Breaking the Sound Barrier (The Sound Barrier) (1952)
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80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(267 ratings)
Breaking the Sound Barrier juxtaposes the history of jet aviation with an intensely personal fictional story. Ralph Richardson plays a wealthy aircraft manufacturer, stubbornly determined to develop a jet that will travel faster than the speed of sound. Richardson's seemingly cavalier attitude… More Breaking the Sound Barrier juxtaposes the history of jet aviation with an intensely personal fictional story. Ralph Richardson plays a wealthy aircraft manufacturer, stubbornly determined to develop a jet that will travel faster than the speed of sound. Richardson's seemingly cavalier attitude toward the pilots who have died on behalf of his dream--including his own son (Denholm Elliott)--has turned his daughter (Ann Todd) against him. When the daughter's fighter-pilot husband (Nigel Patrick) agrees to test Richardson's jet, he too loses his life. The daughter walks out of her father's life and sets up residence with the wife (Dinah Sheridan) of another pilot (John Junkin). Richardson approaches this pilot as well with his challenge--and this time the "sound barrier" is successfully broken without anyone being killed. Reconciled to the fact that her father's apparent coldbloodedness was in the interest of scientific progress, the daughter and her newborn child are reconciled with Richardson. The first independent project of director David Lean, Breaking the Sound Barrier was a huge success, persuasively scripted by Terence Rattigan and beautifully photographed by aerial specialist Jack Hildyard. The film's original British title was simply The Sound Barrier, but the American distributor apparently didn't want filmgoers to think the movie was about the record industry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- David Lean
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jul 22, 1952 Wide
Critic Reviews
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David Denby, New Yorker
The aerodynamic issues in the movie may now be antiquated, but the excitement and beauty of early jet aviation are still irresistible.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
This must be said about this picture: it soars far above its clumsy tag and it comes pretty close to being the most exalting of contemporary films.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Unfortunately, Terence Rattigan's script, while solidly structured, never probes beyond the basic conceit that an obsession which works towards the glory of mankind in general may wreak havoc on private lives.
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Public excitement over jet travel helped make David Lean's 1952 British feature a big hit, though its science doesn't wash and its majestic aerial sequences are uneasily wedded to a starchy familial drama.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Technically, artistically and emotionally, this is a topflight British offering.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Ralph Richardson
as John Richfield
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Ann Todd
as Susan Garthwaite
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Nigel Patrick
as Tony Garthwaite
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John Justin
as Philip Peel
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Dinah Sheridan
as Jess Peel
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Joseph Tomelty
as Will Sparks
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Denholm Elliott
as Christopher Ridgefield
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Jack Allen
as Windy Williams
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Ralph Michael
as Fletcher
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Donald Harron
as ATA officer
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Vincent Holman
as Factor
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Jolyon Jackley
as Baby John
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Leslie Phillips
as Controller
- Douglas Muir
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Anthony Snell
as Peter Makepeace
