I was, in fact, at RAF College Cranwell in the early sixties as a cadet and yes, we all saw the film. Your points about Tony Newley are, if I can remember back that far, correct and it was meant to be taking place at the College although I believe much of the filming went on at a Norfolk or Suffolk fighter base such as Middle St George or Waterbeach. Initial flying training was done on Piston Provosts then going onto Vampires or Meteors dependent a lot on height (if long legged it was hard clearing the cockpit if ejecting in Vamps). We did our training on Jet Provosts 3 and 4's as the syllabus changed from being flying intensive to academic intensive. Kenneth Haigh was also in it. Wouldn't mind seeing it again either.
19 Reviews
High Flight starring Ray Milland
betamol17 January 2006
I was interested to read this comment, as I was serving in the Royal Air Force on the Squadron where the film, or a good part of it was made. The squadron was Treble One, 111 (F) Squadron, then stationed not far from London at North Weald. I think Americans would refer to it as a 'Pursuit' Squadron. Treble One was then in the process of, or had been recently selected as the Royal Air Force Fighter Command Aerobatics Display Team, which became known as the Black Arrows. We often displayed at Air Shows along with The American Air Force team known as The Sky Blazers. Poor weather conditions during the making of the film made it necessary for some of the filming to be done elsewhere. I remember seeing the film and would love to be able to get a copy of it. I do agree however that the story line was typical of British films for that era with its undertones of Cold War, and the readiness state of the RAF in particular. I think that the flying sequences were generally good, though some were done in the hangar using a backdrop of blue sky and clouds. It would be hard to imagine the lead role being played by any other than the quintessential British gentleman, Ray Milland. I would sure love to see the film again and own a copy, if only for retention in the Squadron Association archives. The Squadron is now based in Scotland flying the Tornado Mk3. They would be tickled pink to see the Hunter sequences as also would our 'Boss' from those days Roger L. Topp, who retired from the RAF as an Air Commodore with the Air Force Cross and TWO bars. He now lives in retirement in Norfolk, UK. If you learn where I can get a copy of the film either on VHS or DVD please let me know ASAP. Many thanks.
The planes are the stars in this one
pgreenst-128 April 2011
I just watched this film for the first time on cable channel TCM (US). I had never heard of it.
The presence of Ray Milland is a plus, and I found Anthony Newley quite amusing though the runaway toy flying saucer scene is perhaps just too goofy.
Any effort to develop the story or characters is somewhat half-hearted. What little plot there is seems to exist mainly to fill time between the flying sequences. But what great sequences they are! The formation flying is impressive, the aerial photography very well done, helped along by some beautiful writing by the film composer, and the planes are just great to look at.
Over on this side of the pond we haven't had much chance to see these British aircraft. I don't know if there was any jet in the 1950's more beautiful then the Hawker Hunter. This plane is featured in the latter stages of the film. At the end, Ray Milland guides a wounded plane down to a belly landing. On the way, there is impressive camera work that follows these two planes bounce along in the air, just above the countryside.
The presence of Ray Milland is a plus, and I found Anthony Newley quite amusing though the runaway toy flying saucer scene is perhaps just too goofy.
Any effort to develop the story or characters is somewhat half-hearted. What little plot there is seems to exist mainly to fill time between the flying sequences. But what great sequences they are! The formation flying is impressive, the aerial photography very well done, helped along by some beautiful writing by the film composer, and the planes are just great to look at.
Over on this side of the pond we haven't had much chance to see these British aircraft. I don't know if there was any jet in the 1950's more beautiful then the Hawker Hunter. This plane is featured in the latter stages of the film. At the end, Ray Milland guides a wounded plane down to a belly landing. On the way, there is impressive camera work that follows these two planes bounce along in the air, just above the countryside.
Roll & Dive
sol-kay28 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Thanks to the TCM Movie Network we finally got to see the 1957 British film "High Flight" in it's original Technicolor instead of the Black & White print shown to American audiences on TV since the early 1960's.
