Q Planes
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A secret British aviation project is being disrupted by a foreign power, until an effete but supremely confident military-intelligence agent, Charles Hammond (Ralph Richardson), is assigned the case.
What follows is a tense espionage thriller that refuses to take itself seriously.
Yet strangely, this odd mixture of screwball comedy and political-thriller works and everyone involved with this brisk comedy/thriller seems to be enjoying themselves immensely.
What follows is a tense espionage thriller that refuses to take itself seriously.
Yet strangely, this odd mixture of screwball comedy and political-thriller works and everyone involved with this brisk comedy/thriller seems to be enjoying themselves immensely.
- Contact Information
- www.k-otic.com
- Addeddate
- 2009-11-03 11:47:27
- Color
- black & white
- Director
- Tim Whelan, Arthur B. Woods
- Identifier
- Q-Planes
- Run time
- 78 min.
- Sound
- sound
- Year
- 1939
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Reviews
Reviewer:
Son of Rusty Shackleford
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 23, 2021
Subject: A terrific film, despite Larry Olivier!
Subject: A terrific film, despite Larry Olivier!
I always enjoy watching this film now and then to delight in (Sir) Ralph Richardson's performance and his wordplay with the gorgeous Valerie Hobson and his gentleman's gentleman. I've been told this film was a template for The Avengers TV series two decades later and can well believe it. It's too bad (Sir) Laurence Olivier is the "star" of this film, as his arrogant snarling hurts the first third of the movie, especially in his scenes with Hobson, and the "action" sequence in the last 15 minutes of this film starring Larry and a machine gun overpowering a ship with enough bad guys to man the Bismarck runs much too long. It's too bad Korda couldn't have gotten Robert Donat, Michael Redgrave or George Sanders to fill the role of the pilot. I'd give this film five stars if Olivier's role had been re-cast, and heartily recommend owning it.
Reviewer:
twootters
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favoritefavorite -
January 6, 2020
Subject: Q Planes
Subject: Q Planes
I’m not sure why this film is described as “screwball comedy” because there’s literally nothing comedic about it. Perhaps it’s because it’s a very naive film, the actors behaving and delivering their lines as if they were playing light-hearted children—but definitely not a comedy.
Like many movies it was interesting until the halfway mark, and then began to drag; while at the same time there was a massive amount of arguing and shouting, so loud that I had to turn the volume down quite a bit.
Also, I at first thought the soundtrack was off, until I realized that the actors were just speaking faster then the speed of sound! So fast in fact that I decided it was just a waist of time trying to keep up with the arguing and shouting at breakneck speed, with their strong British accents on top of it, so I stopped watching at the halfway point. I can’t help but wonder if they had to crunch a two hour film into an hour, so instead of cutting some scenes the director told them to just talk and move as fast as they could!
I think it could’ve been a very good film if they had slowed down and lengthened it by another half hour, if they hadn’t shouted so loudly, and if they had tried speaking more clearly. Definitely not a comedy though.
Like many movies it was interesting until the halfway mark, and then began to drag; while at the same time there was a massive amount of arguing and shouting, so loud that I had to turn the volume down quite a bit.
Also, I at first thought the soundtrack was off, until I realized that the actors were just speaking faster then the speed of sound! So fast in fact that I decided it was just a waist of time trying to keep up with the arguing and shouting at breakneck speed, with their strong British accents on top of it, so I stopped watching at the halfway point. I can’t help but wonder if they had to crunch a two hour film into an hour, so instead of cutting some scenes the director told them to just talk and move as fast as they could!
I think it could’ve been a very good film if they had slowed down and lengthened it by another half hour, if they hadn’t shouted so loudly, and if they had tried speaking more clearly. Definitely not a comedy though.
Reviewer:
cebess
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 27, 2016
Subject: worth the download
Subject: worth the download
Good spy story with humor element. Well done
Reviewer:
sylpolo
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 22, 2011
Subject: Great fun!
Subject: Great fun!
