WarDrama

One of Our Aircraft Is Missing

- 1942's first blast of screen dynamite

On its way back from a raid on the city of Stuttgart, Germany, a British bomber is shot down over Nazi-held Holland. Parachuting into Dutch farmlands under cover of darkness, the six-member crew connects with members of the local resistance, who shelter the Brits from their Nazi inquisitors as they make their way towards freedom.

Release Date : 1942-04-24

Language :DutchEnglishFrenchGermanLatin

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : British National FilmsThe ArchersJ. Arthur Rank Organisation

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sir George Corbett, Rear Gunner in B for Bertie

Original Name : Godfrey Tearle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tom Earnshaw, Copilot in B for Bertie

Original Name : Eric Portman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Shelley, Observer / Navigator in B for Bertie

Original Name : Hugh Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Geoff Hickman, Front Gunner in B for Bertie

Original Name : Bernard Miles

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Glyn Haggard, Pilot in B for Bertie

Original Name : Hugh Burden

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Priest

Original Name : Peter Ustinov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jo de Vries

Original Name : Googie Withers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Els Meertens

Original Name : Pamela Brown

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jet van Dieren

Original Name : Joyce Redman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sgt. Hopkins

Original Name : Robert Beatty

Gender : Male

Character Name : De Jong

Original Name : Robert Helpmann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bob Ashley, Radio Operator in B for Bertie

Original Name : Emrys Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Burgomaster

Original Name : Hay Petrie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Burgomeister's Wife

Original Name : Selma Vaz Dias

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pieter Sluys

Original Name : Arnold Marlé

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Organist

Original Name : Alec Clunes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Driver

Original Name : Hector Abbas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louis

Original Name : James B. Carson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Willem

Original Name : Willem Akkerman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maartje

Original Name : Joan Akkerman

Gender : Male

Character Name : German Sentry

Original Name : John Salew

Gender : Male

Character Name : 1st German Airman

Original Name : David Ward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Naval Officer

Original Name : Roland Culver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Despatching Officer

Original Name : Michael Powell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cmndr. Reynold

Original Name : Stewart Rome

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : James Donald

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Gordon Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ground Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : John Longden

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-19

Messrs. Powell & Pressburger have assembled a really good cast here for this tale of a WWII bomber crew whose plane comes down in the Netherlands after a raid. Five out of the six land together, where they encounter some young Dutch children who lead them to their local school mistress. Initially suspicious of their new guests, the Dutch civilians soon determine to repatriate them - and to help find their missing colleague; despite the dangers from the ever present Nazis. There isn't really a standout performance here, it is - as would have been true at the time - a team effort with each performing to their strengths and succumbing to their weaknesses as their escape plans take more shape, putting everyone at risk. The emphasis here is more on the attitudes and courage of the Hollanders. They are proactive in getting these pilots home, they take risks and the direction of this film draws us into these dangers. Pamela Brown is super as the clever and devious "Els Meertens" who manages, deftly, to play a very dangerous game with the German soldiers as tries to get them, as she had before and will do again, to safety. There are a few lovely contributing performances from a very young Peter Ustinov as a rather stoic priest, Googie Withers and an entertaining Hay Petrie as the Burgomaster. It was made in the middle of the Second World war, so if course it has a certain propagandist element to it. That isn't too blatant, though. There is some humour, a genuine sense of camaraderie and by the conclusion, you cannot fail to think that God must be on the side of the British.