The movie is about this hot shot Bitish flyboy Tony Winchester, Kenneth Haigh, who wants to be an RAF pilot but has a serious disciplinary problem with his gong-ho and individualistic style of flying. Tony is also on the outs with his Wing Commander Rudge, Ray Milland, whom he holds responsible for his father's, a RAF pilot in WWII, death. We soon find out that Rudge was a lot like Tony back in those, WW II, days by doing things his way that lead to Tony's father getting shot down over France. That's when he broke formation to save Rudge from getting shot down when he tried to be a hero by singe-handedly taking on the entire German Luftwaffe!
Despite being an excellent pilot Tony's my way or the highway attitude almost gets him thrown out of RAF flight school because of his high as well as low flying antics. It's Tony's Wing Commander Rudge who goes so far as to stick his neck out for him in his guilt in being responsible for Tony's fathers death. This attitude by Tony almost leads to WW III when on a training mission in West Germany he flies across the border into Communist East Germany that almost leads to a nuclear exchange between to Sovite Union and the USA!
****SPOILERS*** Tony getting hit by East German ground to air missiles is rescued by Wing Commander Rudge who guided the barley conscious, after being hit in mid fight, Tony back to an RAF airfield in Great Britain. Back on the ground and with a new found respect for Wing Commander Rudge Tony now sees the error in his ways and is determined to follow in his fathers footsteps by being a member of the team-RAF-and not trying to impress himself by going it alone in the air as well as on the ground. As for Wing Commander Rudge he finally got over his guilt in Tony's fathers death by saving his both hot and empty headed son from not only getting himself killed but, with his crazy flying antics, starting a world war that could very well have wiped out the entire human race!
P.S Anthony Newley as RAF training pilot Roger Endicott steals every scene that he's in the movie with his home made flying saucer as well as his drag queen act on stage to entertain his fellow pilots. There's also Newley's, or Roger Endicott, obsession of growing a mustache which has him,in not being able to grow one, put on a glued or clip-on one which is so realistic that no one ,not even Wing Commander Rudge, seemed to have noticed it!
The movie is about this hot shot Bitish flyboy Tony Winchester, Kenneth Haigh, who wants to be an RAF pilot but has a serious disciplinary problem with his gong-ho and individualistic style of flying. Tony is also on the outs with his Wing Commander Rudge, Ray Milland, whom he holds responsible for his father's, a RAF pilot in WWII, death. We soon find out that Rudge was a lot like Tony back in those, WW II, days by doing things his way that lead to Tony's father getting shot down over France. That's when he broke formation to save Rudge from getting shot down when he tried to be a hero by singe-handedly taking on the entire German Luftwaffe!
Despite being an excellent pilot Tony's my way or the highway attitude almost gets him thrown out of RAF flight school because of his high as well as low flying antics. It's Tony's Wing Commander Rudge who goes so far as to stick his neck out for him in his guilt in being responsible for Tony's fathers death. This attitude by Tony almost leads to WW III when on a training mission in West Germany he flies across the border into Communist East Germany that almost leads to a nuclear exchange between to Sovite Union and the USA!
****SPOILERS*** Tony getting hit by East German ground to air missiles is rescued by Wing Commander Rudge who guided the barley conscious, after being hit in mid fight, Tony back to an RAF airfield in Great Britain. Back on the ground and with a new found respect for Wing Commander Rudge Tony now sees the error in his ways and is determined to follow in his fathers footsteps by being a member of the team-RAF-and not trying to impress himself by going it alone in the air as well as on the ground. As for Wing Commander Rudge he finally got over his guilt in Tony's fathers death by saving his both hot and empty headed son from not only getting himself killed but, with his crazy flying antics, starting a world war that could very well have wiped out the entire human race!
P.S Anthony Newley as RAF training pilot Roger Endicott steals every scene that he's in the movie with his home made flying saucer as well as his drag queen act on stage to entertain his fellow pilots. There's also Newley's, or Roger Endicott, obsession of growing a mustache which has him,in not being able to grow one, put on a glued or clip-on one which is so realistic that no one ,not even Wing Commander Rudge, seemed to have noticed it!
