The film is the last disc in Ealing Classics 2009, volume 1.
Plot summary
The film is composed of small stories that are woven together. Gus is a gambler who resorts to smuggling. Nick is a chief officer who wants to get back in the sky and is in a love triangle with Gus and the stewardess Penny. Bill and German Leah cross paths on opposite journeys and fall in love.Cast
- Anthony Steel - Gus Randall
- Robert BeattyRobert BeattyRobert Beatty was a Canadian actor who worked in film, television and radio for most of his career and was especially known in the UK.-Career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Beatty began his acting career in Britain in 1939....
- Nick Millbourne - David Knight - Bill Steiner
- Margo Lorenz - Leah Rosch
- James Robertson JusticeJames Robertson JusticeJames Robertson Justice was a popular British character actor in British films of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
- Captain Brent - Eunice GaysonEunice GaysonEunice Gayson is a British actress best known for playing Sylvia Trench, James Bond's girlfriend in the first two Bond films...
- Penny Henson - Isabel DeanIsabel DeanIsabel Dean was an English film and television actress.Born as Isabel Hodgkinson on 29 May 1918 in Aldridge, Staffordshire. She studied painting at the Birmingham Art School and from 1937 joined the Cheltenham Repertory Company as a scenic artist...
- Mrs Malcolm - Gordon HarkerGordon HarkerGordon Harker was an English film actor. He appeared in 68 films between 1921 and 1959, including three films directed by Alfred Hitchcock and a cameo appearance in Elstree Calling , a revue film co-directed by Hitchcock...
- Taxi driver - Bernard LeeBernard LeeJohn Bernard Lee was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films.-Life and career:...
- Customs Officer - Michael HowardMichael Howard (actor)Michael Howard is an American actor, director, and master teacher, and founder of Michael Howard Studios in New York City.-Early life:...
- Purvis - Marie LohrMarie LohrMarie Lohr was an Australian film and stage actress.-Biography:Marie Löhr was born in Sydney to Lewis J. Löhr, treasurer of the Melbourne opera house, and his wife, the English actress Kate Bishop...
- Wealthy lady - Esma CannonEsma CannonEsma Ellen Charlotte Cannon was a diminutive Australian-born character actress, who moved to England in the early 1930s.-Career:...
- Lady's Companion - Abraham SofaerAbraham SofaerAbraham Sofaer was a stage actor of Burmese-Jewish descent who became a familiar supporting player on film and television in his later years. He was born in Rangoon, Burma...
- Indian man - Melissa StriblingMelissa StriblingMelissa Stribling was a Scottish film and television actress.- Career :Born in Gourock, Scotland, her career began with the film Wide Boy , Stribling is known for playing the role of Mina in the horror film Dracula starring Christopher Lee in the title role...
- Jean Osmond - Sid JamesSid JamesSid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
- Gambler - Barbara Leake - The gambler's Wife
- Megs JenkinsMegs JenkinsMuguette Mary "Megs" Jenkins was an English character actress who appeared in British films and television programmes.-Life and career:...
- The Landlady - Harold KasketHarold KasketHarold Kasket, was a British actor in films and later TV from the 1940s. Kasket usually played Arabs or mainland European types in many films and TV programmes such as Maigret, The Saint, Danger Man, Z-Cars, Department S and The Tomorrow People. His last role was in the TV mini series War and...
- Hafadi - Jack LambertJack Lambert (British actor)Jack Lambert was a British film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* Red Ensign * The Ghost Goes West * Premiere * Nine Men * Floodtide * The Lost Hours...
- Chief Engineer - Cyril LuckhamCyril LuckhamCyril Luckham was a British film, television and theatre actor.Luckham played the White Guardian in the long running science fiction television series Doctor Who. He appeared in The Ribos Operation, the first serial in The Key to Time season, and Enlightenment...
- The Doctor - Nicholas PhippsNicholas PhippsNicholas Phipps was a British actor and screenwriter who appeared in more than thirty films during a career that lasted between 1938 and 1970. He was born in London in 1913. He made his screen debut in the 1938 television film Hands Across the Sea. He appeared mainly in British comedy films, often...
- Hilton-Davidson - Terence AlexanderTerence AlexanderTerence Joseph Alexander was an English film and television actor, best known for his role as Charlie Hungerford in the British TV drama Bergerac.-Early life and career:...
- Duty Room Radio Operator - Charles Farrell - Perce
- Lloyd LambleLloyd LambleLloyd Nelson Lamble was an Australian actor who worked in theatre, television, radio and film. He lived and worked two-thirds of his life in the United Kingdom .- Personal life :...
- Ben Saunders