Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)
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71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(5,721 ratings)
Ken Annakin's large-canvas comedy Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines is set in 1910. In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) offers 10,000 pounds to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. A huge number of hopefuls enter the… More Ken Annakin's large-canvas comedy Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines is set in 1910. In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) offers 10,000 pounds to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. A huge number of hopefuls enter the contest, including the scheming Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry-Thomas), who, with the help of his henchman Courtney (Eric Sykes), attempts to sabotage the other entries. There is also a love triangle featuring Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman) and Richard Mays (James Fox) competing for the heart of Patricia Rawnsley (Sarah Miles). ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ken Annakin
- Written By
- Ken Annakin, Jack Davies
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1965 Wide
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Though essentially a "first world problems" farce, Ken Annakin's period racing comedy is built with enough love to resist crashing.
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Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Top gun of slapstick early-aviation comedies.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Funny, zany and full of magnificent vintage airplanes; Red Skelton open and close is great.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Goofy "great race" fun.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...part slapstick, part spectacle, and part adventure, but most of all it's sweet, lighthearted fun.
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)
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Cast
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Stuart Whitman
as Orvil Newton
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Sarah Miles
as Patricia Rawnsley
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James Fox
as Richard Mays
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Alberto Sordi
as Count Emilio Ponticelli
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Robert Morley
as Lord Rawnsley
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Gert Fröbe
as Col. Manfred von Holstein
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Jean-Pierre Cassel
as Pierre Dubois
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Eric Sykes
as Courtney
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Terry-Thomas
as Sir Percival Ware-Armitage
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Irina Demick
as Betty, Brigitte, Francoise, Ingrid, Marl...
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Benny Hill
as Fire Chief Perkins
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Yûjirô Ishihara
as Yamamoto
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Flora Robson
as Mother Superior
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Karl Michael Vogler
as Capt. Rumpelstoss
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Sam Wanamaker
as George Gruber
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Red Skelton
as Neanderthal Man
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Eric Barker
as French Postman
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Fred Emney
as Colonel
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Gordon Jackson
as McDougal
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Davy Kaye
as Jean
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John Le Mesurier
as French Painter
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Jeremy Lloyd
as Lt. Parsons
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Zena Marshall
as Sophia Ponticelli
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Millicent Martin
as Airline Hostess
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Eric Pohlmann
as Italian Mayor
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Marjorie Rhodes
as Maid
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Norman Rossington
as Assistant Fire Chief
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William Rushton
as Tremayne Gascoyne
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Graham Stark
as Fireman
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Jimmy Thompson
as Photographer in the Old Mill Cafe
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Michael Trubshawe
as Niven
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Tony Hancock
as Harry Popperwell
- Gerald Campion
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Dame Cicely Courtneidge
as Muriel
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Maurice Denham
as Trawler Skipper
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James Robertson Justice
as Narrator
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Ferdinand "Ferdy" Mayne
as French Official
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Bill Nagy
as American Journalist
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Steve Plytas
as Continental Journalist
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Ronnie Stevens
as R.A.C. Officer