A wonderful memory
jvdesuit128 February 2014
I saw this movie when it was released in Paris. I was 16 and after watching the movie a whole afternoon, at that time in Paris you could enter a theater and stay as long as you wished, I wanted to become a pilot. Circumstances made it that I've never been one...
I think Robert J. Maxwell here is very unjust with this movie. Just try to put yourself in the situation of movie making of the late 50s. The movie was shot in Cinemascope and released either in color or B&W as stated here. Cinemascope required a huge equipment especially lighting as at the time the sensitiveness of 35mm film was not very high if you wished to have the best definition possible. The camera used were also heavy and not easy to move, just like television cameras at that time.
You cant compare the conditions of shoot in those days with the extraordinary conditions we have today with light cameras, CGI and all the computer devices at the disposal of the movie teams today.
It's a pity on youtube that the movie has been cropped to fit the 16:9 ratio. It's a betrayal of all the work of the Director of photography as well as of the director. This kind of adjustments should not be tolerated.
I think Robert J. Maxwell here is very unjust with this movie. Just try to put yourself in the situation of movie making of the late 50s. The movie was shot in Cinemascope and released either in color or B&W as stated here. Cinemascope required a huge equipment especially lighting as at the time the sensitiveness of 35mm film was not very high if you wished to have the best definition possible. The camera used were also heavy and not easy to move, just like television cameras at that time.
You cant compare the conditions of shoot in those days with the extraordinary conditions we have today with light cameras, CGI and all the computer devices at the disposal of the movie teams today.
It's a pity on youtube that the movie has been cropped to fit the 16:9 ratio. It's a betrayal of all the work of the Director of photography as well as of the director. This kind of adjustments should not be tolerated.
" There are lessons in war which can only be learned by facing death "
thinker169128 April 2011
The files of the English military is teeming with war stories. Some are true, some not, but most often based on the experiences of the men who created their impressive history. This movie is called " High Flight " and stars Ray Milland as Wing Commander Rudge. It tells the story of an experienced W.W.II, commander who is now a flight school instructor. His task is to train young men to fly combat missions against the enemy. The job is made more difficult when Anthony Winchester (Kenneth Haigh) a superior, but quite arrogant and reckless cadet insists on trying the school's patience. Bernard Lee and Anthony Newley make for surprising roles. The movie is interesting enough with the cadet's school year is seen in stages. Milland is at his best in this movie. ****
One for Hawker Hunter fans only. Top Gun it ain't.
malcp25 August 2015
Rather half-hearted effort at showing the passage of a group of Air Cadets through basic training in the 1950s at RAF Cranwell. There are no surprises, the roles are all pretty weak and the two leads Ray Milland and Kenneth Haigh fail miserably to conjure any passion into the 'dramatic' events that involve them both. Really, the only thing worthy of note is some of the footage of the Hawker Hunters and de Havilland Vampires and concomitant vehicles and equipment, but even ardent admirers of such things will probably long for an edited version the film where the storyline doesn't keep on interrupting the aesthetics.
High Flight
kaye1294 January 2009
Can anybody tell me if this is the film that Anthony Newley fly,s a model flying saucer into the officers mess while on a pilots course at RAF Cranwell?.I must have seen this film in the early 60,s and the aircraft used would bring back many memories of watching 111sgn practising for the next season as the RAF display team. I am sure that any Pilot/Aircrew that went through RAF Cranwell in the 50/60,s would find this film of interest. I am also very interested in obtaining a copy in any format either the B/W or colour version.
The film was made by Warwick Film productions and directed by John Gilling.
The film was made by Warwick Film productions and directed by John Gilling.
Decent...but very familiar.
planktonrules7 November 2017
Back in the 1940s, Hollywood made a few films about cadets in the air corps, such as "I Wanted Wings" and "Captains of the Clouds". "High Flight" is very much like these films but it is set in the UK and was made a decade later.
