Out Of The Clouds (Ealing) *Digitally Restored DVD – David Knight, Anthony Steel

British multi-narrative drama based on the book by John Fores and directed by Basil Dearden, chronicling a fictional fog-bound day in the life of London’s Heathrow airport. The film offers vignettes of the lives of various disparate characters including pilot Gus Randall (Anthony Steel), whose chronic gambling problem is putting his life at risk, chief duty officer Nick Milbourne (Robert Beatty), who yearns to be a pilot himself, American engineer Bill (David Lorenz), who is in love with Jewish girl Leah (Margo Lorenz), and Captain Brent (James Robertson Justice), whose concerns about the design of a new aircraft prove to be well-founded.

From acclaimed director Basil Dearden creator of such classic celebrated British films  such as The Blue Lamp and The League of Gentlemen comes a bedazzling ensemble piece that encapsulates the early days of recreational aviation. Starring Bernard Lee (who later found fame as James Bond’s ‘M’) James Robertson Justice (Doctor In The House) and Carry On star Sid James Out Of The Clouds manages to capture the glamour and excitement of post-war air travel. Out Of The Clouds follows the complex lives of several passengers and members of an airline crew during a typical bustling day at Heathrow airport. A pilot dealing with his gambling addiction a chief duty officer who dreams of becoming a pilot a love struck American engineer and an extremely popular air hostess are just some of the unforgettable characters within the rich tapestry of tales that make Out Of The Clouds such entertaining and compulsive viewing. Extras: Introduction by Film Historian Charles Barr Stills Gallery