The Sound Barrier (1952)

John Justin: Philip

Quotes 

• Philip Peel : Will?

  Will Sparks : What?

  Philip Peel : Is it possible that at the speed of sound, the controls are reversed?

  Will Sparks : At the speed of sound, Philip, anything's possible. Why?

  Philip Peel : During the war once, I put a Spitfire into a flat-out dive. No particular reason, just youthful high spirits. I think now that I hit the sound barrier. I remember that the more I pulled on the stick, the harder the nose went down. The same thing happened this morning.

  Will Sparks : You're not supposed to do a high Mach number!

  Philip Peel : I know, but I did. Both times, I had the feeling that if I'd had the guts to put the stick forward instead of pulling it back, I could have pulled out without having to lose speed. What do you think?

  Will Sparks : There's nothing in the books to suggest for one second anything so Edgar Allan Poe-ish.

  Philip Peel : Rather depends on the books, doesn't it, Will? There were books once that said the Earth was flat.

• Tony Garthwaite : Hello, it looks like you've been jumped on by 20-plus Focke-Wulfs.

  Philip Peel : I tried to pull out of a flat-out dive just now.

  Tony Garthwaite : Oh, good show.

  Philip Peel : The damn stick needed Carnera to move it. The harder I pulled, the more the nose went down. It felt for a moment as if the controls were reversed.

  Tony Garthwaite : And were they?

  Philip Peel : Of course not, you clot, or I wouldn't be here, would I? There was a lot of buffeting too. It was almost as if I'd suddenly run into a... a solid sheet of water, or something.

  Tony Garthwaite : Really?

• Philip Peel : You know, when I got your wire, I thought you must be tight.

  Tony Garthwaite : I probably was.

• Philip Peel : I'll not stick the nose on the tail.

  Will Sparks : I'll stick your nose in your tail.

• Philip Peel : I'm sorry I'm late, darling.

  Jess : We had to start. The children are going to get their haircuts.

  Philip Peel : I had to see the old man.

  Jess : You got it then!

  Philip Peel : I've got what?

  Jess : The raise, of course.

  Philip Peel : The - oh, blasted! I forgot to ask him.

  Jess : You forgot to ask him?

  Philip Peel : I'm sorry, dear.

  Jess : Oh, really! What a husband!

• Philip Peel : Ridgefield Tower, this is 1-4. 40,000 feet. I think I can beat this nose heavy business by reversing the controls. Anyway, I'm gonna try.

• Philip Peel : Stick forward. Have you got that? Stick forward!