No Highway in the Sky (1951)

66% of users liked it
(524 ratings)

Henry Koster directs the 1951 aviation drama No Highway in the Sky, based on the novel by Nevil Shute. James Stewart stars as Theodore Honey, a widower and single parent to 11-year-old Elspeth (Janette Scott). He's also an absent-minded engineer who has formed a scientific theory about metal fatigue… More Henry Koster directs the 1951 aviation drama No Highway in the Sky, based on the novel by Nevil Shute. James Stewart stars as Theodore Honey, a widower and single parent to 11-year-old Elspeth (Janette Scott). He's also an absent-minded engineer who has formed a scientific theory about metal fatigue in a specific model of aircraft. He tries to convince British Airways that their airplanes will come apart after a certain amount of miles, but no one believes him. Then administrator Dennis Scott (Jack Hawkins) sends him on a flying mission to investigate a crash site in Newfoundland. Along the way, he meets stewardess Marjorie Corder (Glynnis Johns) and movie star Monica Teasdale (Marlene Dietrich). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Henry Koster
Written By: R.C. Sherriff, Oscar Millard, Alec Coppel
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 28, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Aug 2, 1995
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
American military war hero pilot James Stewart plays the eccentric Yank scientist working for a British airline, and gives one of his better and more pleasing performances as someone kindhearted but a bit daffy.
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
No Highway in the Sky is notable for its depiction of airline travel and disaster-film dynamics, each then in emerging stages. Unfortunately, it's not very skilled at either one.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Despite what my old man will tell you, No Highway in the Sky is not a great movie. It's got a great cast and the story had some potential to be a real potboiler but it just kind of turns into Jimmy Stewart trying to do something different and doing a pretty good job at it.… More
Despite what my old man will tell you, No Highway in the Sky is not a great movie. It's got a great cast and the story had some potential to be a real potboiler but it just kind of turns into Jimmy Stewart trying to do something different and doing a pretty good job at it. Marlene Dietrich plays herself and at times I felt like I was watching Harvey without a lot of the humor and the invisible rabbit. When I got done watching No Highway in the Sky I started wondering why Jimmy Stewart wasn't better known for this movie. The more I think about it, the less I wonder...
jay n

The cast is MUCH better then the story deserves.

Cast

            James Stewart as Theodore Honey

            Marlene Dietrich as Monica Teasdale

            Glynis Johns as Marjorie Corder

            Jack Hawkins as Dennis Scott

            Ronald Squire as Sir John the Director

            Janette Scott as Elspeth Honey

            Kenneth More as Dobson

            David Hutcheson as Penworthy

            Ben Ames Williams as Guard

            Maurice Denham as Maj. Pearl

            Basil Appleby as 2nd Engineer

            Michael Kingsley as Navigator

            Peter Murray as Radio Operator

            Elizabeth Allan as Shirley Scott

            Dora Bryan as Rosie

            Felix Aylmer as Sir Philip

            Jill Clifford as Peggy

            Hugh Cross as Director's Secretary

            Tom Gill as RAF Pilot

            Wilfrid Hyde-White as Fisher

            Bessie Love
            
            Niall MacGinnis as Capt. Samuelson

            Hector MacGregor as 1st Engineer

            Marcel Poncin as Scientist

            Philip Ray as Burroughs

            Roy Russell as Butler

            John Salew as Symes

            Cyril Smith as Airport Officer

            Karel Stepanek as Mannheim

            Wilfred Walter as Tracy

            Michael McCarthy as Bus Conductor

            Hugh Wakefield as Sir David Moon

            Douglas Bradley-Smith as Staff of Directors at Farnborough

            Maxwell Foster
            
            Gerald Kent
            
            Stuart Nichol
            
            Philip Vickers as Control Officer
See full cast