Watch One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing

One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is a British war drama film released in 1942, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film stars Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams, and others. The story is set during the Second World War and revolves around the human and emotional challenges faced by a group of British airmen, who are forced to land their plane in Nazi-occupied Holland after a mission gone wrong.

The movie begins with an aerial shot of an RAF Bomber command, a group of British Airmen who are on a mission to bomb Germany. However, things go wrong as the German aircraft successfully targets their engine, forcing the crew to bail out of their burning plane over the coast of Holland. The aircrew finds shelter with the Dutch resistance, who help them overcome language barriers and the difficulties of hiding from the occupying Nazis.

The crew comprises of eight members, including their Captain Charles Bridgnorth (Godfrey Tearle), who appears to hold a personal animosity with Dutch fishermen. The co-pilot, Tom Earnshaw (Eric Portman), is a skilled navigator and is responsible for charting their path back to England. The navigator Frank Shelley (Hugh Williams), a university professor, is more concerned about the fate of a young boy named Els, whose father had been taken away by the Nazis. The remaining crew members are anxious about their situation, and their morale is low.

The film is notable for its portrayal of human emotions during times of war. The airmen are shown to be vulnerable, with a range of emotions – from fear and anxiety to courage and determination. Each member of the crew deals with the situation differently, and the film effectively captures their individual struggles.

The Dutch resistance members who shelter the airmen are shown to be brave and resourceful, but also uncertain and fragile. Dirk Bogarde, in his debut film performance, plays the role of a young resistance member, who takes the aircrew under his wing. One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is notable for treating the Dutch people with respect, recognizing their own bravery and contribution to the war effort.

The Nazi officers and soldiers are portrayed as menacing and threatening, with no attempt to soften their image. Their accents are used shrewdly to create a sense of otherness, and the film does not attempt to give them any sympathetic characterization. They are shown to be ruthless in their pursuit of the airmen, going to great lengths to find them. The film does not spare us the reality of war.

One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is an effective drama, with carefully constructed dialogue, and impressive cinematography. The aerial shots of the aircraft and the countryside are breathtaking, and the film creates a strong sense of tension and urgency. The film's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of wartime England and occupied Holland, capturing the challenges faced by both the soldiers and civilians.

Overall, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is a moving, authentic, and suspenseful film, that portrays the horrors of war while also emphasizing the importance of human connection and resilience. The film was critically acclaimed and struck a chord with audiences at the time of its release. It remains a classic of British cinema, and an important contribution to the war film genre.

One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing is a 1942 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.