Review for Q Planes

The release of ‘Q-Planes’ will undoubtedly bring a smile to the face of many a British film-fan, though not necessarily because it’s a great film. Let’s be clear – it isn’t. But it’s a fast-moving, enjoyable boys-own pre-war yarn notable for an early on-screen performance by Laurence Olivier. Despite the comic-book plot and clunky dialogue, he still manages to turn in a smoldering performance that is a cut above the rest – a solid indication of the boy's talents.

It was actually directed by Hollywood veteran Tim Whelan (The Thief of Bagdad) and featured art direction from none other than Vincent Korda who had worked with Whelan on ‘Thief’ as well as, more famously, on ‘Things to Come’ and ‘The Third Man’, though there is little evidence of that considerable flair here other than a few by rote examples of giant ray guns.


Laurence Olivier plays a moody but brilliant test pilot (Tony McVane) who is engaged in highly secretive test missions. Valerie Hobson and Ralph Richardson ably support this fast moving spy thriller where test planes are just disappearing out of the sky, firstly in the US, then near France, another near Russia and he fourth from right under their noses in the English Channel.


Unable to figure out what’s going on, Mr. Barratt (head of development at plane manufacturer Barrat and Ward) eventually concedes to allowing Scotland Yard to investigate. Enter Major Charles Hammond (Richardson) along with his newspaper hack sister, Kay Lawrence (Hobson).



To begin with Kay goes undercover behind the bar at the plant and soon attracts the attention of moody McVane. But things go a bit sour when he discovers that she is actually a reporter. But we all know that the hostility won’t last.



Despite knowing that something is wrong (Mcvane spent hours scouring the Channel for his missing colleagues), it’s not long till McVane is air-bound, putting himself deliberately in harm’s way to discover the truth. It transpires that a giant ray is used to jam the planes controls, leaving them with no alternative but to land on a large ship disguised as a Merchant vessel.


Without spoiling he predictable ending, there is time for an exciting shoot out on deck and. Well, you’ll have to watch to find out whether the unknown power is thwarted in their attempts to steal military secrets or not.


Rumours abound that the production was something of an elaborate tax dodge for Korda, gaining funding from various sources and the whole production stalling again and again, causing delays to its eventual release. Apparently much of the dialogue was adlibbed in the absence of clearly penned lines, though despite this, it remains a tightly directed and fast moving B-movie.


Some have suggested that Richardson’s character was a prototype for Steed in ‘The Avengers’ and it’s not a ridiculous leap to see the similarity.


Image quality if superb for such an old release (well done Network – another example of excellent mastering) and extras include a very nice production pamphlet (which originally cost 1d) with some nice background and plenty of dreamy photos of the cast.



Well worth picking up for historic interest though not one of the world’s greatest movies.