The story follows a group of cadets through training with particular emphasis on a young, cocky and very talented man who has a connection to the commander (Ray Milland). Again and again, the commander makes allowances for the cocky jerk but you wonder how long all this is going to happen until something dreadful occurs.
The best thing about this film are the aerial sequences...which look great, especially in color. But the film is also a bit clichéd and the sequence involving the UFO and the party is just god-awfully bad. Worth seeing but awfully familiar.
The story follows a group of cadets through training with particular emphasis on a young, cocky and very talented man who has a connection to the commander (Ray Milland). Again and again, the commander makes allowances for the cocky jerk but you wonder how long all this is going to happen until something dreadful occurs.
The best thing about this film are the aerial sequences...which look great, especially in color. But the film is also a bit clichéd and the sequence involving the UFO and the party is just god-awfully bad. Worth seeing but awfully familiar.
I'll keep this short and sweet!
vawlkee_200028 January 2012
I'd never heard of or seen this film until recently on You Tube. Yes it's there! I've seen a lot of aviation films, some poor and some very good and others in between. This one copped a "9" on my scale.
They don't get much better then this, the perfect proportion of humor and drama that always keeps you wanting more! What else could you ask for in a genre film about aircraft and the men that man them.
Great acting and the aerial photography is excellent. Seeing the RAF in the 50's in glorious Technicolor and Cinemascope is not to be missed!
I can't recommend this film too highly! It's on You Tube and there's no excuse to miss it! Happy landings!
They don't get much better then this, the perfect proportion of humor and drama that always keeps you wanting more! What else could you ask for in a genre film about aircraft and the men that man them.
Great acting and the aerial photography is excellent. Seeing the RAF in the 50's in glorious Technicolor and Cinemascope is not to be missed!
I can't recommend this film too highly! It's on You Tube and there's no excuse to miss it! Happy landings!
Character drama of sufficient depth
Leofwine_draca15 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
HIGH FLIGHT is an RAF-based character drama about various pilots at a training school and the various personal problems and issues they must overcome in order to make a success of their flying careers. The lack of a wartime setting removes some of the immediate thrills from this one, but the character work is well-founded and of sufficient depth to intrigue. The film is also very well cast, with an assured Ray Milland headlining things and playing against the youth of Anthony Newley and Kenneth Haigh. The casting director has done a good job of filling the supporting ranks with all manner of established character actors, and there's enough incident and drama to keep it bubbling along.
Too bad it's in black and white..
markrobi29 April 2005
..because the flying scenes are terrific.
Another one of those older movies that could be seen on TV years ago and can't be seen at all anymore. Pity.
The story is somewhat weak what with the stiff-upper-lip Wing Commander riding a new charge at his training wing (who just happens to the son of a squadron-mate from his old unit in the last war (WWII).
Now it's trial by a new fire as the "old man" feels he has to exercise restraint in reining in the young flyer's antics in order to assuage his conscience about an incident that led to the death of the kid's father.
As usual, the British seem to get what makes a movie about flying right with wonderful air-to-air shots of Hunters, Vampires, Provosts and the like. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, this probably isn't the movie for you, anyway.
If you can ignore the "Cold War" overtones and some continuity errors (young pilot takes off in a DH-115; dashes about the sky in a DH-100 and lands back again in a DH-115) you may find this one at least a passing fancy.
Another one of those older movies that could be seen on TV years ago and can't be seen at all anymore. Pity.
The story is somewhat weak what with the stiff-upper-lip Wing Commander riding a new charge at his training wing (who just happens to the son of a squadron-mate from his old unit in the last war (WWII).
Now it's trial by a new fire as the "old man" feels he has to exercise restraint in reining in the young flyer's antics in order to assuage his conscience about an incident that led to the death of the kid's father.
