One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1941)

64% of users liked it
(334 ratings)

This subtle, unadorned British war drama was the second collaboration between "The Archers," Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Six British bomber crewmen are obliged to bail out over Holland. To escape detection from the Nazis, the crewmen accept the hospitality of several Hollanders, all… More This subtle, unadorned British war drama was the second collaboration between "The Archers," Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Six British bomber crewmen are obliged to bail out over Holland. To escape detection from the Nazis, the crewmen accept the hospitality of several Hollanders, all dedicated to the freedom-fighting activities of the Underground. The film is constructed along the lines of the earlier Powell-Pressburger film The Invaders, except that the escapees are British rather than German and their Dutch contacts are willing rather than reluctant co-conspirators. The six male stars are Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams, Bernard Miles, Hugh Burden, and Emrys Jones; among those who aid them in their flight to freedom are Googie Withers, Joyce Redman, and Peter Ustinov. The austere photography by Ronald Neame is complemented by the to-the-point editing of future director David Lean. Adding to the verisimilitude of One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is the utter absence of a musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Michael Powell
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 27, 1942 Wide

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Reconciliatory spirit trumps jingoistic trumpet-blowing
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Impressive wartime propaganda film from the team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Might be the best WWII film made during the war. A tribute to the Dutch resistance as well as the RAF.
Emily B

A great Powell and Pressburger film, overshadowed by 'The Red Shoes', 'A Matter Of Life and Death' etc, but should not be missed. The film was intended as a propaganda piece and has a documentary like feel. Also, two names to look out for. Peter Ustinov in… More
A great Powell and Pressburger film, overshadowed by 'The Red Shoes', 'A Matter Of Life and Death' etc, but should not be missed. The film was intended as a propaganda piece and has a documentary like feel. Also, two names to look out for. Peter Ustinov in his first film role as the Priest, plus David Lean, who was editor.

Cast

            Godfrey Tearle as Sir George Corbett

            Eric Portman as Tom Earnshaw

            Hugh Williams as Frank Shelley

            Bernard Miles as Geoff Hickman

            Pamela Brown as Else Meertens

            Hugh Burden as John Glyn Haggard

            Hay Petrie as Burgomeister

            Emrys Jones as Bob Ashley

            Roland Culver as Naval Officer

            David Ward as First German Airman

            Googie Withers as Jo de Vries

            David Evans as Len Martin

            Hector Abbas as Driver

            Joan Akkerman as Maartje

            Willem Akkerman as Willem

            Robert Beatty as Sgt. Hopkins

            James B. Carson as Louis

            Alec Clunes as Organist

            William D'Arcy as Officer

            Selma Vaz Dias as Burgomeister's Wife

            Robert Duncan as 2nd Airman

            Robert Helpmann as De Jong

            John Longden
            
            Arnold Marlé as Pieter Sluys

            Valerie Moon as Jannie

            Joyce Redman as Jet van Dieren

            Stewart Rome as Commander

            John Salew as Sentry

            Peter Schenke as Hendrik

            Michael Powell as Dispatching Officer

            Peter Ustinov as Priest
See full cast