The conflict of this classic British drama directed by David Lean focuses on father and daughter Sir Ralph Richardson and Ann Todd, dealing with the tragedies that occur due to his negligence in creating safe, speedy air travel. He doesn't want to get from London to New York in three hours. He wants it in two, and as a result, his son and son-in-law (her brother and husband) are killed. The relationship between them is gravely destroyed by his obsession, and all he can think of is where she intends to enroll his grandson in school when she goes away.
Intense flying sequences build from seemingly successful to dramatically tragic, and Todd tries desperately to get through to her father. The big scene where she confronts Richardson has the audience witnessing his collapse, and the repercussions on his psyche are subtly presented. A great cast of British actors included Nigel Patrick, Denholm Elliott, John Justin and Dinah Sheridan along with Lean's direction and an intelligent screenplay helps surpass an often slow pacing. My rating is based more on my viewing from a modern perspective, but it's easy to see why this was considered one of the best films of 1952.
Intense flying sequences build from seemingly successful to dramatically tragic, and Todd tries desperately to get through to her father. The big scene where she confronts Richardson has the audience witnessing his collapse, and the repercussions on his psyche are subtly presented. A great cast of British actors included Nigel Patrick, Denholm Elliott, John Justin and Dinah Sheridan along with Lean's direction and an intelligent screenplay helps surpass an often slow pacing. My rating is based more on my viewing from a modern perspective, but it's easy to see why this was considered one of the best films of 1952.