As usual, the British seem to get what makes a movie about flying right with wonderful air-to-air shots of Hunters, Vampires, Provosts and the like. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, this probably isn't the movie for you, anyway.
If you can ignore the "Cold War" overtones and some continuity errors (young pilot takes off in a DH-115; dashes about the sky in a DH-100 and lands back again in a DH-115) you may find this one at least a passing fancy.
RAF Training Camp Movie, Ca. 1957.
rmax30482318 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
You have to love airplanes. They're loud, smelly, and demanding -- but what a thrill to fly in one. The adrenalin pumps like an oil well in Bakersfield because, after all, you're in some kind of tubular contraption thousands of feet in the air, designed by some engineer, probably stoned at the time, and it could drop out of the sky or fly to pieces at any moment for all you know.
The movie is a standard training camp story. The new cadets include the slightly balmy Anthony Newley, obsessed with flying saucers, and the spoiled and dangerously impulsive rich kid, Kenneth Haigh. They are under the immediate supervision of the flight sergeant, Bernard Lee. ("Heels together, shoes at a forty-five degree angle, thumbs at the side of the trousers," and all that familiar drill.) Next step up the status ladder is the stern wing commander, Ray Milland, looking old and a little worn, who carries a burden of guilt about the death of Haigh's father during the war.
There isn't really much new here, except that this is in color and the aircraft are modern. Otherwise it could have been made in 1943. There is a minor brawl. Haigh breaks the rules and is disciplined for it. There is a formal dance. A man gets drunk off base and is rescued by his mates. There is aerobatic training, a couple of emergencies. There is one of those comic performances in which the cadets dress up as ballerinas for a comic rendition of "The Nutcracker Suite." Missing are a rivalry between two cadets for the hand of the stunning WAAAF, and the war games.
Instead of the war games, we have a border incident of some sort, in which Haigh's fighter is fired on and damaged. It's all very confusing. But it ends well, with a final shot of Bernard Lee's smile as he beams with pride and watches the graduating class fly over the air based in perfect formation.
Lamentably, for all the shots of various types of airplanes doing various jigs in the sky, for some reason they don't pack the charge they might have. The director may be responsible for loops and roll overs looking rather dull. Compare it to David Lean's "Breaking the Sound Barrier" to see how artistry can be insinuated into pictures of airplanes flying.
I kept trying to remember where I'd seen Kenneth Haigh before. His face wasn't so familiar -- blandly handsome -- but his voice is distinctive. Then I remembered that he was a World War I pilot in a "Twilight Zone" episode. The guy just can't keep out of the cockpit.
The movie is a standard training camp story. The new cadets include the slightly balmy Anthony Newley, obsessed with flying saucers, and the spoiled and dangerously impulsive rich kid, Kenneth Haigh. They are under the immediate supervision of the flight sergeant, Bernard Lee. ("Heels together, shoes at a forty-five degree angle, thumbs at the side of the trousers," and all that familiar drill.) Next step up the status ladder is the stern wing commander, Ray Milland, looking old and a little worn, who carries a burden of guilt about the death of Haigh's father during the war.
There isn't really much new here, except that this is in color and the aircraft are modern. Otherwise it could have been made in 1943. There is a minor brawl. Haigh breaks the rules and is disciplined for it. There is a formal dance. A man gets drunk off base and is rescued by his mates. There is aerobatic training, a couple of emergencies. There is one of those comic performances in which the cadets dress up as ballerinas for a comic rendition of "The Nutcracker Suite." Missing are a rivalry between two cadets for the hand of the stunning WAAAF, and the war games.
Instead of the war games, we have a border incident of some sort, in which Haigh's fighter is fired on and damaged. It's all very confusing. But it ends well, with a final shot of Bernard Lee's smile as he beams with pride and watches the graduating class fly over the air based in perfect formation.
Lamentably, for all the shots of various types of airplanes doing various jigs in the sky, for some reason they don't pack the charge they might have. The director may be responsible for loops and roll overs looking rather dull. Compare it to David Lean's "Breaking the Sound Barrier" to see how artistry can be insinuated into pictures of airplanes flying.
