THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES OR HOW I FLEW FROM LONDON TO PARIS IN 25 HOURS 11 MINUTES.

UK, 1965, 138 minutes, Colour.
Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox, Alberto Sordi, Robert Morley, Gert Frobe, Jean- Pierre Cassel, Irina Demick, Eric Sykes, Red Skelton, Terry- Thomas, Benny Hill, Flora Robson.
Directed by Ken Annakin.

Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (kept ever-popular by the song which is played many decades later) was one of the most popular films of 1966. It began well with credit cartoon sketches by Ronald Searle (1066 And All That) and continued with wonderful sets, costumes and décor, and the flying machines themselves. Set at the beginning of the 20th century, it celebrated the invention of planes and the competitiveness that gripped people in the races across the Channel, which were to lead in the 20s and 30s to all kinds of flights and attempts to break records for London to Australia, London to the United States, around the world etc.

Stuart Whitman is the American hero along with Sarah Miles as the very British heroine. There is a mixture of nationalities for the various competitors and their backers – with Eric Sykes and Terry- Thomas adding the comic strip type of villainy.

There are many guest stars and the film is full of cheerfulness as well as adventure.

The film was written by Jack Davies who wrote a number of popular British comedies including The Fast Lady, Father Came Too, Doctor in Clover, Gambit. It was directed by Ken Annakin who had begun work in small-budget British films, moved to work for Walt Disney in Britain with The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy. He was to move to Hollywood to work for Disney with such films as The Swiss Family Robinson. During the 1960s he also made bigger-budget films like The Battle of the Bulge.

1. The popularity of this film over the years? The production values? The trip down memory lane? The fascination with planes? The basic plot of the race? Competitiveness and rivalry? Romance? The gallery of the cast? The comedy? How well did these elements combine to produce classic comedy entertainment?

2. The contribution of the colour photography? The recreation of the turn of the century in sets and decor? The special effects with the planes themselves and their variety, flight, accidents, stunt work? The contrast between England and France? The international touches? Italy, France, Japan, the United States? The visual compositions? Visual humour? The contribution of Ronald Searle's cartoons for the credits? The contribution of Red Skelton's humorous prologue? The musical score by Ron Goodwin and the theme song?

3. The basic plot conventions: stolid hero, American rival, vivacious leading lady with eccentric Robert Morley-like father? The establishing of the race? The nationality jibes? The poking fun at the British? The race itself - heroes and villains as well as incompetents? The atmosphere of competition? The momentum for the finale? The romantic ending? How well did the film use audience expectations to carry them along with the entertainment?

4. The echoes of pioneering and competitiveness of early aviation days? Orville and his American stunt work? Richard and the British reputation? Aviators from around the world? The pre-World War I world with glossy and happy international peace? Echoes of rivalry and war? Empire and the decline of Empire?

5. How well sketched were the characters - the reliance on stereotypes and enhancing them with charm and humour? Orville as the American hero ? drawly, poor, romantic in the eyes of the English heroine, his assistant? Establishing him in the American sequence? His behaviour during the flight? His gallantry in helping others? Winning Patricia? The comparison with Richard and the opening of the film, his suggestion of the race, courting of Patricia, formality? The English relying on him? Brisk British success?

6. Sarah Miles as lively and attractive heroine? Beautiful in her turn-of-the-century costumes? vigorous in her anticipation of women's liberation? Her involvement in the race? Attraction towards Richard? Love for Orville?

7. Robert Morley's typical poking fun at the English as Lord Rawnsleigh? The background of the British in establishing the race? the range of officials of various nationalities throughout the film with humour?

8. Terry Thomas as villain - snarling, devious? Sir Percy Ware Armitage? Eric Sykes as his evil assistant? The comic book evil? Their taking the plane across the Channel, their comeuppance with the tunnel?

9. The heroes of various nationalities: Count Emilio Ponticelli his injuries, success, wife and children? Pierre Dubois - dashing, introducing him with his crash on the island with the girl being painted and finding her throughout the film with various names? The Japanese Yamamoto and Japanese courtesy? The Germans and their heavy formality, the captain being poisoned? Gert Frobe as Colonel von Holstein and his using the book of instructions? Harry Popperwell and his inventions - flying backwards?

10. The gallery of supporting characters who gave life and humour to the film, for example the nuns in the convent? the elderly couple, the various officials?

11. The excitement of the race, the conventions of rivalry and dangers? The comic set pieces? The atmosphere of the finale?

12. The film's comment on human progress, vision as well as failures in Red Skelton's prologue?

13. A satisfying comedy? A film indicating the capacities of cinema for spectacular comedy?