BROKEN JOURNEY
UK, 1948, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Phyllis Calvert, Margot Grahame, James Donald, Francis L.Sullivan, Raymond Huntley, David Tomlinson, Derek Bond, Guy Rolfe, Sonia Holm.
Directed by Ken Annakin.
There had been some flight disaster films from the US, even before World War II, such as Five Came Back. This is a British production after World War II with a strong cast of British character actors led by Phyllis Calvert. The film is directed by Ken Annakin who had directed his first film, Holiday Camp, in 1947 and who was to continue in the British industry with Disney films, Robin Hood, The Sword and The Rose, later The Swiss Family Robinson.
The plot is basic, a focus on a strong pilot and his assistant, the sympathetic flight attendant getting over the death of her fiance in the war, a temperamental film star and her companion, a wastrel brother and his older brother, a boxer and his manager continually sparring, an opera singer careful about his voice, a man who had been in prisoner of war camp during the war, and a man in an iron lung and his carer.
The film has some alpine scenery, has a crash landing, sequences of the survival over several days, attempts to make contact, search parties, final rescue.
1. Early British disaster movie? In the retrospect of later disaster movies and blockbusters?
2. Postwar Britain, memories of the war, the development of flight?
3. The title, the plane trip in Europe, the variety of characters, pilots and crew? The musical score?
4. The European setting, the Alpine photography inserted? The beginning of the journey, Fox and Bill and their working together? Fox in charge? Mary as flight attendant? The variety of passengers, entering, the list? Seating, information about them?
5. The difficulties with the engine, Bill and the radio connection? Fox and his decisions, trying to go higher, crash landing on the ice? Mary reassuring the passengers?
6. The man in the iron lung, travelling, experts, Anne as his assistant, nurse, in love? His criticisms, prickly responses? His declaring his love for Anne? His decision to give his life, telling Fox to take the batteries for radio connection?
7. The man coming out of prison camps, experience of the war, his taking the food, is going out to help with the rescue, his injuries, death? His mother and sister waiting for him at the airport, the sadness?
8. The film star, her haughty attitudes, tantrums, make-up kit, gradual change, her companion and his giving up on her, her interest in Jimmy? Landing, the press, saving a life, Jimmy’s fiancee?
9. Jimmy, always in trouble, his older brother, rather staid, always rescuing his brother? His going out with the group, his injuries?
10. The boxer, the antagonism with his coach? Verbal criticisms? The memories of particular bouts? The contribution to searching for help?
11. The opera singer, large, pompous, his records being broken, his verbal attacks, his playing the records over and over? Eating? Eventually going on the search? Using his voice to raise the signal? The rescuers saying they had seen them – and his regrets over using his voice? Possibly lost?
12. The group going out searching, injuries, Bill and his continuing, his later being found?
13. Fox and the group going out, even with the opera singer? The French pilot and his crash landing, leading the rescue, the town?
14. Radio contact? The rescue with the supplies parachuted?
15. A story of survival – with touches of heroism?