I kept trying to remember where I'd seen Kenneth Haigh before. His face wasn't so familiar -- blandly handsome -- but his voice is distinctive. Then I remembered that he was a World War I pilot in a "Twilight Zone" episode. The guy just can't keep out of the cockpit.
Not a great plot but still worth watching for nostalgia and good acting.
eaton32110 April 2014
The downside of this film is that the plot is formulaic. A group of young men go through their pilot training at Cranwell, the RAF's version of Sandhurst, and of course you've got the rebel, Tony Winchester (Kenneth Haigh), the class clown, Roger Endicott (Anthony Newley), the stern but paternal flight sergeant (Bernard Lee) and the wing commander (Ray Milland), a man with dark things in his past. Things get rather silly at times and the one punch-up is possibly the least convincing fight scene I've ever witnessed in a movie. That said, the quality of the cast shines through. Milland was a film star with a highly impressive track record on both sides of the Atlantic, Kenneth Haigh was Jimmy Porter in the original stage production of the ground-breaking "Look Back in Anger" and the multi- talented Newley was also a pop singer and songwriter (he composed the song which the cadets sing in this film). For us oldies there are quite a few familiar faces in the supporting cast, notably Leslie Phillips and John Le Mesurier. Also worth watching are the aerial shots, especially of the Hawker Hunter fighter and the de Havilland Vampire jet trainer.
Vulgar Exhibitionism in the Low-Flying Area
richardchatten30 September 2019
Fresh from his triumph as Jimmy Porter at the Royal Court in 'Look Back in Anger', Kenneth Haigh plays the impetuous young hothead who creates headaches for commanding officer Ray Milland, despite (of course) actually being a really first class pilot.
Anthony Newley's comedy relief belongs in a completely different film from the superb aerial scenes; and we could have done with a lot less of the noisy incidental music.
Anthony Newley's comedy relief belongs in a completely different film from the superb aerial scenes; and we could have done with a lot less of the noisy incidental music.
High Flight
blane-coulcher30 March 2007
My father was one of the cadets in the film as he was an RAF pilot with No1 and then No2 Squadrons. I am not sure what squadron he was in when the film was made (maybe still at Cranwell), but I remember the orange LP of the soundtrack with a picture of my dad on the back.
He also served as a liaison office with the USAF in the 60's in MacDill AFB in Tampa
I now live in Australia but went to his 70th last week at which many of his old squadron colleagues attended.
Does anyone have a copy of the film? Would love to get it for him.
Blane Coulcher
He also served as a liaison office with the USAF in the 60's in MacDill AFB in Tampa
I now live in Australia but went to his 70th last week at which many of his old squadron colleagues attended.
Does anyone have a copy of the film? Would love to get it for him.
Blane Coulcher
Excellent flight movie
nellybly-33 July 2007
One of the posters said that it was too bad the movie is in black and white. Well, it's on right now and it looks like it's in color to me. Possibly watched it on a black and white television? Excellent _color_ photography. Unfortunately the copy TCM owns isn't wide-screen. :(
Good early performance by Anthony Newley.
Sparkling, sharp dialogue.A good character study as well.
I think it's one of Ray Milland's better though lesser known performances, which is a shame. IMO it's up there with "Dial M for Murder".
This movie should be more well known than it is.
Good early performance by Anthony Newley.
Sparkling, sharp dialogue.A good character study as well.
I think it's one of Ray Milland's better though lesser known performances, which is a shame. IMO it's up there with "Dial M for Murder".
This movie should be more well known than it is.
Brilliant. Disregard bad reviews!
keithjones9921 January 2020
This was made in 1957. That's more than ten years before Thunderbirds!! Great real flight footage and model work for the dangerous bits. Cracking acting for the period. Great uniforms. I wouldn't be surprised if this was inspiration for Top Gun (made about 25years later!).
Great film for aircraft buffs
terrydalley28 December 2018
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