High Flight (film)

High Flight is a CinemaScope 1957 British cold war drama film in Technicolor, directed by John Gilling and featuring Ray Milland, Bernard Lee and Leslie Phillips. High Flight was filmed with the cooperation of the Royal Air Force RAF. The title of the film was derived from the poem of the same name by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American aviator who flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF and lost his life in 1941 over RAF Cranwell, where much of the film was shot. N

During the Second World War, Winchesters father had been Rudges commanding officer and lost his life protecting Rudge who had disobeyed orders. Winchester is a difficult individual who harbours animosity towards Rudge over his fathers wartime death. Another member of the aspiring pilots is the scientific minded Roger Endicott Anthony Newley who is also determined to create a working flying saucer. Endicotts flying radio controlled model develops difficulties as it literally crashes a Bishops Ian Fleming tea party.Winchester doesnt learn the meaning of teamwork, and nearly loses his life when he disobeys orders, flying into a storm. Rudge demands his resignation but reconsiders, remembering his own rash behaviour had been the cause of the death of Winchesters father. Rudge ultimately selects Winchester to fly in a precision aerial team training for the Farnborough Airshow. When the squadron is temporarily posted to a forward base in West Germany, Winchester flies close to hostile territory near the East German border, and is nearly shot down by antiaircraft guns firing across the border. The wounded airman and his stricken aircraft are rescued by Rudge, who brings him back safely to a crash landing at his home base. Finally, Winchester is able to understand his true role in the RAF, and know that he is part of a team effort. ........

Source: Wikipedia