What a great, fun movie. Have fun watching, I certainly did.
Reviewer:
Kodachrome
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 12, 2011
Subject: I thought the movie was too modest.
Subject: I thought the movie was too modest.
No nudity, no vile language, no blood.
Despite this, I found the play to be delightfully light and entertaining.
Despite this, I found the play to be delightfully light and entertaining.
Reviewer:
DailySteve
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 10, 2011
Subject: Richardson and Olivier together
Subject: Richardson and Olivier together
Great movie, Olivier and Richardson are two of Britain's greatest. British stiff-upper-lip and comedy go together so well.
As for the reviewer who complained of immodesty, I don't think the Amish would find it too immodest. If the level of passion in this movie is too much for you I suggest you don't watch movies at all - for your own good, of course.
As for the reviewer who complained of immodesty, I don't think the Amish would find it too immodest. If the level of passion in this movie is too much for you I suggest you don't watch movies at all - for your own good, of course.
Reviewer:
James Y.
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favorite -
July 13, 2011
Subject: Q-Planes Review
Subject: Q-Planes Review
Can't recommend it, it has some immodesty.
Reviewer:
krishna kumar menon
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 3, 2011
Subject: Hilarious
Subject: Hilarious
Where has this rare gem been hiding for so long?
This stiff upper lip screwball comedy is par-excellence. Ralph Richardson is hilarious in his role of a bumbling idiotic yet intelligent detective. The plot of aircraft secrets from Britain being stolen by a foreign power(with a noticeable German accent so that the viewer has no doubts on the nationality) serves as a perfect vehicle to exploit the comedy script for great entertainment. Ralph Richardson's repeated excuses to his girlfriend(ex that is ) tickles the funny bone.
Valerie Hobson is great as the newspaper woman always looking for a scoop to fall out from her brothers mouth and Sir Olivier plays the typical British gentleman.
Great entertainment indeed and needs to be seen by more.
This stiff upper lip screwball comedy is par-excellence. Ralph Richardson is hilarious in his role of a bumbling idiotic yet intelligent detective. The plot of aircraft secrets from Britain being stolen by a foreign power(with a noticeable German accent so that the viewer has no doubts on the nationality) serves as a perfect vehicle to exploit the comedy script for great entertainment. Ralph Richardson's repeated excuses to his girlfriend(ex that is ) tickles the funny bone.
Valerie Hobson is great as the newspaper woman always looking for a scoop to fall out from her brothers mouth and Sir Olivier plays the typical British gentleman.
Great entertainment indeed and needs to be seen by more.
Reviewer:
bcourson
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 14, 2010
Subject: Q Planes
Subject: Q Planes
Great old movie, you can tell a lot of James Bond ideas came from this movie.
Reviewer:
Ed Jr
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 13, 2010
Subject: Oldies but goodies
Subject: Oldies but goodies
Once again, nothing beats the oldies.
Reviewer:
accalaurie49
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 19, 2010
Subject: Pre James Bond?
Subject: Pre James Bond?
Enjoyable espionage story, not too serious, well acted by leads and supporting actors, good dialogues. Some of the sci-fi-like toys and the way the planes use to disappear remind me of James Bond movies.
Reviewer:
Albert Schlef
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 26, 2010
Subject: Nice.
Subject: Nice.
Worth watching. It isn't superb, but good enough.
Reviewer:
billbarstad
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 7, 2009
Subject: Highly Recommended
Subject: Highly Recommended
Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier, and Valerie Hobson are great as the stars, and with a fine supporting cast provide a fun and engaging 79 minutes. It surprised me to find a British comedy of this kind came out the same year WWII started in Europe.
I downloaded the 700MB DivX file, which is really an AVI. The video is fine, but for a green tint in most of the movie. The audio is clean. Audio/Video sync varies slightly, but isn't that noticeable.
I downloaded the 700MB DivX file, which is really an AVI. The video is fine, but for a green tint in most of the movie. The audio is clean. Audio/Video sync varies slightly, but isn't that noticeable.
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