Clouds Over Europe

Original title: Q Planes

1939
Approved
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson in Clouds Over Europe (1939)

A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.A quirky British Secret Service Agent named Major Hammond tries to discover who is using a secret weapon to steal experimental planes.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos14

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Patrick Macnee readily confessed that his famous portrayal of John Steed in The Avengers (1961) was, in many respects, based upon Sir Ralph Richardson's performance as the louche hat-wearing, umbrella-wielding Major Charles Hammond in this film.

Goofs
When Tony mans the machine gun, he sprays the enemy crew with gunfire. Some of the crew are right in front of the plane, and it should be riddled with bullet holes, but none can be seen.

Quotes
Mr. Barrett: All right! All right! Will you as a personal favour take that plane up?
Tony McVane: Well of course I will, you parboiled, pudding-minded, myopic deadhead!

Connections
Referenced in The Avengers (1961)

Soundtracks
Titles
(uncredited)
from Murder on Diamond Row (1937)
Music by Miklós Rózsa

User reviews27

Review

Featured review

Classic British wartime romp

When newly developed planes being disappearing during testing with no trace a police Inspector and a test pilot begin to look into the possibility of espionage within the company.

Wartime dramas are very much of a standard affair feel good affairs where we beat the Germans. This is very much one of those the story is very flimsy and unlikely but it manages to have plenty to commend it. The story is carry by the comedy and the characters that make you overlook the sheer unlikely way in which the planes vanish. The story progresses to the inevitable shootout between the Brits and the Germans but on the way there's plenty to enjoy.

The film is mainly saved by a wonderful performance by Ralph Richardson as the inspector he is funny from the first scene and his character is wonderfully charming and forgetful. Olivier is also good, but it's not his best! The supporting cast of sassy women and foolish businessmen also add to the mix to make for an enjoyable romp.

Overall this isn't a classic but the comedy and a superb Richardson makes this better than the sum of it's parts.